Therapeutic Framework
Inner Parts Work
We are all made up of an assortment of different selves or “parts.” You have probably even found yourself saying something like, “One part of me wants to do that, but another part of me just doesn’t.” In this therapeutic framework, we make space for all the parts of you that exist in both your consciousness and sometimes in your unconscious as well to come into dialogue with each other. We will seek to explore, understand, and integrate some of the competing needs of all these parts that make up who you are.
EMDR
EMDR therapy can help the mind heal from psychological trauma much like the body recovers from physical trauma. EMDR therapy is a structured therapy whereby the meaning of painful events is transformed on an emotional level with the help of bilateral stimulation. You can read more about how EMDR works here.
Hakomi Somatic Therapy
Hakomi is a somatic, mindfulness-based psychotherapy often described as assisted self-discovery. When working with Hakomi, we bring attention to the present moment and track what’s happening in real time: Is there a heavy sensation in your chest? A repeated movement that keeps showing up in your body? We might explore some gentle experiments to see what arises: What do you notice when you slow your racing speech way down? What arises in response to a statement that I offer? These inquiries allow us to explore how your self as a system responds (with sensations, memories, words, imagery, etc.), pointing towards deeper psychological material that is not typically accessible through conversation alone.
Art Therapy
Sometimes words are just not enough to capture the depth and complexity of our experience. Art therapy offers an opportunity to engage the whole self in ways that are distinct from verbal communication alone and foster deep understanding and empowerment within yourself. You don't need to be an artist to do art therapy and not every session needs to be focused on some grand masterpiece. Ultimately, I believe that art and therapy both rely on the same creative process: taking risks, shifting perceptions, finding unexpected solutions, transforming “mistakes”, and leaving a meaningful mark on the world around us.