Art Therapy

Making art in therapy to me is a beautiful way of combining creative expression with self exploration to treat a variety of psychological issues. Giving form to feeling through lines, shapes, and colors has the potential to communicate in a way that words can not articulate.

There is no need to have any previous experience with art making – if you choose to engage, we will create a safe space for you to explore your emotions together and look at different mediums that might suit you. Visualizing complex emotions on paper can be a great way to learn new behavioral patterns and emotional responses that better support the visions you have for your life. I find that with a supportive and gentle nudge many clients find the process of making art to be very informative to their own questions which often leads to new answers and ways of being in their life. The visual reflection of an art product can often inform us for years after therapy and serve as a paper trail to the work being done in therapy. Art work can be referred to time and time again as a referene point and it can also be put away in a safe place never to be seen again.

EMDR – Eye Movement Desensitization And Reprocessing 

EMDR is a psychtotherapeutic approach developed by Francine Shapiro and is one the most widely researched treatments for Post Traumatic Stess Disorder.

EMDR is an integrative model that incorporates aspects of psychodynamic, experiential, behavioral, cognitive and neurobiology.

EMDR is proven to be particularly effective in treating trauma and can help your mind heal from distressing experiences that may cause flashbacks, unpleasant memories and distressing emotions. Sessions are usually a little longer and are designed to facilitate the brain’s natural processes towards healing and wellbeing through structured processing of past traumatic experiences so they can be integrated and provide a deeper understanding of yourself and your life.  EMDR uses a strategic protocol to work systematically with the brain and the body. Previous difficult memories or uncomfortable body sensations are safely processed allowing a new narrative to your life experiences, which in turn, creates greater freedom and relief from previously unmaneagable thoughts and feelings.

MBSR – Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction

Mindfulness is an ancient Buddhist practice with the intention of waking up and living in harmony with ourselves.

Jon Kabat-Zinn developed MBSR in 1979 and stated that mindfulness is about “paying attention on purpose to what is actually happening in the present moment without judgement.”

MBSR is an 8 week course in mindful living developed through the combination of western science and medicine with that of Buddhist meditative traditions and underpinnings known as the Dharma.

MBSR has been found to positively affect participants ability to reduce stress and medical symptoms such as chronic pain while leaning to live life more fully.

Many participants report:

• A lasting decrease in physical and psychological symptoms
• Greater energy and enthusiasm for life
• An increased ability to relax and cope with stressful situations
• Improved self esteem
• Reductions in pain levels and an enhanced ability to cope with chronic pain

Over the duration of the 8-week course, MBSR participats are introduce to the key principals of mindfulness, provided with instrcution for formal and informal practices, and engage in short talks and discussions. With a commitment to involvement, both within and outside of class, particpants are pointed towards practices that integrates mindfulness into their daily life.

I offer 8- week courses in MBSR around Boulder and the Denver area. Please inquire if your organization would like me to teach for staff retreats or ongoing trainings.

I also offer weekend workshops inspired by MBSR for those who would like an introduction to meditation. Please inquire here if you are interested in learning when the next offering will be.

MBSR Classes

 To be updated