Psychotherapy for the Body and Mind

Psychotherapy is a valuable resource for many individuals dealing with psychological and emotional pain. People seek help when they feel stuck, overwhelmed, or distressed, and when their usual ways of coping don’t seem to work anymore. Psychotherapy holds the potential for developing new ways of being, thinking, feeling and behaving in the world.

My particular way of working integrates Body-Oriented Psychotherapy, Gestalt, psychodynamic approaches and an understanding of attachment theory. What this means is that I believe that as humans, from infancy and throughout our lives, we are in an ongoing process of development. The hope in this is that in healthy environments, like the therapeutic context, we can continue to grow and heal, regardless of how old we are or how deep our emotional pain. I see my role as a psychotherapist as helping my clients recognize and remove the blocks to growth, the ways of thinking, feeling and relating that keep you from feeling alive, connected and free to really live life.

I also believe that the process of therapy is not a primarily intellectual endeavor. Yes, we give language, make meaning, and experience insight at a mental level. But change ultimately emerges through lived experience. Because of this my therapeutic work is experiential, and works in large part with emotions, the vehicle through which energy moves in our systems. This process is rich, deepening, and works with the how of living more than the why. Integrating both verbal and body-based techniques helps people experience greater contact with themselves by deepening into their experience in each moment, feeling more connected, 'real' and alive. Insight comes, but the greatest change involves developing the capacity to be more present with yourself and in your life, and experiencing transformation through a collaborative and empathetic therapeutic relationship. I engage with a sensitive and curious attitude, listening deeply, supporting your coming to know yourself in helpful and expanding ways.

This work is particularly helpful if you are:

• Dealing with significant or persistent symptoms of depression or anxiety.
• Experiencing intense emotions such as despair, distress, rage or grief, and need an appropriate outlet to process these feelings.
• Experiencing significant physical symptoms such as pain, anxiety, muscular tension or headaches related to stress.
• Facing major identity issues or life transitions.
• Struggling with relationships, including challenges around intimacy and sexuality.
• Wanting to access more aliveness and creativity, and develop new ways of being in the world.
• Challenged by unresolved childhood or family issues or trauma recovery.
• Feeling blocked or stuck, and can’t seem to figure out how to let yourself really move into life more fully.
• Inhibited around feeling and expressing certain emotions, such as sadness or anger, or numb and unable to experience or name what you are feeling.
• Needing to process loss and grief in a more embodied and expressive way.

The specific process of therapy will vary according to each individual, reflecting who you are, what issues you are facing and what you hope to find through therapy. I have a profound respect for the uniqueness of each individual, and appreciation for both the desire to get better and the fear of opening to painful or distressing feelings. Together we can find a pathway that brings healing and greater pleasure into your life.