Art Credit: John Jude Palencar - Mind of Mind
My approach to mental health care is rooted in anti-oppressive and decolonizing frameworks that create a safe and inclusive space for black-bodied individuals, LGBTQ+ folks, survivors of trauma, sex workers, and clients who are struggling with relationship and intimacy issues. The treatment modalities that I use have been found to be effective across many cultures, ages, genders, and experiences. I am here to support my clients in rediscovering themselves, strengthening their mind-body connection, and living the life they have always wanted.
Somatic Experiencing
As we move through life, it is normal to feel fear when unexpected events occur. Some events have such a negative impact that the trauma becomes “trapped” in our bodies. Somatic Experiencing Therapy (SE) uses mindfulness to notice the sensations in the body to help you gradually confront your traumatic memories and the triggers that may be associated with them. Somatic treatment allows you to recognize how trauma symptoms manifest in your body, as you learn to soothe and release the pains that have been held there for so long. This perspective allows you to show up, slow down and just be as you release unprocessed trauma which is beneficial for black-bodied individuals who may be disconnected from their body’s desire to talk to them through somatic responses due to past traumatic experiences that have created disconnection within the body.
Learn more about Somatic Experiencing here.
Internal Family Systems
Painful experiences can sometimes cause us to compartmentalize parts of ourselves in order to survive. We may feel emotionally numb, completely disconnected from our bodies and the world around us. At other times, we may lash out, becoming a version of ourselves that we barely recognize. No matter your response to prolonged stress or trauma, all of who you are is welcome to this space.
Internal Family Systems (IFS) is an intuitive therapeutic framework that embraces the multiple aspects that make up who you are and allows black-bodied individuals to be present with themselves in a deeper way. By helping you to understand, align with, and harmonize your internal “parts,” IFS provides a compassionate approach to healing the inner conflicts you may struggle with each day.
Learn more about Internal Family Systems here.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
For many black-bodied folks, experiences of trauma can occur before we even have the words to describe what has happened to us. When we experience something that is traumatic, we don’t feel safe. We may replay the events in our minds over and over, struggling to process our emotions without feeling overwhelmed.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a powerful clinical technique that helps you to safely connect with your experiences by "moving" disturbing or traumatic memories from the part of the brain that processes the present to the part of the brain that processes the past. EMDR is most helpful for people who may struggle to live their daily lives normally due to intrusive traumatic memories. EMDR treatment allows you to participate fully in your present life and move forward.
Learn more about EMDR here.
Brainspotting
Brainspotting’s approach to healing is anti-oppressive and leaves room for you to show up just as you are. Many times traditional talk therapy can feel stifling and may not leave room for our body’s way to naturally process what it needs to process.
There may be times when it feels better to avoid deep therapeutic work for fear of re-experiencing the emotional and physical pain associated with negative experiences, however, Brainspotting can support you in moving deeper based on your body’s needs. We may try to leave the past in the past, but the presence of trauma in our bodies and minds can hinder our natural ability to heal these psychological wounds. Brainspotting (BSP) is a focused therapeutic intervention that uses spots in your field of vision to access unprocessed trauma stored in your brain. By connecting to the body’s natural ability to scan, identify, and heal stored trauma, BSP allows you to experience deep mind-body connection, release, and healing.
Learn more about Brainspotting here.