I’m interested in the integration of the body, mind, emotions and spirit – the whole person. For my approach to mental health counseling I use movement, sound, tactile sensations, play, active listening and Cognitive/Behavior techniques for sticky thoughts, to help you develop more somatic (body-centered) awareness, feel more grounded, and more connected to yourself and the world around you. How do we use (or not) our senses to navigate the world? How can I help you tune into senses you might be unaware of, or have not used in so long you’ve forgotten they exist?
Touch – always and only with your permission – may be involved, when and if appropriate.
I also pay close attention to intuition — how do we know what we know? How can we harness and access that knowing and feel confident about it, without second guessing ourselves? How can I help you feel comfortable in your skin?
Specialties
I have extensive experience supporting clients through grief, loss, bereavement, and the emotional challenges that come with aging.
Humanistic Therapy
One of the descriptors of my counseling practice is that it is Humanistic, but what, exactly, does that mean? I have always seen Humanistic Therapy as one in which the client is the expert on themselves; they know themselves better than anyone else.
Somatic Therapy
In somatic therapy, things like trauma, chronic stress, anxiety, grief and a sense of threat are all stored in the body, and affect the way we hold ourselves, the way we breathe, the way we react, or overreact, to the everyday. As a somatic practitioner my aim is to provide a safe place for you, so you have the length and breadth to begin to pay attention to what is happening in your body.
I’m a Certified Counselor credentialed by the Washington State Department of Health (credential CCC.CL.61025453). If you’d like to explore your own mental health counseling journey contact me today to set up a free 15min consultation.
Counseling Services in Bellingham, WA