Psychotherapy, Psychoanalysis, Jungian Sand Therapy, EMDR
Equine Facilitated Learning & Leadership 

An integrative and relational approach

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I believe there is no single approach to therapy that works for everyone. Each person brings a unique history, personality, strengths, challenges, and way of experiencing the world. My approach is therefore integrative, drawing from deep emotions and hidden from the plain sight forces that influence our longings and choices. Therefore, I am highly trained in relational psychoanalysis, trauma-focused therapies (such as EMDR and SE) Jungian Sandplay, experiential approaches such as Equine Assisted Psychotherapy and , when appropriate I use cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) intervention to help people cope with situations in their lives that they can not change, but can alter their perspectives on these situations.

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Some people come to therapy seeking relief from specific symptoms (such as anxiety or depression that can be debilitating) or specific concerns (such as a past traumatic event) that their body carries and would like to relieve / resolve. Others are looking for a deeper understanding of themselves, their relationships, recurring patterns, or questions of meaning and purpose. In both cases, when therapy begins, we often stumble upon past traumatic experiences (either events or the lack of them – early childhood emotional neglect that often has lifetime effects).  Therapy may be focused and time-limited, or it may unfold over a longer period of exploration and discovery.

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Understanding ourselves as individuals is important, but we do not live in isolation. We are shaped by our relationships, families, communities, and the larger world. The freedom to be ourselves must exist alongside our capacity to live with, care for, and remain connected to others. Meaningful relationships sometimes require us to negotiate our individual needs, freedoms, and desires with the needs of those we love and the communities of which we are a part. My best teacher in the relationship field were not my professors, but horses whose survival depends on connection with others. When I began working with horses, I learned not only about the herd dynamics, but about myself and others who interact with these animals in authentic and relationship-oriented way.  Therefore, while I offer equine-assisted psychotherapy as adjunct to my main psychotherapy practice, it is a crucial component of the whole. Interaction with horses increased my ability to rely on non-verbal communication and bring to my practice skills that can be obtain only via authentic interaction with animals.

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Our closest relationships are the most important ones and can reveal some of the deepest parts of ourselves. They can bring love, belonging, and connection, but they can also awaken old wounds, fears, conflicts, and patterns that are difficult to see on our own. Understanding these relationships, and our own role within them, can become an important part of the therapeutic process.

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I believe meaningful change requires both understanding and feeling. We can understand something intellectually and still find ourselves repeating the same emotional patterns. Learning to recognize and listen to our emotional life can open new possibilities for how we relate to ourselves and to others.

My role is not to impose a particular method or tell you who you should become. Instead, I bring different therapeutic perspectives into the work and together we explore and experience what is most meaningful and helpful for you: both as an individual and as a person in relationship with others.