I believe that individuals are shaped by external socio-cultural influences, but they also have a considerable amount of human agency to make choices and create their own reality. In order to assist clients in their individual healing and empowerment process, I utilize an integral approach, which involves the fusion of different schools of psychotherapy.  The word ‘integrative’ also refers to integrating the personality and making it cohesive by addressing the affective (heart), cognitive (mind), physiological (body), and spiritual dimensions (soul) of the person.

Therapeutic approaches I Specialize In:

• Feminist Approaches to Therapy

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

• Empowerment and Strengths Based Approaches

• Cognitive Behavior Therapy (includes mindfulness practices)

• Bowen Family Systems (Eight Principles) and Life Span Human Development

• Transpersonal Psychology: I specialized in Psychoanalytic Sociology for my graduate studies at N.A.U. For my thesis research, I implemented a qualitative research study of Women Artists and Identity Formation. In addition, I did a independant study the scholarly research of Carl Jung and Nancy Chodorow’s brilliant contributions.

• Somatic Therapy: authentic movement for trauma, somatic experiencing, Polyvagal, and deep breathing exercises to calm nervous system, somatic release thru dance and walking meditations in nature.

• Eco-Psychology: nature and mindfulness based eco-therapy practices, with earth-based wisdoms, ritual, and rites of passage.

• Expressive Art Therapy: specializing in improvisational authentic movement, creative journaling and writing, painting, emotionally cathartic based release, sacred altars, mandala’s, and vision boards.

Therapeutic Tools I Use:

• psycho-education, validation, positive reinforcement,

• reflective and empathetic listening,

• interpersonal skills

• sound therapy

• dream analysis

• mindfulness practices

• guided meditations

• somatic experiencing (gentle trauma relief)

• light therapy

• art therapy

• earthing practices

• the Enneagram

My specialties include:

• spirituality

• depression

• anxiety

• trauma

• relationship issues

• family dynamics

• life transitions

• grief and loss

• substance abuse

• addiction

• life coaching

• women’s issues

• self esteem

• lesbian issues

• elder and geriatric concerns

• coping skills

• dual diagnosis

• eating disorders

• artists and identity conflicts

• introvert/extravert continuum

• Highly Sensitive Persons (More info. at Elaine Aron’s website).