DESCRIPTION OF CLINICAL PRACTICE
Moment-to-moment awareness cultivated in vipassana practices helps us see clearly both the beautiful and not so beautiful parts of ourselves. Practice reveals our capacity for clarity, wisdom, compassion, joy and freedom while also bringing us face-to-face with our own version of the shadow including judgments, addictions, fears and anxieties. In our sessions we will explore the thoughts, emotions, images and body-sensations that are associated with the habits you would like to change, allowing your inherent wisdom to reveal new possibilities for action and beautiful capacities of mind and heart to flourish. Contact me for a free 20-minute phone consultation.

VIPASSANA/MEDITATION BACKGROUND
I was introduced to vipassana meditation as a Peace Corps volunteer in 2000, but after 20 minutes decided I couldn’t do it. Shortly after that, a friend taught me yoga and I was astounded at how calm my mind was after the practice. Inspired, I began to study and practice yoga daily. In 2003 I became interested in vipassana again, and have been integrating the practices of yoga and meditation as a teacher and student ever since. Since 2005 I have sat over one-month of practice per year, in both the Theravadan and Tibetan Lineages. My main teachers are Lama Tsultrim Allione, James Baraz and Tara Brach. I teach Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction classes in the East Bay and am a senior teacher with the Niroga Institute.

RELEVANT CLINICAL TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE
My experience as a yoga and mindfulness teacher led to my interest in body-centered psychotherapy. I see psychotherapy akin to meditation practice in that it is a process of awakening the heart and mind, while simultaneously re-patterning old habits that lead to suffering. The therapeutic relationship is unique in that it can support us to change patterns that require another another’s presence and support to heal. My training includes Somatic Experiencing with Steve Hopkinson, and Sensorimoter Psychotherapy with Jainia Fischer. I am also trained as a Dialectical Behavioral Therapist. I graduated from Cal State East Bay with a master in counseling completing a thesis on Mindfulness Interventions for Women with Sexual Arousal Difficulties.