The darkest nights
produce the brightest stars.
Integrated Psychotherapy for children and adults
My experience has demonstrated that Play Therapy is the most effective and powerful way to help children express feelings and needs. I use Play Therapy in combination with other modalities such as sand tray therapy, cognitive skill building and mindfulness with children of all ages. This type of therapy involves the use of toys as tools for self-expression and change.
I use an integration of developmental and attachment theories to guide my work with children, adolescents and adults. What this means is that sometimes a person’s optimal development is overwhelmed by traumatic experiences and the limited self-beliefs that occur in trauma. In getting to the roots of some of the dysfunctional patterns in a person's life they are given an opportunity to let go of them and create life from a more intentional place.
Adaptive Internal Relational (AIR) Network Therapy
Is a framework for therapy designed for treating complex trauma and dissociative patterns. This is a competency based approach grounded in clinical study by experts in treating survivors of early childhood trauma (also called Developmental Trauma). It emphasizes a neurological understanding of trauma and dissociation. Clients who live with complex neuro-dissociative states have different relational and therapeutic needs from those who have trauma histories without more complex types of dissociation. For more information on AIR visit http://www.mwtraumacenter.com/adaptive-internal-relational-model-overv.
EMDR Therapy with children and adults
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing) is a well-researched form of psychotherapy that is used to help transform the effects of trauma. Trauma is any experience that overwhelms a person's ability to cope. Examples of trauma include an accident, family change, or abuse. This therapy can be used with children and adults. I have been using EMDR since 2009.
EMDR is a psychotherapy treatment developed by Dr. Francine Shapiro to help people heal from trauma. EMDR therapy integrates elements of many traditional psychological orientations and is based on the premise that the body's usual manner of processing through experiences is blocked during trauma. Therefore, traumatic memories are stored differently than other kinds of memories. Traumatic memories get locked in the brain with the original picture, sounds, thoughts, feelings and body sensations. Whenever a reminder of the traumatic event comes up, those pictures, thoughts, feelings, and sensations can continue to be triggered.
According to Dr. Shapiro, many emotional problems and disorders are manifestations of these unprocessed trauma memories that are stored in the brain.
I am EMDR certified and provide comprehensive EMDR services to persons of all ages. I have special training in working with pre-verbal and developmental trauma, in addition to adaptations for use of EMDR with children. My areas of expertise are developmental re-parenting of the self, integration of spiritual and energy based resources, and providing a compassionate grounding space to review and release emotionally charged memories.
If you are a Black, Indigenious, or Person of Color, I respect your need for culturally specific mental health services to address racialized trauma. I would be happy to assist you in finding referrals that meet your needs.
Consultation for Professionals
I am an EMDRIA approved EMDR Trainer and Consultant. I provide consultation for certification in EMDR in both individual and group formats. My consultation is useful for deepening your understanding and practice of basic EMDR skills, with a specialty area in working with children and adolescents. EMDR therapy works on helping the brain reprocess these traumatic memories, and as a result, alleviating the emotional and behavioral symptoms. EMDR therapy has a wide body of research supporting it, especially for the treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. EMDR can be an effective treatment for children, adolescents and adults.
For more information on EMDR, visit EMDR Institute , or EMDR International Association.
I am also certified in the AIR model of psychotherapy (see above for details) and am an AIR Consultant. I facilitate groups and individual consultation sessions.
Healing Through Energy work
In addition to traditional academic training in clinical work, I have also been a student of alternative and complementary approaches. I have been trained in understanding the chakra (energy systems) of the body. This multi-dimensional framework allows me greater access to tools and perspectives for healing. This work has allowed me access to a field of deep acceptance, neutrality and compassion. It is my belief that these are the anchors of healing.
Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP)
Developed by Dr. Stephen Porges and is based on his Polyvagal Theory. The Safe and Sound Protocol is a listening intervention designed to reduce stress and auditory sensitivity while enhancing social engagement and resilience. The SSP supports calming our emotional and physiological states through our vagus nerve. Our nervous system state is critical to how we manage tasks and challenges. When we are in a better state of control, not only can we be more socially engaged, we are more open to therapy and therapeutic strategies.
The SSP uses the auditory system as a portal to the vagus nerve complex, which controls our physiological state. The SSP involves listening to vocal music that has been specifically processed so that the middle ear muscles are trained and exercised to focus on the frequency range of the human voice. This stimulates the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS). The music chosen is able to re-tune and regulate the ANS. When the ANS is regulated, the individual is introduced to a sense of safety. This results in a capacity to feel connected to others, an enhanced ability to learn, and self-regulate.
SSP and Therapy
The protocol will be integrated into sessions and may also be done independently at home. A specific treatment plan will be created to best meet your needs.
More information can be found here:
“Let difficulty transform you. And it will.
In my experience, we just need help in learning how not to run away.”
~Pema Chodron
