I work from a depth perspective, which means digging below the surface and figuring out what is in our unconscious that drives our current behaviors. It’s all about symbols and archetypes, which can show up in our world in many ways. How do we explore something unconscious? Through our dreams, art therapy, Sandplay, what symbols we are seeing around us, who we admire, or who gets under our skin, these all are ways to figure out what is going on under the surface to make a change. 

Art Therapy:

Art therapy is making art in the therapy room. No one needs to be an artist to create art therapy. That can, at times, hinder the process. Art therapy is about expression, not about a finished product. So you can paint, draw, collage, or sculpt. It works wonderfully to help give voice to feelings which we might lack words to describe and is very successful with treating trauma. 

Sandplay:

Sandtray is creating images with a collection of objects in a large container full of sand. It is a depth psychology technique that helps get into the unconscious. The sand can be soothing and helps people connect to a sense of play often missing in their lives. Playing opens up our psyche and allows fresh ideas to emerge that add to the conversation. 

I also firmly believe in breaking down the social constructs we have learned or seeped into our consciousness from living in this society. Often we are not even conscious that we hold and are responsible for many of the beliefs and basis we have about ourselves, others, and our place in the world.

I believe in the power of ritual and how it heals, especially with grief. Having lost some very central people in my life, I understand the journey of grief and healing. We have some rituals around loss, like funerals and memorials. I feel that creating and continuing to ritualize the loss helps us continue our relationship with that person in a new way while letting go of what used to be at the same time. Such as creating altars or objects to honor that person on personal anniversaries. 

Trauma-Informed Yoga:

Meditation and yoga are also primary parts of my practice. I am certified in Trauma-Informed Yoga through The Center for Yoga and Trauma Recovery. How I use yoga or mediation looks different for each client. Some people gain healing from doing yoga poses, and for others, it is simply about practicing breathing or getting in touch with concepts such as non-attachment and gratitude. 

All this said, the practice of therapy is collaborative, and I work with each client to see what feels right for them, so any of these modalities could be part of our work or not. No pressure, just options.