Hailey Hughes (she/her)

I approach the treatment of anxiety with somatic and mindfulness-based work. Awareness of our system can help us self-regulate and soothe feelings of anxiety. Our bodies hold so much, and even just acknowledging that weight can help to lighten the load.

I am open to the discussion of issues that accompany all sexualities and gender identities. Oppression, gender/sexuality specific-trauma, homophobia, biphobia and transphobia can leave scars that deeply affect the way we see ourselves. Using a narrative approach, I will give you the opportunity to tell your story, re-claim the parts that feel shaky, and re-frame the flawed messages you might have received about your identity. Self-acceptance is a long road, but I'll be there for every mile.

Intergenerational trauma feels like a big, scary term, I know. It basically defines the experiences that have traveled through your family like a pattern, or the issues that might have gone unresolved and affected everyone in your family, through the generations. I approach trauma work with special attention to attachment, somatic work and dual awareness. We can walk through the past while staying firmly rooted in the present and planning for how you want the future to look.

I love working within the lens of attachment because it allows us to identify connections between how we were taught to form relationships and how we are currently forming relationships. There is a lot of insight to be gained when you examine early development. Naming your attachment style can help you clarify your needs, triggers, ideal traits in a partner, and so much more.

Narrative therapy allows you to tell the stories of the experiences that make you who you are. These stories may be hard to tell, but in processing how you have internalized your experiences, we can determine the pieces to keep and the pieces that no longer serve you. It is all about re-claiming your story and building an identity that promotes self-acceptance and hope for the future.

Somatic Experiencing techniques are some of my favorite to use in session. Our bodies keep the score of every event we have endured, and connecting the emotional to the physical can be a powerful, moving experience. You might be turned off by this approach or thinking "I don't feel my emotions physically". That is okay. I can help you work towards building that awareness and unlocking the power your body holds.

I have suffered with anxiety myself, so I understand how debilitating it can be. Feeling constantly on edge, exhausted and overwhelmed with no identifiable trigger is such a frustrating experience. I work with anxiety by helping you release the pent up energy inside your system and exploring the recurring patterns in your life that have led to you developing anxiety as a way of survival. We will calm your nervous system and develop new coping mechanisms.