About Me
Growing up as a dancer I always felt a deep connection to the body and how it reacts and moves to different stimuli that we are presented with each day. But what dancing also gave me was poor connection to body image, constant comparison to others, and insecurity in almost all areas of my life. I felt lost and quite stuck in all of my relationships. It was this experience that fueled my passion and desire to understand the nervous system in more depth. I became fascinated by somatic healing and ultimately discovered my own healing by returning back to my body and learning to truly understand what my system needed during activation and triggering. This understanding lead me to the beautiful work of helping others take the leap towards empowerment and healing.
I have a Master's in Clinical Social Work degree and have worked in the mental health field for over 9 years. My various work experience includes community based mental health, independent group practice, and knowledge in mental health startups.
I am also a registered yoga teacher and utilize body awareness and mindfulness exercises to help clients learn emotional regulation and rebuild their self esteem around body image. During my free time, I enjoy camping throughout California, spending time with my family, and attending wellness retreats to expand my knowledge and deepen my yoga practice.
Approach
My background includes working with adults and teens presenting with relationship anxiety, generalized + social anxiety, depression, procrastination, impostor syndrome, trauma + PTSD, burn-out, effective communication, stress management, values and identity concerns, self-esteem, perfectionism, and body image concerns. I take a somatic based approach with each of my clients, which means that we include the body and nervous system into treatment.
Teaching my clients to connect to their nervous system from a place of curiosity and empowerment on a daily basis is my main objective. My clients would describe me as a gentle, but powerful healing guide. I invite feedback along the way and take a collaborative approach when working together.
Treatment Styles
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Somatic Experiencing: I believe that discussing body sensations is absolutely vital to move towards healing trauma. I incorporate trauma informed body awareness exercises to help you build capacity so that you can learn to rely on your nervous system for safety.
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Internal Family Systems: I include IFS to help you identify and reintegrate parts of yourself that you might have suppressed as a result of protection from childhood woundings. By integrating these parts you can feel a sense of balance and equanimity during challenging situations.
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Dialectical Behavioral Therapy: I use DBT to help you identify and shift negative thinking patterns, while incorporating mindfulness based skills that will help you regulate your emotions, implement/set boundaries, and communicate effectively.
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Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: I use ACT to help you reconnect with yourself, take purposeful action, and maintain focused yet flexible engagement with your life and what you value.
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Relational Psychotherapy: I use relational therapy to help you recognize the role relationships play in your life and empower you to build awareness centered around how your thoughts impact your behaviors.
