Areas of Expertise
Complex Trauma and Developmental Trauma
Treating trauma is often looked at as a "one size fits all" approach. The DSM-V makes no difference between the trauma from a car accident and the trauma from childhood abuse or neglect. This is why many people who have had years of traditional talk therapy find themselves no better off than they were when they started, or sometimes even worse!
Treating complex trauma (C-PTSD) and developmental trauma takes a special skill set. Effective treatments require that the therapist understand that "The Body Keeps the Score." (van der Kolk, 2014) Effective somatic (body) therapy, such as Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, help clients who are at the intersection of trauma and attachment wounding carefully and delicately unwind stuck defensive strategies, and develop healthy somatic resources to manage difficult experiences. In other words, my goal is to help you feel safer in your body.
Dissociation and Structural Dissociation
We all have different aspects of ourselves. Internal Family Systems calls these aspects "parts." If you've ever said, "part of me is happy about this, but part of me is worried," that is a good example of how parts play out in our every day life, no matter what our trauma histories. Sometimes, repeated early childhood trauma by a parent or trusted caregiver creates defensive behavior that is split off and stuck. Structural Dissociation explains how these defensive behaviors get stuck. Trauma-Informed Stabilization Treatment is a blend of Sensorimotor Psychotherapy and Internal Family Systems which helps you get unstuck. It is non-pathologizing and draws on your strengths. Working with parts may help you understand and feel compassion for yourself.
Psychedelic Integration
Coming soon!
My Approach
Sensorimotor Psychotherapy is a body-oriented approach to treating single incident trauma, complex trauma, developmental trauma, and attachment wounds. It was created by Pat Ogden, from her work with Ron Kurtz, the creator of Hakomi Psychotherapy. It is holistic, non-pathologizing, and non-violent. Sensorimotor psychotherapists believe that clients hold the wisdom in their bodies to heal. In a typical session, I will ask you to be aware of sensations inside, including any patterns of tension, and to mindfully track those sensations. This will help you begin to access defensive strategies left by trauma. With mindful exploration, you can release trauma stored in the body and experience relief.
Trauma-Informed Stabilization Treatment was developed by Janina Fisher, as a blend between Sensorimotor Psychotherapy and Internal Family Systems (Schwartz), that helps clients understand their thoughts, feelings and sensations as communication about their past traumatic experiences. In a typical session, I will ask you to label all difficult thoughts, feelings and body sensations as a communication from a part of you. I will ask you to be curious and compassionate with that part and together we will learn what that part is trying to say to you. Sometimes, my clients feel relief within a few sessions.
I use these two approaches most often, toggling between the two, depending on your needs and preferences. I will also use a sprinkling of CBT, psychodynamic therapy, with occasional bits of Object Relations Theory. I love working with enactments, which are the ways in which the relationship between therapist and client can get painful and messy. Working with enactments, collusions and collisions in therapy often offer some of the most satisfying and healing experiences for my clients.