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About Me

For the last 26 years, I have provided trauma informed mental health services to those who have experienced significant and often complex trauma. My personal healing journey, in addition to my experience working with those impacted by trauma has greatly influenced my understanding and approach on how to support others in their healing process.
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Though I had participated in talk therapy, I found myself continuing to live from a place of imbalance and sensed there was more healing to be done.  A friend invited me to a workshop that was being given by a curandera (traditional healer), Yellow Wolf Nieves (yellowwolfnieves.com). Yellow Wolf introduced me to the practice of Curanderismo. Curanderismo is a holistic, traditional healing modality which is rooted in indigenous healing practices. The focus is on creating balance physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Developing a connection to Spirit, brought a sense of wholeness and balance to my life. This approach helped me to heal in ways that were not possible with talk therapy alone.

 

After having committed to my own personal work, I was invited by Yellow Wolf to undergo study and training in Curanderismo. I answered the calling and began my training and apprenticeship with Yellow Wolf in October 2020, continuing to learn and practice under her mentorship and guidance. During this time, I have learned that Curanderismo is a way of life, and I continue to work on living my life in balance, integrating the wisdom and spiritual guidance that has been shared with me.


​In 2024, I had an opportunity to train in Internal Family Systems © (IFS) (www.ifs-institute.com). IFS, developed by Richard Schwartz, PhD, is a non-pathologizing, psycho-spiritual therapeutic approach to healing that views each person as having a Self that can never be broken, and has the innate knowledge and capacity to heal.  I witnessed how IFS can help to heal our young wounded parts that have been carrying the burdens of trauma. I experienced how IFS can assist us in healing and releasing ancestral traumas that have been passed down generationally from our ancestors. I have found IFS to be a powerful therapeutic approach that holds respect for spirituality, by honoring our connection to our spiritual resources and integrating Spirit into our healing journey.

 
IFS greatly informs my approach, as it is aligned with my belief that healing occurs on the levels of the body, mind and spirit. I deeply resonate with its view, that people are not broken. Each one of us has all we need to heal if given the guidance on how to connect with that deep place of inner knowing, our inner being, or what IFS calls the Self.
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If you are ready to learn how to connect with your Self, and live your life from a place of calm, compassion, clarity and courage, then take the next step.

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  Education and Trainings

Education

✦ Doctor of Clinical Psychology

    Alliant University, San Francisco

    May 2009​

Trainings

​​✦ EFT Level 1-2, Emotional FreedomTechniques

    EFT Tapping Institute, March 2025

 

​✦ Polyvagal Certificate, Safety, Connection and the Human Experience

    The Polyvagal Institute, March 2025

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✦ Experiential Embodied Dreamwork Certificate

     Dr Leslie Ellis, January 2025 

 

✦ Internal Family Systems © (IFS), Level 1

     IFS Institute , July 2024

 

✦ Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

     Alicia's Place, January 2023

 

✦ Somatic Embodiment & Regulation

Certificate

    Linda Thai, LMSW, December 2022

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✦ Comprehensive Curanderismo Training

Yellow Wolf Nieves, October 2020- Present 

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