DSC_0870.jpg

I am a compassionate truth-seeker and truth-speaker. I thrive in authenticity.

I am a deep feeler, and I value presence, sensitivity and thoughtfulness, as well as curiosity, play and creativity.

I was initiated into my own personal healing journey through loss, which shook me to my core, but also brought me into a more full experience of my self. This loss cracked me open and brought me to my knees- and also sparked deep exploration of my inner world, bringing me closer to my felt emotional truths. Through the many years of this process, I have come to understand the experience of going into the depths of unknown, uncharted territory, and the transformation that is possible through the courageous act of self exploration with the support of honest, attentive relationship.  

Today, I continue to do the work of making space for my heart, connecting with my body, and sinking more fully into presence.

Also- I love painting, drawing, and singing and I feel most at home near the ocean, surrounded by trees. I feel excited and inspired when exploring the different ways in which I can cultivate aliveness, embodiment, and presence in my life, including spending time in nature, intuitive movement and art practices, astrology, tarot, herbalism, and ritual.

I am continuously working to examine my privilege as a white, able-bodied, cis-gendered woman, and acknowledge the influence my privileges have on how I experience the world. I believe acknowledgement of privilege and dialogue around systemic oppression is a vital piece of therapeutic work, and I agree to remain open to feedback and processing around difference and power dynamics with my clients.

I am of Irish, Scottish, Armenian, and English ancestry.

Professional Background:

  • M. A. in Integral Counseling Psychology, California Institute of Integral Studies

  • B. A. in Psychology, University of California, Santa Barbara.

  • Staff Therapist, Integral Counseling Center at Pierce Street

  • Associate Therapist, Holos Institute in Oakland

  • Associate Therapist, Creekside Middle School in Castro Valley

  • 10+ years of experience working as a case manager and mental health professional for various non-profit community agencies serving vulnerable populations in both Santa Barbara and the Bay Area.

I have taken coursework and participated in trainings exploring a variety of topics including: Psychodyamic Psychotherapy, Trauma-Informed therapy, Gestalt Therapy, Expressive Arts Therapy, Eco-therapy and Eco-psychology, Group Therapy, Liberation Psychology, Jungian Depth Psychology, AEDP, Feminine Spirituality & Psychology, Mindfulness and Hakomi.

I have participated in trainings and process groups focused on privilege, racism, gender identity & expression, and intersectionality.  Additionally, I received 200 hours training in massage therapy from Santa Barbara Body Therapy Institute in 2008, and completed the year-long Permaculture certification course at The Regenerative Design Institute in 2016.  In 2015, I also helped to create WanderGirls, a summer camp for girls ages 9-13, which supports girls in connecting to themselves, each other, and the earth through mindfulness, art, and nature activities.  

Additional Workshops:

jessica-ruscello-120993-unsplash.jpg

I now live on Northern Pomo land, and as a non-indigenous resident, a percentage of my profits is donated to Xa Kako Dile, an indigenous, women-led and directed non-profit organization based on a working farm here on the Mendocino Coast.