AEDP Therapists in Novato, CA

I believe in the healing force within each person and its natural inclination to arc towards wholeness and health. If we want it enough, have patience, clarity and support we can heal and feel freedom in life. Growth happens best in relationship and I am here to support you on your path, wherever that might be. I am anchored in Jungian psychology, Existentialism and AEDP/Somatic work. More importantly, I try to cultivate a sense of warmth, care, respect and curiosity in my work with clients. I work with clients experiencing: anxiety, depression, grief, relationship/family issues, PTSD, self-criticism and lack of meaning.

I specialize in working affirmatively with sex and gender diversity and sex-positive communities (LGBTQ*, non-normative relationships, open/non-monogamous, burners, polyamory, polysexuality, asexuality, intersex, gender nonconformity/fluidity, BDSM/kink, leather, fetish, HIV+, HepC+, Herpes+). I welcome clients with issues around minority stress, neurodivergence, depression/anxiety, trauma, grief/loss, couples/multiple-partner relationships, parent/child relationships, family counseling. I also welcome those looking to heal sexual trauma or those working through sexual difficulties. I'm a well-trained integrative sex therapist.

I am the developer of the Transformative Couples Therapy (formerly called AEDP for Couples). I teach and supervise this method nationally and internationally. This method is distinct from other approaches in that we do not focus on finding what is wrong with the relationship, but rather we uncover the felt experience of love that has become buried over time. This method is unique in that the couple members speak directly to each other from the first moments of the first session and with the skillful structure the therapist provides. They discover how to create experiences of loving and being loved that they have been missing.

Everyone can have a meaningful life filled with well-being. I am a catalyst for individuals in creating lives of authenticity, wellbeing and meaning. By supporting you in feeling more connected to yourself, we will work together to create an increased sense of wellbeing and satisfaction with life, relationships and work. Through deep connection to your internal process, we will together cultivate ways to open channels that bypass self-limiting behaviors so you can function more effortlessly. Purposefully engaging with yourself and others with intention and clarity, fully integrating all the parts of who you are.

Maybe you are stuck in patterns that do not serve you. Maybe experiences and relationships that should give you pleasure leave you wanting. Or find yourself ruminating about the past or worrying about the future rather than living expansively, now. While many people can identify "the problem": alcohol and drugs; the death of a loved one; the end of a marriage, etc. Sometimes our inability to live fully confuses us. Together we can look at what is getting in the way. As a guide and companion I can help you heal past wounds and open to the joy and possibilities your life has to offer.

Are you feeling alone, struggling with limiting core beliefs, wounding or trauma? I can help! As a seasoned, skilled and caring practitioner I help unpack psychological issues, emotional needs, spiritual unfolding, early childhood neglect and issues of death and dying? In an atmosphere of safety and compassion we can address your life transition, relationship pain and suffering, compromised health, grieving, loss of purpose or spiritual confusion? I'm here to listen, navigate, transform and rewire the agony, hurt and aloneness that's running your life. It's possible to open your heart, trust and find your inner voice & purpose now!

You are unique person of great value and worth. However life's difficult challenges can make you feel the opposite: anxious, depressed, a bit lost and alone. To find more happiness and fulfillment, be it loving yourself more, working through relationship issues or discovering the work that speaks to your soul is the human journey. And challenge! I guide you to work through your struggles, hurts and upsets. Your strengths and gifts I shall identify. Within the wings of care, heart centered mindfulness, simple tools that really work and luminous curiosity you can feel calmer and live a life you long for. One step at a time.

Inevitably there are times when you will struggle with difficult emotions, be stretched thin by the responsibilities of life, or be unsure about how to meet the challenges of being in relationship. During these times, therapy can help you slow down, process your feelings, develop a more compassionate relationship to yourself, and teach you the tools to connect with your resilience and strength. If you are a parent, you might be in a place where you're overwhelmed by your child's emotions or difficulties at school or with peers. Therapy can help your child find balance and a healthier way of relating.

Relationships are our speciality - We work with couples, families, and individuals on attachment issues, relationships, connection, and emotional safety. We are 'Emotionally Focused Couples Therapists' (ICEEFT) as well as sex-informed therapists. Our approach involves turning around patterns that feel out of control and repetitive while increasing bonding and closeness. We also work with individuals on connecting with others in a positive way while understanding and changing patterns that are hard to shift.

I love to help individuals, couples and parents thrive in their life/ lives together. I use an attachment based model that helps my clients experience their strengths individually and as a couple. Together, from this place grounded in your resilience, we will work with your challenges. Trauma, attachment woundings, communication issues, addiction, as well as avoidance of feelings and intimacy can block us from living the full, healthy lives we long for. I have already helped many clients find another way. I believe you can too and we can find it together.

Are you facing difficult challenges in your life? In your relationships, your work, or life in general? Trying your best but tired of struggling with the pain and frustration on your own? Do you find yourself thinking it shouldn't be this hard? Longing for the freedom and joy to simply be yourself and live the life you were meant to live?

In my practice, I walk alongside individuals as we explore their past, future aspirations, fears, and present situations, helping them ground themselves in their core values and inner needs. Using different modalities, I nurture self-awareness and holistic wellness, recognizing the mind-body-spirit connection. Together in a safe space, we uncover truths, fostering resilience and authenticity for a more balanced, fulfilling life. And to add some extra sparkle, I sprinkle in themes from positive psychology, bringing joy, light, and humor into our sessions.

Life can present us with challenges we're not prepared for. Underlying issues can make it difficult to cope resulting in difficult moods -- anger or irritability, overwhelm, depression or anxiety, sadness, grief. Other reasons for therapy include relationship troubles (e.g., romantic, family, friends), unresolved trauma, demanding life transitions, stubborn self-defeating patterns, and low self-esteem undermining your life. Psychotherapy can help you move proactively through these challenges with better outcomes and more confidence.

You have tried everything…taken all the yoga classes, lifted all the weights, read one (or two) of Brené Brown’s books, but none of it seems like enough. There is still that thing that keeps coming up and gets in the way of living your best life. Perhaps you are still full of anxiety even though you’re meditating every day. Maybe you’re drinking too much, feel disconnected from life, or just can’t seem to find the right relationship—whatever it is, you feel trapped in this cycle and recognize that you might need some help breaking free. ​Getting to this point is really tough and it's incredibly brave to seek help.

Are you struggling with some seemingly insurmountable hurdle in your life? Do you need support navigating a life transition, significant relationship challenge, or inner conflict? I am here to support you. I specialize in working holistically from a body-oriented perspective (i.e. - mindfulness, movement, etc.) with individuals, families (e.g. - nuclear, blended, co-parenting, foster), couples, and children with acute or chronic behavior, emotional, or relational challenges. All life's challenges are workable. Reduce stress, increase capacity, and restore the sense of balance, well-being, integration and fulfillment that is your birthright today.

The foundation of my work with you rests in the belief that human connection based on insight and empathy is transformational. Often times suffering is a result of habitual patterns and behaviors based on fear, and difficult experiences. This drains our natural ability to enjoy life, and unfortunately cultivates a culture of isolation and aloneness. Our honest and trusting therapeutic relationship will transmute your aloneness so that you once again have access to your innate resiliency and wonder of life. It takes courage and vulnerability to reach out for support. Know I will be your ally.