“It is our suffering that brings us together. It is not love. Love does not obey the mind, and turns to hate when forced. The bond that binds us is beyond choice. We are brothers. We are brothers in what we share. In pain, which each of us must suffer alone, in hunger, in poverty, in hope, we know our brotherhood. We know it, because we have had to learn it. ― Ursula K. Le Guin,
This quote speaks to the familiar presence of pain and suffering in our lives and how we are all connected through these experiences. I believe that deep, powerful transformation is possible from having our pain be witnessed and held in a sacred container of awareness and acceptance. Pain and suffering can show up in our present lives in many ways, through our bodies, minds, and relationship dynamics. Often times these difficulties can be traced back to trauma we have experienced in our past. As a graduate student at Naropa University in the Mindfulness-Based Transpersonal Counseling program I have been studying how to approach trauma from the past in the context of how it is showing up in the present moment. Some of the approaches I call-on during sessions are Gestalt therapy, Poly-vagal Theory, Meditation, Somatic Awareness, Compassionate Inquiry, Acceptance Commitment Therapy, and the NARM (Neuro-Affective Relational Model) method. I am a long time student and teacher of Ashtanga Yoga and hope to integrate parts of that practice within the counseling setting.>span class="Apple-converted-space">
I believe it is extremely important to maintain an awareness as a counselor that those who walk through the world as BIPOC, LGBTQA, disabled, fat, or female identified, experience a disproportionate amount of pain from oppressive institutional and cultural influences. I see therapy as a tool to potentially to help dismantle the toxic conditioning of the dominant paradigm. I am endlessly inspired by the potential of liberation of self and aim to support others in freeing themselves. My aim is to support the client in feeling safe, secure and empowered to live the life they want to live. I am excited to work with all folks in all walks of life and feel especially interested in women identified individuals going through large transitions.
My personal interests include mothering my child as well as my friends, growing and ingesting plants especially medicinal herbs and flowers, moving, dancing, DJing, and going on adventures with my dog Coach!