The body develops expectations in relation to its environment and because these expectations are developed unconsciously, they do not often respond to our thinking brains rationales. Repeated traumatic experiences can affect the nervous system, which is intimately tied to our mood and our feeling of safety and trust with others. Our reality is created by how we make sense of what is happening around us and the meanings we invent are based on factors such as our culture, family value system, etc. 

As we grow, our bodies and minds develop in the context of our environment. Each of us looks out at the world through a lens that is colored by our experiences. We each have our own unique defenses to meet the requirements of our unique experience in the world. If we are punished for reaching out to those around us, we may experience an immediate tenseness in our body and get the feeling that there is something wrong or bad about us. If this experience is repeated over and over, the tenseness may transform into chronic body aches and the feeling may be internalized and we may develop a protective part of us that learns to put others needs before our own. This internalization may lead to issues in self-worth that can plague us in future relationships and personal or professional endeavors. Healing requires looking back at all the protective parts we have developed with understanding and compassion and letting go of the messages we received that were harmful. It means discovering our authentic selves so we can move toward realizing our full potential and building a life of our own choosing.

Existential-Humanistic Therapy is the over-arching philosophy that guides my work. I see our relationship as a partnership. You are the expert on your life and I am a fellow human out there in the muck with you. While we are in the container of a therapeutic relationship which has boundaries, within those boundaries I bring my full humanness to my work. The relationship between therapist and client is scientifically proven to be more important than any one therapeutic modality. As fellow humans, we will explore your beliefs about yourself and the world to see what serves you and what doesn’t. We will work together to discover the unique path to your wholeness and fulfillment.