Get the help you need today.

 

*TELETHERAPY ONLY at this time due to COVID. See below for more information on this.

Partnering in the healing process with my clients is such an honor for me. I work with a variety of issues, with a focus on healing from trauma, or "toxic" life experiences. I can also help with life changes and stress, anxiety, addiction, eating disorders, phobias, low self-esteem, relationship issues, secondary traumatic stress, complex trauma and dissociative "disorders." I work hard to meet the needs of each individual, providing a safe, non-judgmental, empathic space essential for healing. I am up front and "real," while highly nurturing and caring; I believe in the transformative effects of the therapeutic relationship.

I am a Trauma Specialist who has 19+ years of experience working with adult survivors of single-incident traumas, complex trauma, toxic stress, insecure attachment, and/or adverse life experiences. I believe that unresolved traumas, and/or insecure attachment is at the root of most of our emotional and physical issues. This has in fact been proven in several research studies; the most famous and ground-breaking one being the ACE Study which found that "childhood adversity contributes to most of our major chronic health, mental health, economic health and social health issues."  (for more on this study, please click here.)

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I also have extensive experience working with people struggling with addictions or compulsions, as well as with their family members and partners. I view addictions and compulsions as survival resources; an attempt to regulate, and feel "normal," as well as a way to maintain a sense of control when faced with deep core feelings of helplessness, powerlessness, rage, terror, collapse, numbness or shame.

I use a Trauma-Informed approach, which means asking the question: "What happened to you?" instead of "What's wrong with you?" It is designed to avoid re-traumatizing people who are already traumatized, with a focus on safety first- including emotional safety and trust in the therapeutic relationship, as well as a commitment to do no harm.

I also work with individuals and couples struggling with difficult life situations and transitions, such as job changes / job loss, break-ups or separations, partner infidelity, gaining or losing weight, legal trouble, abortions or miscarriages, contemplating a change in career, moving to a new city, or just any place in your life where things feel "off-balance," and your "normality" has been interrupted.

I also enjoy working with people who are simply wanting to gain a deeper understanding of themselves, increase self-confidence, or wanting to feel re-invigorated by life. With the use of EMDR, I have seen many people achieve this in an incredibly deep, powerful and transformative way! Talk therapy can help greatly, however I have found that adding EMDR, as well as other modalities of therapy, helps us achieve the lasting results we desire much faster and more profoundly.  

I use a variety of practices including, but not limited to:

I mix many types of therapy together as I do not believe in one "magic cure." Your story is unique, thus your treatment plan and journey should be too! Effective treatment cannot be improvised; I work collaboratively with each client to create an individualized treatment plan, only after taking a thorough history and completing an Initial Assessment. Along the way we will be evaluating your treatment plan together to fit your unique healing path. 

I work with adults only (individuals, couples, groups and families). If you and/or a loved one is in need of some support, please don't hesitate to contact me.

No matter how many scars we carry from what we have gone through and suffered in the past, our intrinsic wholeness is still here: what else contains the scars? None of us has to be a helpless victim of what was done to us or what was not done for us in the past, nor do we have to be helpless in the face of what we may be suffering now. We are also what was present before the scarring- our original wholeness, what was born whole. And we can connect with that intrinsic wholeness at any time, because its very nature is that it is always present. It is who we truly are.”
— Jon Kabat-Zinn, PhD
 

Working with Rachel During COVID-19 w/ Teletherapy

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I am currently doing Teletherapy Only, and do not believe it is safe to do otherwise. This is going quite well! It’s not ideal- it’s always best to do therapy in person- however, my clients and I have found that we are able to do all the same deep healing work using Teletherapy- continuing to do EMDR, Somatic / Body-Centered Work, and all of the other modalities I utilize in my practice. The goal is to get back to in-person therapy; my clients and I feel a large amount of gratitude that we do have this modern technology, enabling us to continue this work in the midst of the Pandemic, in a time when we need to stay safe, while also needing support more than ever.

For some, It can take a few minutes to adjust to Teletherapy, but even people who have felt nervous about it tend to adjust within about 15 minutes at the most. Some do take longer to get comfortable with it, some people feel anxious or triggered as a result of seeing their own face in a small corner at the top of the screen, however typically people don’t even notice that after a few moments and forget it’s there. I am here to help with any fears or anxieties around adjusting to Teletherapy and experiment with ways of finding the most comfortable way for you. I have helped some clients titrate into it, starting audio only for example. Internet connection issues are the most annoying! However I have learned to navigate around such issues as well, as best I can.

I do recommend that you be intentional, and create a certain healing, private and comfortable place for yourself where you can be for your sessions. I do not recommend doing therapy sessions at the desk you work at all day. Having a transition, and creating a boundary with your time- like 30 minutes before the start of session, and 30 minutes after (or 15 to start if 30 sounds too long to you). Those who went to therapy in-person, may remember that you had to leave work, or home, and drive to therapy, and then settle into the safety of the therapy.

In my office, I had certain teas and aromas as well as drawing materials and worksheets that helped to guide clients with getting present, noticing emotions and body sensations. All of these things helped clients get present and ready for sessions. Such spaces and rituals allow for the familiar and consistent space that provides safety and consistency. Therefore there was time around it, and all of the senses were involved in the experience of the healing space, allowing clients to begin to transition from work, school or home and into a space of healing.

These are all things I recommend doing yourself! Are there aromas you like that you can have in your therapy space at home? Are there objects that are “anchoring” that bring you into the present? Are there exercises like grounding work, drawing or checking in with the body that might help you get present and ready for your session? Maybe there’s a certain tea and mug that you love and can be part of your ritual.

Often this is the time we have an opportunity to really check in with ourselves. You do not have to lose this opportunity because you are at home. Set the time aside and prioritize it. Be intentional about your space, your time and your rituals with therapy: before, during and after. Allow yourself that time to just spend on you! Be creative! We all deserve this.