Spirituality

Feeling connected to yourself, others and Something or Someone bigger than yourself makes for a balanced life. I help clients get back in touch with what matters to them. Whatever your spiritual tradition it canl be an integral part of your support as you work toward being healthier.

I believe that a holistic awareness of self includes how we understand our place in the universe. We all grapple with who we are and how to find meaning and purpose in life, whether we are atheist, agnostic, religious, recovering from religion trauma, spiritual, or somewhere in between. My graduate degree concentration was Mindfulness-based Transpersonal Counseling, and I aim to support you in exploring and defining your own sense of spirituality (or lack thereof) on your own terms.

Spirituality can be confusing when faced with a painful life event. I spent years searching religions for answers to my own fears and grief. I discovered an all-inclusive way for hope and personal transition. Because of my experiences, I can help you find your own inner peace.

Specialized in Christian Counseling

I earned my PhD in clinical psychology by studying spirituality and transformation. As faculty at Yale University, I conducted research with atypical psychedelic substances. My first published article was on the spiritual and psychedelic potential of dextromethorphan. I have written and spoken about psychedelic science for over a decade, co-founded the Yale Psychedelic Science Group, and documented traditional healing and religious practices in Mexico.

Spirituality and religion have done a lot of harm to many people. Yet many people experience a longing for some type of spiritual connection. I help people who are unlearning traumatic and toxic beliefs from religious experiences, those who want to seek a healthy connection to spirituality, or those who are interested in exploring ancestral forms of spirituality. Spirituality does not need to be part of your life, but it also does not need to be restrictive, harmful, or shame based.

Another great passion in my work is coming along-side a client's spiritual journey. This could be anything from learning how to implement mindfulness practices for the first time to integrating mystical/psychedelic experiences to navigating spiritual practice without appropriating or harming. I find something to respect and appreciate in nearly all spiritual and religious traditions, and would love to help you learn how your connection to the Whole can help you in other aspects of your life.

In a safe and non-judgmental space, I offer the opportunity to explore what may emerge during spiritual exploration such as spiritual & kundalini awakening, supernatural phenomena, and sacred medicine experiences. Sacred Medicine Holistic Integration Therapy consists of embodied psycho-spiritual integration for psychedelic experiences that are a direct result of post spiritual rituals within a ceremony/retreat directed by a shaman/spiritual practitioner in a sacred group setting.

I offer support to persons who have left or are thinking about leaving high-control cultic groups. Many of these are religious in nature. Education and support can help you transition into "the world" and cope with shunning. I also offer support to those who are concerned about a loved one's group membership.

I believe spirituality is an integral part of who we are as humans. It is a part of us that is always growing and changing as a result of our experiences, thoughts, and behaviors. No matter where you find yourself on your spiritual journey, therapy can be a tool to help you make sense of where you have been, where you are now, and where you can go from here.

Spirituality is not synonymous with religion. It is the intentional practice of conscious awareness that our existence transcends our physical body and influences the existence of all that surrounds us. Growing as spiritual beings leads us to open our mind and heart to trust our intuitive wisdom that our body sensations gift us daily, so that we may be in constant connection with our true purpose in order to thrive in all that we are and all that we do.

From a counseling perspective, spirituality can be seen as a holistic dimension of human experience that encompasses our sense of purpose, values, meaning, and connection to something greater than ourselves. As such, spirituality can be a significant focus in counseling, particularly when individuals experience spiritual distress or desire to explore and deepen their spiritual beliefs and practices.

I approach spirituality from a psychospiritual perspective, combining skills I have learned as a Spiritual Director, Psychotherapist and Coach. I believe in multi-spiritual awareness and where I fall short on knowledge about a particular belief or faith, I am open to learning from you.

My background in spiritual work goes back about 10 years. In my sessions, I integrate tarot and tools associated with divination, energy work concepts, mythology, archetypes, and fairytales. I believe that psychotherapy, as a ritual, is a magical process. I am a practicing pagan and am informed on various Pagan, Animist, Occult, and Earth-based spiritualities.

I believe that, broadly speaking, spirituality is a concern for everyone. The big picture and the largest questions of life are contained in it. What do you value? What do you worship? As David Foster Wallace said, "there is no such thing as not worshipping. Everybody worships. The only choice we get is what to worship...If you worship money and things, if they are where you tap real meaning in life, then you will never have enough, never feel you have enough."

I believed we are living in a traumatized world, which is greatly contributing to our current mental health crisis. For some, this mental health crisis is a spiritual crisis. My work with clients is often at the intersection of mental and spiritual health. Because I am a medium, I sometimes receive "downloads" of information to share with clients. When clients in spiritual crisis find me, I often receive messages for them.

I experienced a spiritual emergency as a young adult and devoted myself to understanding reality through many world wisdom and mystical traditions. I am an animist and have extensive experiences on Buddhist meditation retreats, studying Judaism and Kabbalah, Hindu tantra, Tai Chi and Taoism, and more. I believe all people need to find their own meaning and purpose in regards to spirituality and I will support you on your path, however it looks.

Spiritual processes, exploration, and concerns as they relate to life transitions and identity issues.