Buddhist Therapists in Waynesville, NC

We all go through times in our lives when therapy can help us to cope with the difficulties that arise. You are not alone. Maybe your are feeling overwhelmed or stuck. You feel like you have tried everything and you are looking for a new way to improve your situation. Perhaps your child has experienced an upsetting event and you don't want this to define them. It hurts to see the people we love upset or struggling. I can offer the tools, skills, and support for your journey.

Do you sense that there's more to life than you are experiencing? Or maybe you are in transition, or feel stuck in a rut you can't pull out of? You may also sense that you are a spiritual person living a human life, and you want to integrate all of these parts of yourself and improve the quality of your life? No matter what stage of adulthood you are in, you get to live in alignment with your highest values. As a Buddhist/Mindfulness teacher, I will bring an "embodied presence" to our sessions to connect with you and support you in moving forward to live a meaningful spiritual, human life.

Practicing in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Florida and Colorado, I work with adolescents and adults seeking a way towards brave and engaged living, working through challenges that get in the way. My belief is that at our core we are fearless, clear, and compassionate. In therapy we work together to identify what is blocking you from that core, and set about clearing the way for your authentic self to emerge. I have worked over 30 years in mental health, 25+ years as a licensed clinician. I also bring experience of training and supporting clinicians, most recently as the CEO of a wilderness therapy program.

Life is relational. From our first breath to our last, we are in relation to someone or something. Oftentimes, our suffering can be traced back to feeling stuck in our ways of relating, finding that no matter who or what we’re relating to, we feel anxious, depressed, unheard, or unloved. It can be helpful to pause and observe how our relationships and general patterns of relating are constraining or frustrating our lives in some way. Themes that I enjoy working with are anxiety, depression, grief, developmental trauma, relationship issues, doubt, faith, meaninglessness, spirituality, family of origin issues, dreaming, and meditation

I am a psychotherapist for adult individuals and couples. Do you want stronger, clearer and healthier relationships? My clients consist mainly of open minded, artistic and unconventional persons wanting more intimacy and connection or wanting to explore their innate gifts and talents. I also work with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and non-binary persons. However, I love working with anyone who is seeking growth, wholeness and perspective.

Offering Teletherapy in Most States: I primarily use IFS and behavioral treatments (ACT, DBT, CFT, RODBT) to emphasize acceptance of one's current experience, the development of skills (mindfulness, play, perspective, assertiveness, inquiry, and values), and use courage and experimentation to help promote change. I also help facilitate ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, and I am strong advocate of developing the skill of compassion for oneself and others. Many of us struggle with finding a sense of being home with reality as it is, although that home is always available and may be easier to return to than assumed.

Life gets tangled up; it doesn’t have to stay that way. You may be wrestling with emotional ups and downs, life transitions, grief and loss, or strained family dynamics. You could be exploring future options, challenges from the past, or integrating life experiences into your personal or spiritual framework. Whether preparing for adulthood or navigating life's myriad of challenges, my clients are looking for a safe and empathetic space in which to unravel patterns and perspectives. They are seeking to develop a stronger sense of their own strengths and abilities with which to navigate life’s journey.

I believe growth occurs when we courageously stay along the edges of our comfort zone and gently press into that boundary widening it inch by inch. I believe healing occurs when we fully allow ourselves to feel our pain, to sit with it, to befriend it, and to find out that it has edges and boundaries ... a beginning and an end. If you've been struggling with life - that can be big and small things - we can work together to identify challenges and build your capacity to move in the direction of optimal healing and wellness.

You have BIG feelings and always have. You are sensitive to your environment, tuned into the subtle nuances and energies of the people/world around you. You feel it in your gut. You sense it in your body. You were bullied, shamed, or invalidated for these feelings growing up – told you were too sensitive. You learned to doubt, squash, numb, or project those feelings onto other people and things as a way to stay safe in a world that doesn't have time for such things. You people-please, overwork, over-think, detach. You run from your feelings until they suddenly consume you. Disconnect or engulfed. You crave harmony inside and out.

Sometimes it might feel like finding peace, contentment, and a sense of being "okay" is out of reach. The weight of traumas, heartaches, anxieties, and other painful emotions can linger, clouding our thoughts and leaving us feeling stuck. But here's what's important: they contain the key to your own healing.

I work with individuals looking to re-establish a sense of connection and a way forward. Individuals feeling alone, anxious, stuck, or depressed after life-changing circumstances, stress, grief, trauma, or relationship injuries. I have worked for over 16 years as a licensed massage therapist and then as a licensed acupuncturist. As an intern, I have counseled survivors of sexual abuse offering trauma education and resolution. I provide a supportive presence and a safe identity-affirming environment.

Are you struggling with anxiety, depression, and/or stress? I aim to support my clients through processing and navigating the many challenges that we face in today’s world. I strive to provide a safe space for my clients in order to grow and heal. I work with clients to establish goals that will better their mental health, well-being, and future.

Your grief is welcome here. When someone you love dies, your life shifts drastically. Every type of grief has the potential to be life disrupting, but grief experienced after suicide, overdose, or other traumatic loss can be particularly challenging. You may feel: shock, confusion, doubt, crushing pain, heartbreak, loneliness, despair, anxiety, overwhelm, anger, guilt, and isolation. Your life has been turned upside down in an instant. You feel lost. You don’t know who you are anymore, but you know you won’t be the same. You’re looking for a guide. Someone who gets it and can handle what you’ve got going on.

All talked out? Many of my clients have decades of experience in therapy, yet have found little relief from their anxiety or depression. I work with adults and couples who are ready to go deeper into the unconscious mind to heal old wounds, change outdated patterns and cultivate a compassionate relationship with themselves. My clients have great insight, and are ready to finally embody and feel what they cognitively know to be true: “I am safe. I am loveable. I am enough.” Deeply knowing yourself is the greatest gift you can give your heart. Learning to regulate your nervous system is a close second.

I specialize in working with adult individuals and couples/families providing mindfulness and skills based psychotherapy. Let’s find new ways to work with old problems. For over 15 years I have specialized in working with the mind and the body using both traditional therapy and mindfulness techniques. This skills based approach, using non-violent communication and relationship enhancement therapy, a skills based learning approach to improve communication and empathy interpersonally. Let’s collaborate to find practical solutions and reduce your life stressors.

Therapy is a place to dream, scream and put it all back together again. You will arrive, again, to a place where you know that you are worthy and you do not have to hide. There is a future where you are welcome without wearing a mask. There are people that will show up for you. The real you. You deserve to find them.

I know personally how hard it can be to experience sexual/physical/emotional trauma/addiction/depression/grief/financial/relational ruin/overwhelming anxiety. Hoping to get through a day with the jaw clenching/palm sweating/handshakes/thoughts racing/heart pounding/doubting every idea/thought/emotion, asking will this be forever? Sometimes, you experience paralyzing nightmares or dreams that you are moving in slow motion and feel so alone and isolated when in a crowded room. Moreover, the constant dread (or the invisible weighted depression blanket). I get it; I've lived it and worked with many others who have.