experience matters

My Calling Keeps Evolving

My career has always been a strong calling for me. I thought I was spending decades becoming a master trauma therapist. It turns out that was just a training ground and foundation for becoming a shadowworker, transformational healer, and inner journey guide. I did not see that coming.

Experience Brings Wisdom

I have worked as a licensed therapist specializing in trauma for 25 years. I earned a bachelors degree in psychology and a masters degree in social work, both with highest honors. I completed many specialized trainings over the years, including EMDR, Internal Family Systems, and Mindfulness. I am a passionate learner, and I’ve devoured countless books on deep healing, trauma, and spirituality.

Of course, just like with many things, books and training can only take you so far. I have learned the most from my clients and my own healing journey. I had a drive to become good at trauma healing, so I chose to work with many people with severe and complex trauma histories. I chose to work with many people who the current mental health treatments had very limited success with, because the medical system still has a lot to learn about deep transformational healing and complex trauma.

More Is Possible

I listen to my clients, and I believe them about their experiences. I listen for what is helpful, unhelpful, and what had been harmful in previous treatment. I work collaboratively with them to explore what actually works. I stay open to continuing to learn, grow, and discover. I am willing to be creative and think outside the box. I have many clients who had been in multiple mental health treatments for many years before coming to me. Many of them felt they had reached a dead end on what benefits mental health treatment could offer them, but they still felt miserable inside. They dared to hope for more for themselves. We have found that more is actually possible. Genuine inner joy and greater aliveness are possible. I have moved beyond being trauma informed to being trauma experienced.

Trusting My Inner Compass Toward What’s Next

I am currently transitioning out of the mental health system and into holistic healing and coaching. I deeply value and honor the wisdom and benefits mental health care offers. I appreciate that mental health is continually evolving, learning, and growing. I look forward to continuing to learn from the masters in that field. It has also become clear to me that I have expanded beyond what that system offers. The name mental health highlights the focus on the mental realm and thoughts. I consider that to be one layer of the healing journey, but we can only heal so far from our heads. Mental health also covers emotional awareness, which is so helpful, and it’s starting to incorporate the body more. There are multiple valuable therapy models that are more embodied, such as somatic experiencing.

Deeper Layers of Healing and Transformation

One thing missing from mental health are the deeper energetic layers of healing. I have discovered that our very souls/essences/inner beings (whatever concepts resonate for you) need to heal from the harshness, trauma, and darkness here. I have found that we can become disconnected from our own Essence, Higher Self, Inner Compass, and Divine Light. It is not just a matter of going inward to find it inside, like many spiritual guides teach. We often need to actually bring it back inside ourselves, and I have found tangible ways to do that. The more layers of energy I perceive, the more I have realized I have expanded beyond mental health to mind, body, spirit health. It is all interconnected. I have discovered there are more efficient ways to heal more deeply. I share more details about my journey to what I offer now in My Story and Work With Me.