I believe that the stories and narratives that make up our lives are sacred.
I am blessed with the honor of hearing my client's stories, and as a result my life is deeply and profoundly enriched. There is so much power in the willingness to share ourselves with other human beings. I often ask my clients to take the risk of being vulnerable, and I never ask clients to do anything I wouldn't, or haven't, done myself. So, it is from this place of deep reverence and faith in the power of our stories, that I share part of my personal journey with you.
I am blessed with the honor of hearing my client's stories, and as a result my life is deeply and profoundly enriched. There is so much power in the willingness to share ourselves with other human beings. I often ask my clients to take the risk of being vulnerable, and I never ask clients to do anything I wouldn't, or haven't, done myself. So, it is from this place of deep reverence and faith in the power of our stories, that I share part of my personal journey with you.
As with most people in the helping professions, it was my own personal experiences with struggle and adversity that ultimately lead me down the path to becoming a therapist, and it is these lived experiences that continue to be the primary resources that inform my practice. Because, lets face it, there are some things that you just can’t learn in a textbook.
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My work now focuses largely on supporting parents during the childbearing year, and this passion stems from my own parenting experience. I had long been interested in birth, but it wasn’t until I birthed my own child, my daughter Olive, that I felt comfortable with my understanding of birth and parenting at the level necessary to support others in this arena. I was fortunate enough to have a very supportive birth team and was quite astonished by how transformative my birth experience was. |
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It was this that led to me realize the importance and deep significance of childbirth. I believe the impact truly cannot be overstated, and these impacts ripple out into, not only the life of the birthing parent and their baby, but into their family, and ultimately the larger community and world.
I also discovered around the same time, during my in-depth research of everything birth related, that the care provided to birthing individuals and families in the United States is problematic on a number of levels, that there are many gaps in services, and that birthing parents, their partners, and their babies often suffer because of it.
Everyone should have the necessary support available when going through the tender, transformational, and often stressful childbearing year, and I am honored to offer my support to clients in this area.
I also discovered around the same time, during my in-depth research of everything birth related, that the care provided to birthing individuals and families in the United States is problematic on a number of levels, that there are many gaps in services, and that birthing parents, their partners, and their babies often suffer because of it.
Everyone should have the necessary support available when going through the tender, transformational, and often stressful childbearing year, and I am honored to offer my support to clients in this area.
… But my story doesn’t end there. The birth of my daughter changed my life by helping me step into my personal power and discover my own strength. Little did I know at the time—while fully immersed in the joyous, intoxicating love that is shared between parent and child—that shortly I would need to delve into my inner reserves of courage on a whole new level...
One month before Olive’s first birthday she was diagnosed with a very aggressive form of leukemia. And my whole world crumbled.
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Up until that time, deep, soul-crushing, grief was an experience that I had not been forced to live and confront, and I was quite honestly terrified (as most of us are) to do so.
Olive, her dad, and I lived in the hospital for seven horrifying, traumatic, tender, precious months before her little body grew weary, and could no longer withstand the damaging effects of the medical treatment. We were forced to say goodbye to our sweet girl. After Olive's death, I quickly discovered first hand how isolating grief can be and the lack of support that bereaved people often face within their families, and in the larger community. In our culture grief is largely pathologized and the process is often rushed, instead of supported. |
I am passionate about providing a safe space for those who are grieving to explore their own experience of and relationship to their grief. It is in these moments of unthinkable sorrow where the transpersonal approach really has something special to offer--a completely non-judgmental, safe space for clients to come and engage in their process in whatever way feels nourishing and healing for them.
There are many different kinds of grief, and I work with clients grieving all sorts of things, but my area of expertise is working with parents who have lost a child(ren).
In addition to grief and issues surrounding childbirth, I see clients for many other concerns. Here is a list of some other reasons people come to see me.
There are many different kinds of grief, and I work with clients grieving all sorts of things, but my area of expertise is working with parents who have lost a child(ren).
In addition to grief and issues surrounding childbirth, I see clients for many other concerns. Here is a list of some other reasons people come to see me.