I’m grateful to live in a time in history when awareness around cultural and inter-generational trauma and complex PTSD is coming to the forefront.   A lack of understanding around my own trauma and what to do about it left me feeling like there was something wrong with me for  much of my life.  I’ve been no stranger to feeling  anxious, depressed, stuck, powerless, without trust in my own inner compass and inner resources.   It has often felt like a challenge to know who I am and what I want.   I’ve explored many avenues for healing, growth and self-understanding throughout my life. From the most conventional to the pretty esoteric,  I’m immensely thankful for all I’ve learned and experienced along the way.  However, it is Focusing that really shifted things for me.

I came to Focusing during a time when I was experiencing physical health challenges that were making it hard to function. I was fortunate to work with many gifted healers and health professionals, yet I instinctively knew there were limits to the impact of these external interventions. My physical health challenges came on after a prolonged period of intense stress and of life feeling out of control. It was a scary time, feeling my vitality seep out of me and chronic pain, weakness and fatigue set in. I had enough awareness of the mind-body connection to understand that my body was calling for me to make some major internal shifts, including in how I managed stress in my life. It was divine timing finding Focusing when I did. Learning to get into relationship with my body through the practice of Focusing  has improved my physical health and  has been the most impactful way for me to find emotional healing, shift deeply held patterns and find an abiding sense of home and comfort within myself.

Focusing is practical and magical, accessible and deep, gentle and empowering.   Amidst the inevitable ups and downs of life and challenges of our modern times, I find myself living with greater ease, joy, vitality, strength and trust.   It is an honor to  guide others through this practice.

Selected Education and Training

Certified Focusing Professional with the International Focusing Institute (Mentors: Sandy Jahmi Burg, Mary Elaine Keiner, and Frank O’neil)

Embodied Experiential Dreamwork Training Program – Dr. Leslie Ellis

Focusing-Oriented Therapy and Complex Trauma Training Program – Jeffrey Morrison, M.A., Seattle Focusing Institute

University of Washington, Seattle, Graduate work in Geography

University of Maryland, College Park, B.A. in Anthropology