It is nice to meet you.

As a trauma-trained practitioner I view trauma not as a disorder or a disease, but a wound to the soul. Traumatic experiences have the power to disconnect people from their emotional and physical selves, disrupt relationships, and prevent a life of authenticity and joy.

I support clients with increasing curiosity, compassion, and self-awareness from the inside out. This approach is informed by my belief that bodies hold an immense amount of wisdom that can help navigate and facilitate your unique healing process. By reconnecting to your stories, physical sensations, and emotions, we will also increase your capacity for community and relational connection.

My clinical focus and areas of interest are: treatment of trauma and abuse (PTSD and cPTSD), substance use and addiction, anxiety, autoimmune disorders, ADHD, relationship disruption (infidelity, conflict, codependency), parenting support (neurodivergent children, impact on relationships), and life transitions (marriage, divorce, gender identity, loss of community, death, or illness).

A note about diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Environmental, systemic, and internalized oppression impacts well-being on both individual and collective levels. I believe creating spaces for greater justice and equity is important and as such, my approach incorporates anti-racist and LGBTQ+ affirming lenses. I am committed to honoring and holding space for my clients’ intersecting identities of race, gender, culture, and faith backgrounds and may offer reflections on this in our work together.

As a member of society, but especially in my role a mental health practitioner, I consider it my duty to partake in a continual process of learning and unlearning to increase awareness of my own privileges and biases as a white, cis-, hetero woman. I regularly attend trainings and seminars to continue this process and welcome any and all conversations on this topic.

MY APPROACH

There are many different ways to approach therapy. My approach is relational and psychodynamic, meaning it is informed by the belief that human connection and interpersonal relationships are agents for lasting change. Since most harm and disconnection happens in relationships, this is also where I believe the most healing can occur.

In addition to paying deep and close attention to the relationship we form, I utilize narrative and somatic therapies to increase awareness of the root causes of your issues and establish new ways of engaging old narratives. We will tend to the stories that shaped you to examine their impact on your relationships, past and present, with family, friends, in your community, with yourself, and with your body.

  • The stories of our past hold meaning and importance in ways we are sometimes unaware of. These stories are held in our hearts, our minds, and our bodies, influencing the way we perceive ourselves and those around us. As trust is established between us and your story begins to unfold, we will gently and deeply examine the lasting impacts that your narratives have on your life. Narrative work is a slow process that involves peeling back layer after layer.

  • Our relational world has a great impact on our emotional and mental wellbeing. While we can’t go back and make changes to your past, relational exploration in therapy provides a unique opportunity to explore the fullness of you through your honest, unfiltered, and uncensored dialogue. It can provide insight to the parts of yourself that are feeling stuck and stagnant. The relationship that we form together can be a great place to begin reimagining new ways of engaging with yourself and with others.

  • Bodies are natural storytellers and our nervous systems hold rich, intuitive, emotional wisdom. In our society we are often taught that the cognition and reasoning of our brains holds more knowledge than our bodies. Somatic therapy encourages you move into the body to tune in, acknowledge and respect the messages it is attempting to communicate. We will honor the sensations and emotions that come up for you through gentle trauma-informed exploration and practice ways of establishing healthy relationships with your nervous system and emotional world.

HOW I WORK

It is normal to want to avoid pain and get straight to the part where you feel better. I wish for your relief as well. But I also truly believe that it is in moments of suffering where the most profound growth can occur.

In our sessions we will spend a great amount of time exploring what is naturally coming up for you. Our goal will not be to problem-solve or “fix”, but rather to observe, reflect, and deeply understand. By connecting with your emotional and physical sensations we can identify what in your story is being activated and begin to increase your capacity for tolerating these very human feelings. A gentle, slow-paced process can provide you with a sturdy foundation for achieving longer-lasting change.

Your healing process will be uniquely tailored to you and your particular intersections of identity, but generally speaking, my approach utilizes Attachment Theory, Narrative Therapy, Polyvagal Theory, Internal Family Systems, Interpersonal Neurobiology, and Mindfulness-Based Practices

TRAINING & CREDENTIALS

I received my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Criminal Justice from Indiana University and my Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology from The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology. During my graduate program I specialized in trauma studies and obtained a certification to practice trauma-focused narrative care.

Washington State Credentials:

Licensed Mental Health Counselor Associate (LMHCA)

Certifications & Professional Development:

Certified Narrative-Focused Trauma Care Practitioner - Level II
Integrating Wellness into Substance Use Disorder Prevention (NAADAC)
Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP)

Memberships:

National Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC)
American Counseling Association (ACA)

Let’s work together.