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Guiding clients in restoring more aliveness, wholeness and ease in their lives is my passion, utilizing a holistic, collaborative approach that involves Somatic, Relational and Spiritual healing practices. 

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Those of all races, ethnicities, genders, non-binary, sexual identities and preferences, abilities, spiritual or religious affiliations, neuro-types, citizenship statuses, socioeconomic backgrounds and ages are warmly welcome to collaborate with me!

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I’m a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a Masters of Social Service and Administration from the University of Chicago, Somatic Experiencing (SE) Practitioner, Dynamic Attachment and Repatterning Experience (DARe) Practitioner, Trauma Informed Somatic Touch Practitioner, Internal Family Systems Therapist, Certified Yoga Teacher, Prenatal Yoga Teacher, Becoming Safely Embodied  Certified Practitioner, Reiki Master/ Teacher, Zen Shiatsu Practitioner and Birth Doula. I bring more than 25 years of studying both eastern and western modalities and philosophies to my work. 

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Through the years, I have worked in a variety of settings in different capacities including; treatment worker with the Children Youth and Families Department in New Mexico, community mental health, trauma therapist with the residential program with Hephzibah Home, Clinical Director of STEP Inc, Therapeutic Day School in Chicago, Youth Therapist at Oak Park and River Forest High School , and Shiatsu, Reiki and Yoga Teacher with wellness centers in both CA and IL.  Currently, I practice somatic psychotherapy, energy work and bodywork work with adults and adolescents in my private practice on the ancestral lands of the Potawatomi, Myaamia, Odawa, Ojibwe, Chippewa, Menominee, Oceti Sakowin, Kiikaapoi, and Peoria. Land now called Oak Park, IL. I also offer workshops and consultations for organizations and clinicians.

 

Through my years of study and practice, I have deeply explored the body’s response to traumas and stresses. I have become increasingly invested in the body-mind-spirit connection, realizing the talking piece of releasing old experiences, patterns and emotions are important, though in many cases not enough. As I embraced this knowledge of our body holding onto our experiences, both positive and challenging or traumatic, I realized the body and spirit needed equal, if not more support in releasing these adaptive patterns and stored traumas that may be holding us back from being in full connection with ourselves physically, emotionally and spiritually. In sessions, I use an integrative approach utilizing body-centered therapies and yoga practices to support meaningful shifts in clients.

 

Being passionate about a relational body-centered approach, I am a national training assistant with both Somatic Experiencing International, SEI and Dynamic Attachment RePatterning Experience,  DARe. I am also an SEI approved Group Consultation Provider. I have had the privilege of being part of Peter Levine’s assistant team through his Ergos Institute and most recently was part of Peter’s retreat facilitator team in California, Ergos Institute: Bodywork for Developmental Trauma Retreat. I am an approved Personal Session Provider and Consultation Provider for students of Somatic Experiencing (SE) and students of Dynamic Attachment Repatterning Experience (DARe).  I provide clinical supervision, consultation and somatic mentoring for mental health professionals who wish to incorporate body-centered practices into their clinical work.  You can read more here about consultations.

 

I am the creator of "Embodied Union" an attachment-informed, trauma-informed 8-week prenatal yoga class incorporating the 8 Limbs of Yoga, Somatic Experiencing, creative process and experiential relational practices to support secure attachment. I am also the creator of "Supporting You, Supporting Youth", an experiential and collaborative workshop for residential staff, educators, clinicians and parents. This is a trauma-informed and attachment informed approach to regulation and co-regulation with youth. 

 

I am also honored to be part of Prison Yoga Chicago (PYC).  PYC provides trauma-informed Yoga as a rehabilitative tool and a form of social activism for individuals impacted by the criminal legal system. I have the privilege of being a Yoga Guide with PYC. 
 

Honoring each person’s lived experience and the intelligent adaptations they have made without judgement is central to my practice.  I genuinely respect the partnership and privilege of collaborating with clients to facilitate their inner wisdom toward healing.

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Work with Me

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I am deeply grateful for the many inspiring and supportive professional and spiritual teachers, clients, friends and family I have had and continue to have the honor of learning from along the way! And I am personally supported by a loving partner, three amazing adult children, an extremely enthusiastic dog, amazing friendships, wise mentors, and of course my own therapy!!
 

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