Theory of Practice

I am strongly informed by attachment-based and trauma informed therapies, and I work from an integrative and relational framework. In essence, this means that I view the relationship between a client and therapist as a primary vehicle for healing and change. Using a trauma informed approach, I work with you to understand how and why behaviors and beliefs you learned to keep yourself safe in the past may now be causing you pain. My approach to therapy is grounded in an understanding of how the contexts that we live and grow up in can shape our lives. These contexts include our families of origin, as well as the political and cultural systems that surround us.

I apply an anti-oppressive lens to my work, which includes an understanding that systemic oppression and social conditions affect our relationships. This means understanding how racism, sexism, classism, ableism, heterosexism, cis-sexism, etc. can be internalized and expressed in our behaviors, beliefs, emotions, and interpersonal dynamics. I work within a sex positive, anti-racist, queer and trans positive framework. I bring a depth of understanding of the body, trauma, and neurobiology to my work.

I deeply believe that everyone is a “mover.” We communicate through our bodies long before we learn to talk, as we develop we add words to our communication; however, body language remains our most basic means of recognizing our needs and expressing ourselves. Modern psychotherapy in large part is a very heady business. We try to understand our problems with our mind, and then try to create solutions with our mind too. Sometimes this is effective. However, emotions are stored in the body, and in order to access them, work with them, and transform them, we must engage the body. This is particularly true of trauma.

Bodies come in all shapes, sizes, and abilities. My goal is to meet you exactly where you are at, and to discover the joy of movement expression that feels best in your body. By movement, I do not mean exercise. Movement can be as small as the flick of a finger, the deepening of your breath, or as big as full body rolling around on the floor.

I believe that health and healing is about having more options. If you are healthy in your heart, you have the option to open to love, the option to be vulnerable, the option to be brave. If you are healthy in your emotions, you have the option to feel their full force without becoming dysregulated, and the option to set them aside for a moment until a more appropriate time is available. You have the option to not let your past define you or dictate your future; and the ability to create any other options you may want to have in your life. You are able to respond instead of react.