My experience
Antioch University Los Angeles
Bachelors Degree: Psychology and Creative Writing
California Institute of Integral Studies
Masters Degree: Integral Counseling Psychology
Somatic Experiencing Training: Currently entering Advanced Year
Past Trainers: Berns Galloway; Abi Blakeslee; Linda Stelte
Trainings and Workshops:
Gabor Maté Workshop: When the Body Says No
Peter Levine Workshop Somatic Experiencing and Case Consultation 2019 & 2022
George Haas Meditation x Attachment Level I
Clinical Applications of Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) with Joni Lavick
Assisted Sexologist Francesca Gentille in Kink Conscious Certification for Clinicians with the International Institute of Clinical Sexology
Couples Center Couples Therapy Training with Gal Szekely and Liron Cohen
AASECT-approved Sex Therapy Supervision with Gail Guttman
Tammy Nelson Sex Therapy
Interpersonal Neurobiology (in progress)
Donald Kalsched Opening the Closed Heart & Working with the Self-Care System
Tina Stromsted Soul’s Body: Healing the Body/Psyche/Soul Split
Bodydreaming (in progress) with Marian Dunlea
Personal practices that impact our work:
Meditation (Zen; Vipassana; Active visualization; Ideal Parent Figure Protocol)
200 Hour Hatha Yoga with Laura King of North Dallas Yoga
Nonviolent Communication Groups and Trainings
My own therapy, supervision, consultation, mentorship, and bodywork
Why do I work the way I do?
I believe at the foundation of most if not all pathology, diagnoses, and suffering is disconnection. Disconnection from our unstoried true nature, and disconnection from authentic, vulnerable, nourishing relationships. Whether romantic; platonic; friendship; familial; flora; fauna: unmasked interdependent interconnection is what I am committed to. Imperfectly. With you.
Yet - I think all of us living under capitalist, domination-based cultures know that it's easier said than done, this intimacy stuff. We're taught to compete, to one-up; that hierarchy is the way. That we need to guard our hearts and that we can't trust each other, and/or cannot trust ourselves. We often end up treating ourselves the way we've been taught to treat each other: with an iron fist; go faster; do more. The way forward is by creating a new pattern. One devoted to compassion.
I believe that the severing from our inherent loving-kindness essence causes extreme suffering and that the more we become in tune with the internal rhythms inside of us, the more we remember this truth. I believe that by honoring our body's intelligence by slowing down to listen to the story of our nervous systems and psyches, we shift chaos and dysfunction into health and expansion. I believe in the healing power of our hearts; the kind of power that shares-with, soul-to-soul, not power-over or under.
I work to invoke frameworks of compassion in those whom I work with, by modeling my own self-acceptance, self-compassion, willingness to be wrong, and action-based hope for healing. I guide compassion within through unlearning, active visualization, narrative reframing, and integration of head (intellect; cognition) and heart (nervous system; body; intuition; interconnection.)
We are meant to grow, heal, expand, and evolve because we're verbs - not nouns; not fixed or stagnant.
Thank you for being here.
Fee and Insurance Info
My fees are
$210 per 50-minute session for individuals
$250 for 50-minute couples sessions
& prorated for 75-minute sessions
A percentage of my spots are a lowered fee based on income (sliding scale.) As of December 2023, I do not have sliding scale availability.
I do not take insurance, but I am able to create a superbill for sessions, which can be submitted for out-of-network benefits or to meet a deductible. If you call the number on the back of your insurance card, you can learn more about the benefits your plan has.
415-294-1093