About
Do you rememberwhat fascinated you as a child? Sometimes, this is a great place to start “Individuating“. This term, “Individuate,” was coined by Carl Jung and most simply is the process of becoming the person you were meant to be, aligning with your soul’s purpose, living out your unique life as it was meant to be lived. That can mean overcoming and working through whatever challenge stands before you right now.
Fascination with psychology and spiritualityhas been lifelong for me; the ideas, beliefs and emotions that make people tick, drive people to act. Many things can get in the way of “individuating.” This being true for me early on, my initial career in computer technology was not in alignment with my soul’s purpose. I learned a great deal about technology, corporate life and management but felt unfulfilled with this life choice. I tried several other unfruitful career options and subsequently developed mental and physical symptoms as a result of the disconnect with my true calling.
Talk therapyhelped me identify how my thoughts and emotions contributed to my symptoms. However, I sensed further healing was available on physical, energetic and unconscious levels. I began exploring alternative therapies and the connection between mind, body, spirit, emotions and energy. I deepened my yoga practice and training and studied Ayurveda (healing system of India), Reiki (hands-on energy healing method), dream work, meditation, nutrition, physical fitness and massage. I found that incorporating these methods into my own healing had a profoundly positive impact on mental clarity and flexibility, mood and sense of spiritual connection. I began teaching yoga, aligned with my intuition and listened to that childhood fascination.
I earneda Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in depth psychology. The depth psychology aspect allowed for deeper learning in methods that tap unconscious wisdom we all have available to us, and to use that wisdom for guidance, healing and growth. Some of these methods include dream work, active imagination (dialogue with imagery), Gestalt (present moment transformation), and spontaneous/intuitive symbolism (connecting personal meaning with ordinary events). After receiving my degree, I obtained advanced training in dream work, personal spiritual development aligned with psyche and soul, Ayurveda, meditation, and energy psychology.
I discoveredthat combining traditional and transpersonal talk therapy methods, (largely targeting mental and emotional levels) with alternative healing methods (targeting physical, energetic and spiritual bodies) resulted in more complete and effective healing, growth and evolution.
Varied internshipsallowed me to gain specific experience with the following populations that I continue to be passionate about serving:
• military families
• parents of children with developmental disabilities, and
• highly traumatized individuals
I also have experienceand deeply enjoy working with:
• anxiety and panic symptoms,
• divorce and relational issues,
• depression, grief & loss,
• life transitions,
• spiritual crises/matters,
• work & career issues,
• trust issues,
• creative blocks,
• gender, gay & lesbian concerns and
• personal growth
Since becoming licensedas a Marriage and Family Therapist, I continue to maintain personal yoga, meditation, spiritual and physical fitness practices – all of which assist and inform my service to clients. I am deeply grateful to have aligned with my true vocation and am eager to help others “Individuate.”
Degrees:
•Master of Arts, Counseling Psychology with Emphasis in Depth Psychology, Pacifica Graduate Institute
•Bachelor of Science, Computer Science and Mathematics, Mary Washington College
Licensure & Associations:
•Marriage and Family Therapist license, LMFT50474, CA Board of Behavioral Sciences & T1568, OR Board of Licensed Professional Counselors and Therapists
•Certified EAGALA (Equine Assisted Growth And Learning Association) psychotherapist
•California Association of Marriage & Family Therapists (CAMFT) member
•Association for Comprehensive Energy Psychology (ACEP) member
•Previous personal trainer certification, emphasis yoga and nutrition
“The real miracle of individuation…is that we all begin the process before we are ready, before we are strong enough, before we know enough; we begin a dialogue with thoughts and feelings that both tickle and thunder within us. We respond before we know how to speak the language, before we know all the answers, and before we know exactly to whom we are speaking.”
~ Clarissa Pinkola Estes ~