Shrink It

Areas of Focus

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These days, I still partner with people to do the intensive healing work after sexual trauma. I even jump in to untangle the myriad of couple troubles with you. 

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AND together, in our virtual sessions, we can also focus on:

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Organizing with a therapeutic lens:

I help trauma survivors organize physical spaces to restore safety from the outside in. The clutter, "junk room," overflowing closets or storage unit can add to mental and emotional sluggishness. You may even have neatly stacked piles or tote boxes in the garage or office, but the volume is heavy. The kitchen doesn't flow when you need it to. OR, you need help personalizing the systems you use each day to save energy for fun, rest, and play! I know, I know, radical.

 

Working through visual/concrete projects has a strong parallel to how we assist the mind, emotions, and body to process life experiences. We can SEE the change. Patterns, beliefs, reactions, anger, grief, shame, triggers, EVEN relief and celebration find their way into this process. 

 

Especially if talk therapy is "not your thing," has made things worse in the past, want to see if we're a good fit, or you want to try out therapy on a project basis is ideal. Organizing or decluttering a space with you will build your internal therapeutic muscles! It doesn't ask you to trust me immediately, to report or relive what happened. We put in the scaffolding and calm the chaos, so if you decide to work directly on your traumas later, it's there to hold you up. 

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Life transitions: coming out of long term marriage or relationship, perimenopause/menopause, job loss, empty nesting, and adjusting to being 50+ (esp if marriage and kids has not been part of the picture)

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Examining daily routines, processes, rituals with Neurodivergent individuals or anyone facing reduction in executive functioning or want better life protocols that fit your energy, time, and desire

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Something I call "Rage Clearing": When "go for a walk," "write a letter," or "go work out" just isn't metabolizing the rage, we need a better plan. We don't talk enough or make enough room for attending to rage. I'm not scare-t! Let's do it.

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Increasing Nervous system IQ so that you can clear out the impacts of what you've been through, or know the role the ANS plays when you're sorting through hard cycles with your partner. You will NOT find common ground when you're in self protection mode, your empathy is turned off, and the only words that show up are to attack or say nothing. (ANS = Autonomic Nervous System)

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Toxic religious experiences: "Deconstruction" is a common practice these days. I can help with that. It could include verbal, psychological, or sexual abuse by clergy or within the Church. It may simply mean untangling yourself from the aspects of religion and experience with religious people/organizations that were toxic or abusive. I’m glad to answer questions about this sensitive area, the role of my theology degree in counseling, and how I might help you navigate to a place that is ideal for you. Agnostics and atheists welcome.

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I also practice, can lead, or teach Tapping or Emotion Freedom Technique to assist in processing Big T and Little T traumas, including things like car accidents or witnessed events that don't seem to shake off easily. 

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My background is in Psychodynamic or Object Relations Therapy.

If you're familiar with therapy lingo, I also incorporate "parts" work, lean heavy on the role of the nervous system to find peace in our bodies (even if you're disconnected from the body), use the senses especially when naming emotions is hard, and do not think that talking alone is the way true Talk Therapy is therapeutic. We also need to know when shutting up is best. I do believe that trust is built over time in therapy, just like in any relationship, so sharing certain things before you're ready is not recommended. I go by the "I'm ready when you're ready" approach. And, we need to build that together.