Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy in Petaluma

Please note: I am not currently taking psychotherapy clients.

I offer a safe, confidential relationship in which you can explore what is of most concern to you. We will balance helping you to learn new ways of dealing with the difficult symptoms of anxiety, depression, trauma, stress, or other life challenges, while approaching and healing the underlying, unresolved dynamics contributing to these difficulties.

In this way, I hope to help you to develop a meaningful relationship with yourself while moving toward the life you want.

“Every bad feeling is potential energy toward a more right way of being if you give it space to move toward its rightness.”

– Gendlin

Tailored to Who You Are...

Psychologist in Sonoma County

My approach to therapy varies depending on your needs, but is guided by a holistic understanding of you, your potential, and the innate wisdom of your mind and body. At times we may focus on emotional regulation. At other times, we may need to focus on helping you process unresolved emotions related to loss, grief, or trauma. And still at other times, sandplay, dreamwork, or closely examining our relationship in the here-and-now may be most helpful.

Although I tend to work psychodynamically to understand how your past shapes your present, and experientially to move beyond talking about your problems to having an in-session experience that is corrective, I have found that being flexible and tailoring my approach to each client’s unique needs and cultural identities helps to produce the lasting change clients seek.

Please note that I only offer psychotherapy to adults.
I offer neurofeedback to children and teens.

Psychotherapy Modalities

Psychologist in Petaluma

Below are some of the primary psychotherapy modalities I tailor and utilize to help you achieve your specific goals.

Jungian Depth Psychotherapy

Depth psychotherapy focuses on uncovering and addressing the hidden, often conflicted unconscious aspects of the mind that influence thoughts, emotions, and behavior. One of its primary benefits is the deep, transformative healing it offers by addressing the root causes of emotional and psychological distress. Depth psychotherapies, such as attachment-based psychotherapy, aim to explore how early relationships shape an individual's patterns of relating to others. By helping people understand the influence of childhood attachment experiences on their current relationships and emotional states, it fosters healing and the development of healthier ways of connecting with others. This can be especially powerful in addressing issues like anxiety, depression, and relationship difficulties, as individuals gain insight into how past attachments continue to shape their emotional responses.

Jungian psychotherapy, a form of depth psychotherapy, emphasizes the importance of integrating unconscious material, including dreams, symbols, and archetypes, into conscious awareness. This approach helps individuals develop a deeper understanding of themselves and their life's purpose by exploring the symbolic meaning of their experiences and emotions. One key benefit of Jungian therapy is its holistic nature, as it encourages personal growth, creativity, and a sense of wholeness by bringing the unconscious into conscious alignment. This form of therapy is particularly beneficial for those seeking meaning in their lives, individuals facing existential crises, or those dealing with deep-seated psychological conflicts that may not be easily accessible through more surface-level therapeutic approaches.

Relational Psychodynamic Psychotherapy

Relational psychodynamic psychotherapy focuses on the interpersonal dynamics between the therapist and the client, viewing this relationship as a microcosm of the client's broader relational patterns. The benefit of this approach lies in its ability to create a safe, reflective space where individuals can explore their unconscious relational tendencies and begin to shift unhealthy or maladaptive patterns. By understanding and experiencing new ways of relating within the therapeutic relationship, clients can develop more fulfilling and authentic connections in their everyday lives. This process also fosters greater emotional resilience, self-awareness, and an increased ability to navigate complex emotions and interpersonal challenges.

Experiential-Dynamic Approaches

Experiential-Dynamic Psychotherapies, including Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy and Emotion-Focused Individual Therapy, is a therapeutic approach that emphasizes the role of emotional experience in the healing process. It integrates elements of psychodynamic theory with a focus on present-moment emotional experiences, aiming to help clients access and process core emotions that are often avoided or suppressed. By encouraging the direct experience of emotions in a safe and supportive environment, experiential-dynamic therapy helps individuals become more aware of their emotional responses, leading to increased self-awareness and emotional regulation. This approach facilitates the release of repressed emotions and promotes psychological growth by encouraging clients to confront unresolved emotional conflicts and integrate these experiences into their self-concept.

One of the key benefits of Experiential-Dynamic Psychotherapy is its emphasis on emotional immediacy and the dynamic interplay between emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. It offers a powerful way to work through emotional blockages that may be contributing to anxiety, depression, and relationship difficulties. The therapist actively engages with the client, helping them to process their emotional experiences in real-time, while also exploring the defenses that may prevent them from fully feeling their emotions. This combination of emotional exploration and psychodynamic insight allows clients to gain a deeper understanding of their internal world and develop healthier ways of responding to their emotions, ultimately fostering greater emotional resilience and well-being.

Focusing Oriented Therapy

Focusing-Oriented Therapy (FOT) is a therapeutic approach that emphasizes bodily awareness and the direct, felt experience of emotions and thoughts. One of the key benefits of FOT is its ability to help individuals connect with deeper, often unconscious, layers of their emotions through what is called the "felt sense." By tuning into the physical sensations and vague, nonverbal feelings in the body, clients can gain insights into unresolved emotional issues or conflicts that are difficult to access through traditional talk therapy alone. This process allows for a more profound and intuitive understanding of one’s emotions, promoting emotional healing and clarity, especially for those who struggle with identifying or expressing feelings.

Another significant benefit of Focusing-Oriented Therapy is its emphasis on self-compassion and acceptance during the therapeutic process. FOT teaches clients to approach their inner experiences with curiosity and gentleness, rather than judgment, helping them to foster a more compassionate relationship with themselves. This can be particularly helpful for individuals dealing with issues such as self-criticism, anxiety, or trauma, as it encourages a sense of safety and trust in their own body’s wisdom. Over time, this practice leads to increased emotional resilience, greater self-awareness, and the ability to navigate complex emotions more effectively, ultimately supporting personal growth and psychological well-being.

Parts-Work Therapies

Parts-work therapies, such as ego-state therapy, Jungian therapy, and Internal Family Systems (IFS), offer a unique approach to understanding the mind by viewing it as composed of various "parts" or subpersonalities, each with its own feelings, needs, and perspectives. One key benefit of parts-work therapy is its ability to help individuals integrate conflicting or disowned aspects of themselves. Many people experience internal struggles between different emotions or desires—such as wanting to take risks but also fearing failure. Parts-work therapies help clients identify, understand, and reconcile these internal conflicts by encouraging compassionate communication between their various parts. This leads to greater internal harmony, emotional regulation, and self-understanding, reducing inner tension and self-sabotaging behaviors.

Another significant benefit is that parts-work therapies provide a safe space for individuals to explore and heal wounded or traumatized parts of themselves, often referred to as "exiled" parts in IFS. These exiled parts are typically the ones that hold unresolved pain, trauma, or fear, and are often suppressed to avoid emotional discomfort. By recognizing and nurturing these parts, individuals can heal deep emotional wounds, develop self-compassion, and experience personal growth. This process allows for the transformation of harmful patterns and the development of more balanced, empowered ways of engaging with the world. Ultimately, parts-work therapies help individuals cultivate a stronger, more integrated sense of self.

Sandplay Therapy

Sandplay therapy is a depth-oriented, experiential therapeutic technique that involves the use of sand, miniature figures, and a sandbox to create symbolic representations of a person's inner world. One of the key benefits of sandplay therapy is its ability to bypass the conscious mind, allowing individuals to access deeper, unconscious feelings and experiences that may be difficult to articulate through words. The tactile and creative nature of the therapy provides a safe, nurturing environment for individuals to explore and express complex emotions, making it particularly effective for those who may struggle with verbal communication, such as children or individuals who have experienced trauma. By engaging with symbols and imagery, clients can explore personal narratives, resolve inner conflicts, and facilitate healing at a deep, psychological level.

Sandplay therapy is especially helpful for processing trauma, grief, and unresolved emotional conflicts. It has been used to treat a wide range of psychological issues, including anxiety, depression, attachment issues, and PTSD. The non-directive approach allows individuals to project their inner emotional landscapes into the sand, providing a tangible and visual way to work through feelings that might otherwise be repressed or avoided. Additionally, because it allows the unconscious to communicate through symbols, sandplay therapy can help clients gain insights into their emotional patterns and psychological struggles, often leading to emotional breakthroughs, greater self-awareness, and inner healing.

An In-Depth, Holistic Approach to Your Well-Being

Holistic depth psychotherapy is a therapeutic approach that addresses not just symptoms but the underlying roots of psychological issues, often reaching deep into a person’s past experiences, unconscious patterns, relationship problems, unresolved trauma, and even somatic or bodily experiences. By looking at the individual as a whole, this approach considers the intricate interplay between mind, body, culture, social-context, and spirit. Clients often benefit from gaining a more integrated self-awareness, understanding not just isolated thoughts or behaviors but how these connect to a deeper emotional landscape. Through this process, clients can develop a more authentic connection with themselves and others, fostering greater resilience and emotional clarity.

One of the primary benefits of holistic depth psychotherapy is its ability to address trauma in a more profound and sustained way. Traumatic experiences often create patterns that exist beyond conscious awareness, influencing behavior, relationships, and self-image. By working with tools such as dreamwork, bodywork, mindfulness, and sandplay, individuals can access and process these hidden layers of trauma in a safe, structured environment. Rather than simply managing symptoms, holistic depth therapy provides a pathway to transform and release deeply held emotions, reducing the hold that past traumas may have on an individual’s present life.

Additionally, holistic depth psychotherapy encourages personal growth by integrating various aspects of an individual’s life, such as personal values, spiritual beliefs, cultural identities, and physical well-being. This comprehensive approach can lead to a more profound sense of purpose and alignment. Individuals often experience an enhanced ability to make decisions that reflect their true values and cultivate relationships that feel more genuine and fulfilling. In this way, holistic depth psychotherapy not only addresses specific issues but also serves as a journey toward self-discovery and personal empowerment, leading to a richer, more balanced life.