How I work
My approach to healing is informed by politicized somatics, narrative techniques, parts work, and intersectional feminism. That means that in therapy we’ll work with the ways that your body and mind have been shaped by trauma, oppression and privilege. We’ll work with - and sometimes revise - the stories you’ve told to make sense of your own experience. And we’ll pay attention to the ways your life has been impacted by white supremacy, patriarchy, and capitalism. Below are some of the core principles that guide my work.
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Healing is political.
Oppression takes a toll on our minds, bodies, and spirits. Racism, ableism, transphobia, and other forms of systemic violence literally restrict our access to the things that keep us alive. This can ultimately convince us that we shouldn’t be here.
All of us need and deserve safety, belonging, and dignity. It will take deep systemic transformation to make those things readily available to all people. For this reason, individual healing work cannot be separated from systemic change work.
In our work together, we won’t pretend that you can think your way out of oppression. Instead, we’ll carve out space for you to reconnect to self-love, both as an end in itself and as fuel for more powerful change work.
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Healing is communal.
Individual therapy is an important part of many people’s healing paths, but it’s not the whole thing. Healing really takes root in us when when we’re witnessed in our transformation and held by community. This might mean leaning on chosen family or connecting with people who share our experiences and identities.
Healing means growing our capacity to give and receive love. Therapy may help with unblocking the channels so that love can flow more freely, but the real change happens as you practice loving and being loved.
In our work together, we will talk about how to invite your close people into your healing process in boundaried, intentional, and affirming ways.
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Healing is transgenerational.
So many of the painful experiences that shape us - abuse, exploitation, oppression - accumulate across generations and are transmitted both epigenetically and interpersonally. This is also true of our inherent resilience and survival skills.
When you commit to your own healing work, it can have powerful ripple effects. It can rearrange your relationships with family members who are still living and with those who are no longer here. It can illuminate the places where you carry shame that’s not yours to carry. It can interrupt cycles of violence and soften the way for future generations.
In our work together, we will gather resource from ancestors, reconnect with your younger self, and envision the futures you long for.
Together we can work on:
healing experiences of interpersonal and systemic violence
finding joy and freedom around gender and sex
setting boundaries and making requests
navigating interpersonal and organizational conflict
connecting to a sense of agency and self-trust
weathering grief and loss
honing your contribution to liberation movements
identifying and moving toward your longings
If this resonates, get in touch to schedule a free phone consultation.