My Philosophy
I love what I do because I am privileged to witness courage and transformation daily. I believe the capacity to heal and align with one's "true North" resides within each of us, and that together we can unleash that capacity. In the words of C.G. Jung, "The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are." I offer a beautiful, safe, supportive place in which to discover and grow one’s connection to that authentic self.
Experience
I have over a decade of clinical experience working with individuals, couples, families and groups from varied backgrounds. I have worked extensively with young and new mothers at Mountain View-Los Altos Adult Education School and at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital's Becoming Parents Program. I have worked with clients experiencing depression, anxiety, trauma, relationship issues, infidelity, parenting/co-parenting, divorce, and blended families.
I specialize in working with individuals experiencing life and career transitions, spiritual or existential crisis, loss or change of faith, or recovery from cults, high-demand groups and religions.
Clinical Orientation and Methodology
My primary clinical orientation is Jungian/Psychodynamic, but I customize therapy to each client's concerns and needs, borrowing from other orientations and methods when appropriate. What you might experience in session with me is a combination of talk therapy and activities designed to help you get to know yourself, reveal the truth inside you and access your own healing potential. In developing a treatment plan I consider the whole person, their history, personality, likes, dislikes, strengths, challenges and goals. I consider psychotherapy to be a collaborative endeavor undertaken by both therapist and client. If we are doing it right, mind, body, heart and soul will all be engaged and both of us will be changed.
I frequently use the following:- Psychodynamic talk therapy to create insight into your amazing, unique inner landscape
- Hakomi and mindfulness-based exercises to help you tune in to your body and its wisdom
- Exploration of personal and family history and relationship patterns to provide a context for a person's current situation
- Sandplay, writing, collage, drawing or other art activities to express and deepen connection to inner experience
- Dream work to access and integrate unconscious material
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy to reprocess painful or traumatic past events that are impacting your present
While I use many therapeutic techniques, I believe the most important factor in healing is the client-therapist relationship. I will meet you where you are with kindness, strength, respect and compassion and together we'll create your journey to a happier, healthier self.
Education and Training
I received my M.A. in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in Depth Psychotherapy from Pacifica Graduate Institute and my B.A. in Family and Community History Studies. Additional studies in learning theory, literature, mythology, philosophy, art and design also inform my therapeutic work.
I am always seeking to improve my knowledge-base and skills to better serve my clients and maintain a high level of engagement in the work. I have attended post-graduate trainings in Jungian and depth psychology, dream work, trauma treatment, neuro-psychology, story-telling and mythology, domestic violence and abuse, 5Rhythms Dance, Hakomi Method, and EMDR Therapy (Basic Training I and II). I have studied with many gifted teachers and clinicians, including Marion Woodman, Stephen Aizenstat, Donald Kalsched, Rick Hanson, Michael Meade, Rob Fisher, Gerald Puk, and Jennifer Lendl.
I am an active member of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT), serving on the Continuing Education Provider Approval Committee. This committee works to ensure high quality standards for therapist continuing education.
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist #52002