MY APPROACH
My approach to therapy is guided by my studies of the MindBody connection and what it reveals about our innate capacity to heal and be well. As a Licensed therapist, I have extensive experience working with a variety of emotional and mental health issues, including depression, anxiety and traumatic stress. I am a Certified EMDR Therapist, having completed Levels 1 & 2 in 2006, followed by ongoing consultation and continued training in more advanced applications of EMDR. As a complement to EMDR, I also study, practice and draw from the Science of Yoga. Combined, these two areas of practice serve as the foundation of my therapeutic approach.
MY ROLE
In the treatment room, my role is that of facilitator of the client's rediscovery of the body's innate wisdom and potential. My objective is to assist clients in their process of healing from stress and trauma by helping them to awaken to their true nature, release patterns of coping that no longer serve them, and facilitate the processing and release of past traumas.
Through deepening a person's sense of the MindBody Connection, each client then becomes empowered with the tool of consciousness, which is a powerful ally in healing and personal growth. Although I am a specialist in the treatment of trauma and stress related conditions, I see the client as the ultimate expert and the agent of change in the process.
MY TRAINING AND EXPERTISE
Over the course of my career, I have developed an expertise in several populations and treatment issues, including maternal mental health, attachment disorders, complex and developmental trauma. In order to learn more about my work, please see the following links:
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy: A Therapist’s Overview
- Union Tribune Letter to the Editor on Maternal Depression Screening Recommendations
- New Mommy Media: Delayed Postpartum Depression
- Interview with KUSI News and Assemblymember Maienschein on Mental Health Legislation in California
In 2018, I founded Positively Yoga in order to create a safe, affordable, and specialized source of trauma informed yoga. This small studio environment provides the opportunity for clients and yoga students to discover the deeply therapeutic benefits of yoga from a traditional perspective. To find out more, click on the Positively Yoga tab at the top of the page.
What is EMDR Therapy?
Q: What is EMDR therapy?
A: EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It is a form of therapy that helps people heal from trauma or other distressing life experiences. EMDR therapy has been extensively researched and has demonstrated effectiveness for trauma.
Q: How can EMDR therapy help?
A: Our brains have a natural way to recover from traumatic memories and events. This process involves communication between the amygdala (the alarm signal for stressful events), the hippocampus (which assists with learning, including memories about safety and danger), and the prefrontal cortex (which analyzes and controls behavior and emotion). While many times traumatic experiences can be managed and resolved spontaneously, they may not be processed without help.
Stress responses are part of our natural fight, flight, or freeze instincts. When distress from a disturbing event remains, the upsetting images, thoughts, and emotions may create feelings of overwhelm, of being back in that moment, or of being “frozen in time.” EMDR therapy helps the brain process these memories and allows normal healing to resume. The experience is still remembered, but the fight, flight, or freeze response from the original event is resolved (See infographic below, for an illustrated explanation.)
Q: How does EMDR therapy differ from other therapies?
A: EMDR therapy does not require talking in detail about the distressing issue or homework between sessions. EMDR, rather than focusing on changing the emotions, thoughts, or behaviors resulting from the distressing issue allows the brain to resume its natural healing process. EMDR therapy is designed to resolve unprocessed traumatic memories in the brain. Part of the therapy includes alternating eye movements, sounds, or taps. For many clients, EMDR therapy can be completed in fewer sessions than other psychotherapies.
September 2019 issue of Go with That magazine, EMDRIA.org Vol 23. Issue 3.
find an EMDR Therapist
Currently I am not accepting new therapy clients due to my schedule being full. If you are trying to find an EMDR provider, you can go to the following websites to look for a provider, or contact your health insurance Member Services department to request a referral.
