What is Somatic Experiencing (SE)? Is a holistic approach to the resolution and healing of trauma. It is based on the Polyvagal Theory and how trauma can become stuck or stored in the body/nervous system and show up as activation or symptoms. SE helps assess if a person is “stuck” in the fight, flight, or freeze responses and provides tools to resolve these states. SE works gently with the activation in a titrated and non-cathartic way—at the client’s own pace. The goal of SE is ‘re-negotiation of the trauma,’ which is building resiliency and completing self-protective survival responses that are still held in the body. SE also enhances communication between the mind and body, which facilitates a feeling of cohesiveness within oneself. An SE session may look like using many body-based mindfulness techniques to build more awareness of what is going on internally in the body. When the client can track what is going on internally and feels safe and comfortable, we can start working towards resolving the trauma.
*I am a certified Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP), and I started my PhD in Psychology with an emphasis in Somatic Psychology at the California Institute of Integral Studies.
To learn more about Somatic Experiencing check out my blog post: Somatic Therapy.
What is Internal Family Systems (IFS)/Parts Work? Is an approach that believes that the mind is naturally multiple and is made up of ‘parts’ (sometimes referred to as sub-personalities). Everyone has Parts; having Parts does not mean having multiple personality disorder. All of the inner parts are important and have roles and jobs—even though sometimes they seem to be working against the person—causing self-sabotage. Parts are survival strategies that usually develop in childhood and stay with us in adulthood. IFS does not aim to get rid of the part but wants to assist the part in having a less extreme role. This type of therapy aims to heal the wounded parts and get all the parts to work together as a cohesive whole. An IFS session may look like using guided meditations or mindfulness to converse with the part—the part may communicate directly with the client or through thoughts, feelings, sensations in the body, memories, or images. Together, we can listen to hear what the party may be trying to communicate so that we can help them. By befriending the parts, they may work with you instead of against you, and there may be less inner turmoil when the parts are not loudly competing for your attention all the time—creating more of a sense of inner calm. The ultimate goal of IFS is to become more ‘self-lead,’ which means having the True Self lead the system rather than the parts.
*I am a certified IFS therapist and level 3 trained from the IFS Institute. I am also level 3 trained in the IFS-EMDR model from the Syzygy Institute as well as trained in the IFS sex therapy model BLISS from Patrica Rich.
To learn more about IFS, check out a blog I wrote about it: Internal Family Systems.
What is Sex Therapy? Sex therapy is a type of psychotherapy that provides an opportunity to explore many different sexual issues or topics. It can be for couples or individuals. Some people may want to explore their sexuality or gender identity and others may want to explore ways to have better intimacy or more sexual satisfaction. Some people may want to explore body image, self-esteem, trauma, or religious/shame-based messaging that has been internalized and is now interfering with their sexual expression. Others may want to explore kink or alternative relationships such as polyamory. Being able to explore these sensitive topics in a non-judgemental and sex/pleasure-affirming space while having support can facilitate healing and growth. The goal of this therapy is for you to explore who you really are and what you are truly wanting for yourself so that you can have the empowered sex life that you want and deserve. I do not offer court /probation-appointed sex therapy services at this time. There is no touching of any kind during sex therapy.
*I have a certificate in sex therapy from the University of Michigan and a Somatic Sex therapy certificate from Modern Sex Therapy Institute. I have also attended Betty Martin’s Wheel of Consent—Like a Pro workshop. I am also trained in the IFS sex therapy model BLISS.
To learn more about sex therapy—check out my blog post: sex therapy.
What is EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)? EMDR is a modality that is known for treating trauma and PTSD but can also help with other issues. Memories can get stuck in the body and nervous systems and EMDR helps process and desensitize these memories. In EMDR, ‘bilateral stimulation’ is used to help process memories by activating both the right and left sides of the brain. Types of bilateral stimulation could be tapping, back and forth eye movements, and using ‘tappers, ' which are devices that the client holds in their hand that pulsate back and forth. EMDR can also help change negative core beliefs, which can help with depression, anxiety, and many other issues. I am a trauma-informed therapist and will make sure you feel safe and comfortable before and during the EMDR process. You will never be pressured to work on memories or trauma that you do not feel ready to work with,
* I have a certificate in completing the EMDR training from the Institute for Creative Mindfulness and I also am level 3 of the IFS-EMDR model from the Syzygy Institute.
What is Neuro Affective Relational Model (NARM)? It is a holistic approach to the resolution of developmental trauma, complex trauma, and attachment trauma. It is based on the Polyvagal theory, somatic therapy, and attachment theory. NARM works with survival strategies and explores how they have interfered with how we connect to ourselves and others and how they get in the way of what we want for ourselves. Survival strategies are adaptations that we pick up from chronic misattunements/attachment failures and trauma in childhood. The survival strategies help us survive but then interfere and get in the way of what we want later in life, which often gets in the way of our relationships and connections with other people. It can often look like self-sabotage. Many children learn to disconnect from their True Selves and suppress self-expression and emotions as children in order to preserve their relationships with their caregivers and attachment figures. This can happen even when the caregivers are well-intentioned but can especially happen in cases of trauma, abuse, neglect, or constant issues in the childhood home. Children learn to deny and suppress their wants and needs in an environment that cannot attune to them, and this can become an automatic and subconscious response throughout life until some awareness is brought to it. This chronic state of being disconnected and repressed can make it hard for people to feel like they can access their True Self. In NARM therapy, we can work on identifying the specific survival strategies you use and attachment styles, and then go on to help you work through these survival strategies. NARM aims to help clients reconnect with their True Authentic Self to help them discover their true wants and needs and when this is achieved, the client can develop more profound and more intimate relationships with others.
*I am a certified NARM Therapist from the NARM Institute.
To learn more about NARM, check out my blog about NARM.
What is Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy and Psychedelic Integration Therapy? Psychedelic integration is NOT done while the client is on psychedelics but is the process of exploring and metabolizing the experience before and later in therapy (while not under the influence). Setting goals or intentions for ceremonies can be a great way to give the journey some direction. Integrating the visions and lessons learned during the journey is an important step of the healing process when doing psychedelics for therapeutic purposes. I do not supply or administer psychedelics or plant medicine. I partner with Journey Clinical, who prescribes the ketamine, and it is sent to the client’s home. Then, the client can come to a ‘dosing session,’ usually 2.5 hours.
*I have acquired my psychedelic therapy training from Blue Sage Health in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and have a Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy certificate from Fluence.
To learn more about psychedelic and plant medicine integration work—check out my blog post: Psychedelic Integration.
What is Expressive Arts Therapy? Expressive arts include all creative things—painting, drawing, collaging, visual arts, creative writing, poetry, journaling, music, dance, sand tray, sculpting, photography, film, and anything else that activates the imagination. This type of therapy can be a good fit for creative people and those who want to access more creativity and imagination. It can also help parts of the brain that are less verbal—express themselves. It can access different areas of the brain that regular talk therapy cannot. It also pairs well with somatic therapy, IFS/parts work, Jungian, and psychedelic integration.
*I am working on my Registered Expressive Arts Therapist certification through the Institute of Creative Mindfulness .
What is Jungian Therapy/ Sandtray Therapy/ Dream Work?- Jungian therapy is about making the ‘unconscious more conscious,’ in other words, becoming more aware of things about ourselves that we are not usually aware of and ultimately becoming more self-aware. Jungian therapy can make use of things like sandtray, art, writing, dreams, tarot, astrology, psychedelics, and other forms of creative expression work. Jungian therapy can also be a helpful way to explore spirituality, the meaning of life, and the universal patterns in the psyche/nature. The goal of Jungian therapy is ‘individuation,’ which can also be called ‘self-actualization'—reaching your full potential. Like many of the other types of therapies I offer, it aims to become more connected to the True Self.
Sandtray is a unique form of therapy that uses play, creativity, and symbols to access deeper levels of the subconscious by bypassing the cognitive parts of the brain that are usually activated by talk therapy. Sandtray can also be a helpful way to explore trauma or topics that one does not feel comfortable talking about with words. Sandtray can also be done in virtual sessions with a virtual sandtray that I use, which works very well.
Dream work is a way to discuss and process dreams in therapy. In dream work, the client brings up dreams that they feel were meaningful or stood out to them somehow. Some clients may keep a dream journal and track their dreams regularly to look for potential messages from the subconscious or motifs and themes. Often, I will use a sand tray for creative expressive work with dream work—for example, having a client make the dream scene in the sand tray or draw scenes from the dream.
*I have a Master’s in Depth Psychology with a emphasis in Jungian Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute in Santa Barbara, CA. I have also attended a Somatic Jungian Sandtray workshop at the C.G. Jung Institute Los Angeles.
To learn more—check out my blog on Jungian Therapy and sandtray therapy.
*Therapy at Somatic Psychotherapy Michigan will not be a good fit for you if you do not want to do somatic therapy or Internal Family Systems/parts work—I weave these two modalities into all the work I do. To learn more about somatic and IFS work check out my blog.