Albert Einstein

My Therapeutic Approach

 I treat people from a holistic framework, which means I address how the presenting problem is operating on mental, physical, emotional and spiritual levels. My holistic approach includes Hypnotherapy, Brainspotting, EMDR, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness based techniques and other effective tools that I draw upon depending on what will most benefit my client at the time. My clients often find that even after one session they are more empowered to influence the direction of their lives.

   Benefits of Hypnotherapy:

Hypnotherapy is a powerful modality that allows us to bypass the conscious mind and access the subconscious mind. This is very important since the subconscious stores our past such as outdated negative programming, unresolved trauma and emotions that continue to sabotage our present choices and life experiences. Hypnotherapy allows to communicate and work directly with the outdated programming and create new ways of thinking and responding.

Benefits of Brainspotting

Brainspotting was developed by David Grand while using EMDR with a client in 2003.  Instead of rapid eye movement, we are using specific spots in your visual field that help access unprocessed trauma trapped in the subcortical brain. As you focus on the spot, I help you stay resourced and present with the memories, feelings, physical sensations that come to the surface. This an powerful and effective modality to process trauma as well stuck emotional and mental patterns in a very safe and personal way.

Benefits of EMDR:

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing) has been noted nationally as an effective form of treatment for trauma. Major traumatic events that lead to PTSD symptoms can significantly be helped as well as less severe experiences that may happen in childhood that are hurtful and impact one's self esteem.  If these experiences are too disturbing or upsetting they can disrupt the information processing system of the brain causing the memory to be stored  along with negative thoughts, emotions and even physical sensations. EMDR helps the brain process these stored memories so they no longer trigger you or color how you view and react to the present moment.

Benefits of IFS

IFS operates from the understanding that people possess multiple parts that are like parts of an internal family system. These parts of ourselves get activated depending on the situation, environment or people we are with. These parts develop early on in life as coping strategies to maintain attachment with our care givers. Often they are unconscious ways to protect ourselves from feeling hurt, rejected, criticized, or not good enough in some way. IFS helps increase self awareness and self acceptance.  We don't pathologize the parts such as the common "inner critic" or "perfectionist" but address the underlying beliefs and fears of these parts. As well learn more adaptive and healthier ways to meet the deeper needs of the parts so they can stop running your life.

Benefits of CBT:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps us we weed out old negative and harmful thought patterns and replace them with more truthful and logical ones. CBT empowers you to think differently, so in turn you feel better and are better able to handle tough situations that arise. You will learn skills to stop catastrophic and black and white thinking that prevent you from living a joyful life.

Benefits of Mindfulness

Mindfulness is a state of being fully present. Being mindful means we know what we are doing while we are doing it. Modern life is full of distractions, busyness and multitasking. I teach my clients mindfulness based techniques because it helps slow down the nervous system so we become more emotionally regulated. Mindfulness practices lead us to be less reactive and overwhelmed and instead more empowered to respond to life's stressors with intention and clarity. Studies have shown that mindfulness reduces anxiety, depression, improves sleep and lowers blood pressure. I find that it also creates more joy, contentment, patience, compassion and stronger relationships.

                                    Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) and 1:1 KAP Retreats

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Ketamine has been used in the medical field for decades primarily as dissociative anesthetic to control pain during and after surgery. In more recent years it has been found to be very effective in treating Treatment Resistant Depression and has shown promise in treating PTSD, addiction disorders as well as OCD. 

When you are living with depression, constant negative or hopeless thoughts and beliefs, flashbacks, and/or addictive and compulsive behaviors, it can be very difficult through traditional talk therapy to think or feel differently. Our brains try to protect us from painful life experiences but often in doing so we can develop mental and emotional patterns that are maladaptive, stubborn and can leave one stuck in isolating or self-sabotaging defense mechanisms. Ketamine creates neuroplasticity in the brain; opening doors for us to do powerful therapeutic work. The route of administration of Ketamine that I use in my practice is sublingual lozenges or “troches” which can create a dream like or trance state. This can be a safe and beneficial way to lower defensive walls and access emotional material that in a normal state of consciousness might be too intolerable. 

I collaborate with a local Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner who will do a thorough screening and prescribe Ketamine if it is deemed appropriate and the dosage will depend on the individual person as well as where we are in the course of treatment.  

KAP includes Preparation sessions where I can gather information and get a full understanding of your history, intentions as well as expectations for KAP. In these sessions we also build grounding and reflective practices to support you during the medicine and afterwards. 

Medicine sessions are two hours so we have time for the medicine to take effect and drop into the experience. My role is stay attuned with your journey and hold a safe and supportive space so you can trust and whatever is arising. There is therapeutic value and growth opportunities in all experiences. 

Another essential component of KAP are integration sessions where we process any challenging material and explore the application of new found insights. The number of medicine sessions depends on the client’s particular history, needs and goals. It is important to note that Ketamine is not a magic bullet and the success of KAP is tied to thorough preparation, proper set and setting for the ketamine journeys and the essential process of psychotherapeutic integration work. 

I do offer 1:1 Ketamine Retreats in my Airbnb. This space has been designed to cultivate a healing and calming atmosphere to do the work. You have the option to stay for an overnight, three days or a week where we can do several medicine sessions. Please inquire if you are interested in learning more.