How do you describe your counseling style?
I value an open, collaborative, and trusting relationship, from which we can begin to strengthen your capacity and resilience to engage with the parts of yourself and emotions that may have felt too overwhelming to access on your own. I listen with warmth and gentle curiosity, bring attention to subtle body sensations, and slow down to make space for whatever emerges in the here and now. I strive to create an environment that is non-pathologizing and culturally humble.
Have you been in therapy yourself?
Yes, my decision to become a therapist was influenced by my own experience in therapy. Therapy has helped me to process old wounds, clarify my values, and navigate difficult life transitions. My big breakthrough came when I worked with a therapist that helped me to discover and connect with the sensations, emotions, and parts of myself that I hadn’t been able to before, which is ultimately what led me to become a somatic therapist.
What are some books you would recommend to your clients when they start therapy?
I’ve found that It’s Not Always Depression by Hilary Jacobs Hendel does such a great job of explaining the authentic, lasting change that can occur when we engage with the wisdom of our emotions, including helping us to alleviate anxiety and depression and connect with our true self. The other book, The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk, is a great introduction to understanding the relationship between trauma and the body.
