Julius Peterson (they/them/their)

Everyone has the answers that they need in their hearts; in their bodies. As clinicians, our job is to ask questions, express observations, and be a witness to the unfolding of answers that existed long before you meet us. As QTPOC therapist, I am here to support you in asking your questions and standing in your truth without judgement or shame. Your healing is more important than any bias or any fragility that you may encounter from a provider who can’t look past their own limitations.

There are many individuals who are facing multiple forms of violence through relationships with toxic systems. In my work, I stress that real love does not require one to give up their freedom for the sake of belonging. It’s in the power of our ability to use our voice and to think and feel for ourselves that we find the power to stand alone and stand with others. The ability to do both is what real freedom and real love requires. You deserve to be free and to feel love.

As an adolescent and adult, I observed the violence that is inflicted upon marginalized bodies when spiritual leaders attempt to act outside of the scope of their training and provide counsel to people with needs beyond their grasp. I saw how their limited understanding as well as their internalized white supremacy hurt multiple generations of families. As an active participant in my own healing, I have devoted my life to helping others reclaim their own power, and fight for their healing.

During our sessions, I will work with you to identify the negative messages connected to your past trauma. I will help you build and strengthen your internal resources, or "safe places" in your mind. This foundation of safety will allow you to feel supported as we work through painful memories. As our work together progresses, you may still remember the painful things that have happened, but you will reclaim your body and your present life with newfound freedom!

I began my training in Dialectal Behavioral Therapy began in 2008. Over the last decade, I have completed years of consultation to ensure that my work evolved as the modality has evolved. Currently, I use this skill set to assist individuals who are looking to regulate their emotions and decrease episodes of distress. In my work, I have found that DBT provides a skill set that is helpful for coaching individuals who want more autonomy and power in their own lives.

I began my training in ACT in 2019, and have completed over 40 hours of continuing education, and additional hours of consultation in this modality. ACT stresses the use of mindfulness and acceptance to assist individuals who want to experience psychological flexibility. Psychological flexibility is the ability to stay in contact with the present moment regardless of unpleasant thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations, while choosing one's behaviors based on the situation and personal values.

We are multifaceted beings and Internal Family Systems or IFS takes a deeper dive into your internal family system of parts. During our sessions together, I will support you in exploring the many parts of you and how they came to be. We may find that our parts may be acting as protectors from past traumas and fears, leading to avoidance behaviors and preventing healing. We may find that they are reactive and impulsive or we may find the ones that are hidden and exiled away due to shame.

During a somatic experiencing session, we will slowly revisit the trauma while taking the time to notice what arises in the moment. I will support you to notice sensations, images, behaviors, affect or emotions, and thoughts or meaning that naturally arise during sessions. Through each response from your body, we will find areas that hold unprocessed energy and to release as needed, slowly and gently. Through the release of this energy, your body’s nervous system will return to its normal flow.

During a Somatic Experiencing session, we will slowly revisit the trauma while taking the time to notice what arises in the moment. I will support you to notice sensations, images, behaviors, affect or emotions, and thoughts or meaning that naturally arise during sessions. Through each response from your body, we will find areas that hold unprocessed energy and to release as needed, slowly and gently. Through the release of this energy, your body’s nervous system will return to its normal flow.