Approach
Based on an individual’s unique needs, my practice is inspired by the following approaches:
NEUROBIOLOGY
Understanding how the brain and nervous system relate to overall health is a crucial reference point in my practice.
Through neurobiology, we know the brain is malleable. After trauma, attachment injury, shame, depression, and anxiety, it has the incredible ability to grow and change, developing new neurons and forming new neural pathways. My methodology is informed by the latest research in order to optimize therapeutic efficacy.
HAKOMI
Hakomi is a somatic-based therapy — a form of therapy which departs from traditional talk therapy and focuses on the body and the multidimensional expression of our inner world.
For instance, psychological patterns and habits manifest in our bodies as gestures, comportment, and posture. This is a gift because these physical signatures illuminate pathways to unconscious belief systems that hold us back. That self-knowledge leads to empowerment and healing.
ATTACHMENT THERAPY
Attachment therapy is a form of relational therapy predicated on attachment theory — which suggests that the quality of early caregiver bonding influences relationship patterns throughout a person’s whole life.
Negative early primary relationship experiences can teach us that it’s impossible to trust anyone but ourselves. Or to only trust others and not ourselves. Or to even mistrust both ourselves and others. Attachment styles left unexamined can cause deleterious roadblocks to healthy, happy relationships.
But there’s an antidote for attachment wounds: healing relationships that break the cycle. The source of trauma is not just what happened to us but also the lack of supportive relationships around us that might help us heal. Our therapeutic relationship can serve as a blueprint to repair old attachment wounds. Attachment therapy can be particularly powerful for people with difficult childhoods, but it can benefit anyone challenged to create deep connections to others. Within the context of our culture that venerates self-reliance, healthy interdependence can lead us back toward happiness and away from isolation.
TRAUMA/EMDR THERAPY
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a therapeutic modality created specifically to relieve suffering stemming from traumatic events.
The stress and pain that EMDR addresses manifest in different ways — as emotional turmoil during triggering moments or as a globalized sense of distress, anxiety, depression, or numbness. These states of mind make the nervous system feel threatened, setting off a cascade of physiological reactions that impact mental and physical health.
EMDR is a science-based technique that forges new neural connections which help metabolize and process old trauma. In other words, EMDR disrupts emotional patterns on a neurological level. In a session, a client discusses the traumatic occurrence in brief sequential doses while simultaneously practicing therapist-led lateral eye movements. This process softens the intensity of traumatic memories and provides relief.
I have completed level 1 and 2 EMDR trainings through EMDRIA, and I’m in the process of gaining certification.
Equine Assisted Psychotherapy
Equine Assisted Psychotherapy sheds light on the client’s struggles and helps them to make sense of their lived experience.
Equine Assisted Psychotherapy is a very effective type of experiential therapy. During a session, you meet with me and a horse specialist at a barn situated in the verdant rolling hills of Cornelius, Oregon next to a wildlife restoration area. Together, we’ll create a plan and framework for the visit. Once that's set, you spend the session with the horses.
Horses are powerful mirrors of human emotion. For example, if a person is trying to understand a recent breakup, the intricacies of that relational dynamic can surface while interacting with and observing the horses. The therapeutic process happens simply by being in relationship with the horse. The client’s unfolding emotions in this situation inform and reveal ingrained psychological patterns. This can be especially powerful for people struggling with attachment or interpersonal trauma; the steady, non-judgemental stance of the horse creates a sense of safety and connection.
Many times, the collaboration between horse and client bears the fruit of deeper self-awareness, emotional healing, and a nourishing sense of interdependence. In our world, we organize ourselves within progress-oriented capitalism. Yet underneath that is another system, the system of nature in which everything is in relationship. The more-than-human world is non-transactional and non-linear. When we connect to that, it’s a source of restoration.
It’s an honor to witness the quiet wisdom of horses and expose clients to this potent therapeutic approach.
FAQ: EQUINE PSYCHOTHERAPY
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The barn is located 45 minutes outside of Portland in Cornelius.
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Sessions are 50 minutes.
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In the winter, you need to wear boots that can get muddy plus warm layers and rain gear. In the summer, it’s good to wear a hat and sunscreen. In all seasons, please wear boots and clothing that can get a little dirty — not that you’ll get dirty, but it is a barn.
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No horse handling skills are necessary. Both newbies and those with horse experience are welcome.
RATES
Because finding the right therapist is important, I offer a free 30-minute consultation in person or over the phone.
I charge $220 per 50 minute session and $245 per 60 minute session (normally reserved for couples). I have a limited number of sliding scale time slots for those experiencing financial hardship.
I accept cash, checks, and credit cards. At this time, I do not accept insurance.