About

“Each person is a unique individual. Hence, psychotherapy should be formulated to meet the uniqueness of the individual’s needs, rather than tailoring the person to fit the Procrustean bed of a hypothetical theory of human behavior.” – Milton H. Erickson

“Art opens the closets, airs out the cellars and attics. It brings healing.”

Julia Cameron

       

“Art is a wound turned into light.”

George Braque

    

Here are some options…..

In working with many people over the past 28 years, I have expanded my toolbox to include meditation, hypnosis, Interactive Guided Imagery, and expressive arts. As with most therapists, I am also well grounded in more traditional therapies, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Together, we form an alliance and tailor a treatment plan that addresses your unique needs.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has practiced in the Fredericksburg, Virginia, community for 25 years, both in the private and public sector. I received a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from George Mason University and a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University. I also hold an Advanced Graduate Certificate in Contemplative Practice from the School of Social Work at Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts, and an End of Life Doula Professional Certificate from the University of Vermont, Larner College of Medicine. In addition to my traditional training, I have been meditating since 1977 when I began studying Transcendental Meditation. Over the years I have explored mindfulness practices. Since 1999, I have used and taught Usui Reiki. I enjoy sharing this nurturing, healing art with others.

Hypnosis and Interactive Guided Imagery

“Each person is a unique individual. Hence, psychotherapy should be formulated to meet the uniqueness of the individual’s needs, rather than tailoring the person to fit the Procrustean bed of a hypothetical theory of human behavior.” – Milton H. Erickson

When appropriate, I may suggest utilizing hypnosis or interactive guided imagery into our sessions. Both of these modalities utilize the power of your own mental images. A mental image is something we mentally see, hear, taste, smell, touch, or feel.

Thanks to the Academy for Guided Imagery, they have very succinctly described this approach:

The term “guided imagery” refers to a wide variety of techniques, including simple visualization and direct suggestion using imagery, metaphor and story-telling, fantasy exploration and game playing, dream interpretation, drawing, and active imagination where elements of the unconscious are invited to appear as images that can communicate with the conscious mind.

Once considered an “alternative” “or complementary” approach, guided imagery is now finding widespread scientific and public acceptance, and it is being used to teach psychophysiological relaxation, alleviate anxiety and depression, relieve physical and psychological symptoms, overcome health-endangering habits, resolve conflicts, and help patients prepare for surgery and tolerate procedures more comfortably.

Mental images, formed long before we learn to understand and use words, lie at the core of who we think we are, what we believe the world is like, what we feel we deserve, what we think will happen to us, and how motivated we are to take care of ourselves. These images strongly influence our beliefs and attitudes about how we fall ill, and what will help us to get better.

Conditions that could be addressed through clinical hypnosis as part of therapeutic milieu (but not limited to):

Anxiety, mood disorder, trauma, obtaining greater insight to resolve issues from the past (including past life regression), habit control, skill development, stress management. Hypnosis can also be utilized to enhance creativity for artists and musicians.

Expressive Arts

I have been offering SoulCollage® classes and workshops since February, 2015. SoulCollage® is an intuitive collage process where one creates incredible cards that can help to tap into inner wisdom and intuition. There are many applications for SoulCollage® cards in daily life. They can help in problem solving, creative thinking, stress management, life transitions, coping with illness, relationships, having creative fun, accessing inner strengths and wisdom. You needn’t have a background in art or any special talents to benefit from this amazing process. for more information on SoulCollage®, check out:

www.soulcollage.com. 

At times, I may suggest we weave mediums like journaling, writing poetry or prose, drawing, painting, dream work or three dimensional artwork into our therapeutic work together. I find that once we can get beyond the feeling that we are not creative or that we cannot create anything of worth, the healing can be profound. Our images come from a deep and sacred place within. By putting them on paper or rendering them visible by our conscious mind, we can better understand our unconscious process. In this way, expressive arts can be our medicine.

I have been using the MARI since 1997. The MARI is an accurate Jungian psychological assessment based on symbols and colors. Our unconscious mind responds to symbols and colors, so this tool helps us to identify patterns and themes. The MARI can help us to further identify areas of strength as well as challenge in your life.