Approach
My therapeutic style is warm, informal, and interactive. I welcome people of different cultural, ethnic, religious affiliation, sexual diversity, and socioeconomic backgrounds to my practice. My approach is to bring your values, experiences, and cultural identity—the factors that make you, you, into our work.
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I believe a calm, congruent, collaborative, and genuine approach in psychotherapy is essential and that your sense of safety in the therapeutic relationship is crucial. I am respectful and affirming with my clients. I work with my clients to create a deeply supportive environment of trust and acceptance where we can safely discover and explore important aspects of your life.
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While working with clients, I integrate the training I received from dual Masters degrees and my many years of life experiences (including marriage, family, parenting, relationship, business and systems theory background) to serve my clients, facilitate our collaborative work, and create an opportunity for transformation.
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Therapy, I believe, is an opportunity for growth and understanding of experiences that may have been life affirming, confusing, alluring, hurtful, addicting, frightening, or shameful. I believe the therapeutic process allows us to find and celebrate our deepest self—focusing on learning and growing with curiosity and exploration, which can be a powerful source of transformation and healing.
"We are naturally drawn toward mutual connection with others. The therapist must understand, honor, and support those resources of the client that express this natural tendency." Pat Ogden
Theoretical Approach
My primary theoretical orientation integrates sensorimotor psychotherapy (somatic/body) and talk therapy with a Rogerian (humanistic), and mindfulness/spiritual approach. These models draw from recent discoveries in Neuroscience, Mindfulness, and Attachment Theory.
I have advanced training in the treatment of trauma through the Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute (SPI). Sensorimotor Psychotherapy is a method for facilitating the processing of sensorimotor (somatic) reactions to trauma and for resolving the destructive effects of these reactions on cognitive and emotional experiences. I have completed SPI’s Level One training for processing trauma and Level Two training for emotional processing, meaning making, and Attachment Repair.
Experience
I worked as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) for a Seattle based family business for 25 years, until my retirement in 2008. In my capacity as COO I had responsibility for human resources, coaching, and executive/management team building. I received a Bachelors degree from Antioch University Seattle in Leadership and Organizational Development. I went on to get my Masters in Organizational Systems Renewal (Organizational Development) from Seattle University. I received my Masters degree in Mental Health Counseling from Antioch University Seattle. I am a licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) seeing clients in private practice in the Fremont neighborhood.
Education & Training
"Our souls long for transcendence, for meaning, for connection. This is who we most deeply are. " James Hollis
-The Developmental Model of Couples Therapy Training | Ellyn Bader Ph.D at the Couples Institute | Graduated 2022
-"Healing the Fragmented Selves of Trauma Survivors" Workshop | J. Fisher | 2018
-Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples | Externship | 2018
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-Level II: Training in Emotional Processing, Meaning Making, and Attachment Repair | Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute | Graduated 2017
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-Level I: Training in Affect Dysregulation, Survival Defenses, and Traumatic Memory | Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute | Graduated 2016
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- MA Clinical Mental Health Counseling | Antioch University | 2016
- MA Organizational Development | Seattle University | 2012
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-Animas Valley Institute (founded by Bill Plotkin) offers a nature-based approach and offers immersions into the wilds of nature and psyche for the purpose of retrieving the unique, mysterious identity hidden in the soul-waters of each life.
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Vision Quest, Soul Quest, Dream Work
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