How I Work

My compassionate style of working combines a psychodynamic, experiential and somatic approach to psychotherapy. I have training in the Hakomi Method and utilize this mindfulness-based, somatic approach in my work.

In a safe, supportive environment your vital concerns will be welcomed and respected. Using a collaborative, empowering, non-judgmental form of therapy, I will help you listen to and explore your deepest concerns with openness, interest and kindness.

By helping you mindfully observe your thoughts, feelings, memories and physical sensations as they arise in the present moment you will become familiar with your deepest, most inner truth and wisdom. Developing “focused self-awareness” you will learn to trust and believe in yourself more, allowing change to occur naturally from within.

Hakomi Body-Centered Psychotherapy

The Hakomi Method (www.hakomicalifornia.org) has been taught and practiced world-wide for the past 35 years. Hakomi was originated by Ron Kurtz in the mid-seventies and draws on Eastern spiritual traditions, Western psychology and somatic and body-centered therapies. Hakomi offers a gentle but powerful somatic approach to personal change and transformation. The name is based on the Hopi Indian word that asks the question “Who are you?”

The following quotes describe aspects of Hakomi therapy:

“In Hakomi, we focus on bodily experiences, like sensations, emotions, tensions and movements. This focus on experience, rather than abstract notions, leads to more grounded insights and understanding. We discover the roots of psychological organization and we find meaning by working with here and now experiences. The body is alive with meaning and memory. We focus on experience, not for its own sake, but to learn from them, how we came to be who we are, and how we shall move on.” ~ Ron Kurtz.

“To make Hakomi effective a practitioner must be more than just someone who knows a method. The practitioner must be someone whose very presence can be healing, a person who has all the qualities needed to support emotional healing in another.” ~ Ron Kurtz

“Therapy can move from dialogue with a therapist about our life in the distant or immediate past to an exploration of our present, inner lives through cultivating what Buddhists call mindfulness.”
~ Greg Johanson and Ron Kurtz

Internal Family Systems Therapy

Internal Family Systems is a powerful, transformative and experiential psychotherapy developed by Richard Schwartz, Ph.D. IFS holds that the mind has many inner “parts” or sub-personalities, all of which have valuable roles and qualities. In addition to these parts, there is the core or true Self which is the innate leader of the internal system and when accessed is the key agent for healing.

All parts are considered normal and healthy and there are “No Bad Parts” according to Dr. Schwartz. Yet, many of these parts develop counterproductive or dysfunctional behaviors due to trauma and developmental challenges. IFS therapy works to heal wounded and protective parts by welcoming all parts and accessing the core Self to create connection, harmony and healing within and between parts.