Dance Movement Therapy in West Los Angeles, CA

Are you feeling stuck, lost, frustrated or helpless? Did no amount of affirmations or self-talk change the mind? We can't access our full Self from just cognitive. The body reflects the mind & stores trauma unconsciously which disrupts the nervous system & natural ability to regulate, causing symptoms like anxiety, depression, etc. Symptoms can seem like “traits" when they aren’t contextualized in survival defenses, ancestral, interpersonal & social layers. So we will co-create a nourishing space to hear somatic stories, identify triggers, patterns & skills to realign with innate wisdom so you can move helplessness to empowerment.

Taking the first steps to heal can be the hardest, but I am here to help. For the past 10 years, I have specialized in working with adults and teenagers struggling with stress, relationship issues, disordered eating, self esteem, anxiety, depression, and trauma. Our relationship with ourselves is one of the most important we have in our life. As your therapist, I am a compassionate sounding board for your thoughts, feelings, and beliefs. I am also a resource to help my clients find more self acceptance and create the changes they want/need.

I have been working with clients for over 30 years combining my NLP/Hypnosis/Dance Movement Therapy and traditional Clinical Psychology training. My orientation is short term solution focussed. When a client comes for a session we identify their goals and determine what technique(s) would be most helpful. My clients will often say that they have received lifelong tools and have new perspectives and breakthroughs with themselves and their relationships.

I help stressed-out, underperforming, or 'just plain exhausted' athletes bounce back from performance slumps, anxiety, self-doubt, imposter syndrome, depression & burnout. My mission is to combine the powerful tools of traditional psychotherapy with sports and performance psychology, somatic, movement and mindfulness practices and make them accessible to the peak performers, the over-achievers, and the ‘I don't have time for that stuff, I’ve got training to do’ crew. No stuffy therapy office to visit, no long wait times, just plenty of real talk, tons of fresh perspective, and tangible performance results.

I am here to help you make better choices. Healing is now! You have probably done your best to pull yourself out of sadness and fear but still feel stuck. Perhaps you find yourself going round and round in hurtful patterns in your relationships and still feel unseen. Maybe your creative path has reached an impasse. I am here to see you and hear you. I am committed to helping you find joy, passion, love and deep respect with your loved ones. The therapy relationship is sacred.

Psychotherapy is an opportunity to engage in a supportive, collaborative, and dynamic partnership. Therapy is a creative process of self-exploration, self-discovery and self-understanding. With my clients' goals and needs always leading the work, I draw from my expertise in psychodynamic models of "talk therapy," dance/movement therapy, EMDR Therapy, and experiential mindfulness practices, to help my clients become unstuck and embody health, growth, and change.

I enjoy helping youth, college students, adults, and older adults learn to manage emotional stress, anxiety, depression, ADHD, PTSD, Trauma, and LGBTQ+ issues. Collaborating with clients on goals helps them tap into their authentic selves, helping them identify personalized self-care skills to restructure negative thinking patterns. I think it is important to meet people where they are focusing on their strengths to inspire and motivate them to meet their particular needs or goals. I help my clients find inner happiness through a positive mindset.

Your courage and resilience have gotten you this far and while seeking help is half the battle, I am here to guide you the rest of the journey. I work with clients to provide a safe space to address a variety of issues ranging from trauma, depression, anxiety, shame, grief, self-esteem and relationship difficulties and challenges. Together we can develop a new narrative about yourself and your potential while addressing past traumas and developing coping strategies to manage current and future challenges. I aim to assist clients overcome personal challenges, to create and maintain healthy and productive lives.

The foundation of our programming is our team of compassionate and highly experienced behavioral healthcare professionals. The Newport staff is comprised of the best mental health leaders in the country, surrounding each client with 360-degree care. Because Newport’s philosophy of care views family as central to long-term, sustainable healing, the groundbreaking Attachment-Based Family Therapy (ABFT) methodology is also a central component of our approach. ABFT is proven to be successful in addressing adolescent and young adult suicidality by repairing ruptures in the parent-child relationship.

At Counseling Services/LA Peace of Mind.com, we guide people to the light and empower themselves to heal. We help people who seek trust and freedom to be expressive, address life challenges, and barriers that interfere with growth and achieving life's goals. Now offering Neurofeedback in 2024

My clients typically find me when they're feeling stuck in life. When they're struggling with self-doubts, insecurities, relational issues, marriage problems, anxiety, depression, fears, job issues, family difficulties, or they're having a spiritual life crisis. They know there's more to life, and they long to feel more free and joyful, but they simply can't figure out how to get there. That's where our work comes in.

I guide people through shadow, shame, and trauma to live sacred, soulful lives. Many of us struggle in our lives because we are unconsciously stuck with a perspective that helped us survive in the past, but that no longer serves us in. We're afraid of our own shadow. We hide from the parts we most dislike. This hiding keeps us stuck, guarded and fearful. Using mindfulness to creatively, compassionately and courageously look into your emotional, behavioral and relational patterns can help you move into a more mindful, creative, healthy and fulfilling life.

Are you weighted down emotionally, depression and or anxiety ? Allow me to assist you through it did the other side of you.

It takes a certain person to look for support, and I commend you on taking this first step. Life is challenging, and there are times when no matter how hard we try, things just don’t change. We often find ourselves spinning out of control feeling overwhelmed, scared, sad and tired… beyond tired, feeling alone, stuck and in pain, dealing with distressing thoughts, feelings and body symptoms. And the list goes on.

You are a current or former dancer, gymnast or athlete. You have undergone intense training and competition. Now, you feel stuck. You feel high demands, yet you are afraid of your power. You want to be successful. You notice that you fear failure. You may even fear success. Performance anxiety and overwhelm have gotten the best of you lately. Bullying/distrust with peers or coaches may be something you feel bogged down by. Because you’re a high achiever, you need extra love and support and wish to feel confident. However, relationships both in and outside of your craft feel unsubstantial.

Dealing with various types of trauma and the ways in which it can impact our daily lives can be challenging. I am here to help you understand that your trauma does not define you. Your trauma reactions are valid and I’d like to support you in the development of healthy coping skills. This will allow you the freedom to transcend beyond traumatic experiences, forging a new path toward growth, healing, recovery and wellness. I can help you navigate and cope with addiction/substance use, PTSD, depression, anxiety, life transitions, identity related issues, and family/interpersonal relationships.

I practice general psychology and works with clients who are struggling with depression, anxiety, trauma, prenatal and postpartum issues, anger, parenting challenges, and couples issues. I also have a concentrated interest in the family of origin trauma.

The best gifts you can give are deeper relationships with yourself and others. When depression, anxiety, trauma or grief interfere with your life, your relationships may suffer both internally and externally. If your life seems chaotic or lacks meaning it can be daunting to deal with these on your own. The courage to ask for help and enter into a therapeutic relationship is a powerful first step. You are empowered to discover your essence and begin to find meaning and purpose in your life. I will work collaboratively with you to establish a trusting therapeutic relationship. This will allow you to trust your intuition and heal.