Heart & Spirit-Centered Counseling

Q. What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A. To be honest, most of us drawn to the therapy and counseling professions begin by trying to figure out our own issues. We can get A's in school but until we've been the client, addressing our own fears, pain and self doubts our ability to be effective practitioners is doubtful. Always ask the question how much therapy a prospective counselor/therapist has had themselves and what they learned from it. If they are unwilling to answer your questions, move on to someone who is willing to be more transparent. Growth and healing only happen in a climate of acceptance and recognition of our joint humanity. Life is a work in progress and hopefully we all keep growing, increasing our capacity to give and receive love while contributing to our world by continuously expanding our natural gifts.

Q. Why does your work stand out from others who do what you do?

A. I absolutely love what I do and believe or certainly hope that my genuine caring and faith in the human spirit to continually expand, shines through in my work.

Some people are blessed with the ability to move us to experiences of exquisite emotional heights with their musical prowess, inspire us with their awesome athletic ability or build empires with their business acumen; I can do none of those things. However, I was blessed with the ability to deeply "see" people. To see their Light. Regardless of the specific issues which bring clients into my office, eg trauma, relationship difficulties, effects of past or present abuse, loss, abandonment, chronic self destructive behaviors, parenting issues, etc etc, at the root of almost every one lies a collection of intertwined, painful yet mistaken beliefs about themselves--all of which dim access to the deepest spiritual Light of who they are. Being part of the untangling process where an individual or couple reconnects to the their true spiritual essence and the joy and creative energy that stems from it is a never ending and indescribable source of joy for me, one for which I am deeply grateful.

I've had many clients with previous experience in counseling tell me they didn't know that doing such deep work could also include so much laughter. The novelist, Saul Bellow, once said in one of his novels, "There comes a time, there always comes a time for tears and madness" I believe that's true for us all. And I also believe that in the midst of it all a good hard belly laugh can create a shortcut out of those dark places.f In any given session we often experience them all.

Ultimately, I see my role as holding the vision and knowing of each client's wholeness until they can eventually reconnect to and hold it for themselves. I'm the tour guide holding the lamp on a treasure hunt to your own deep wisdom. By combining the presence of every clients deep inner wisdom and intention to heal, with my own gift of "Sight" and ridiculously eclectic training background (*see list below) what emerges is a powerful prescription for health and happiness. Being invited to accompany someone on that amazing journey is truly an honor and a privilege for which I thank God almost every day!

*Training Background
Spiritual Psychology (not religious)
Alchemical Hypnotherapy
Neuro Linguistic Programming
P.E.E.R.S.
Hendricks Conscious Relationship Coaching
Body Centered Therapy
Psychodrama & Sociometry
Group Therapy & Psychodrama
Omega Shakti Energy Work
Etc Etc (Currently studying Byron Katie's "The Work")

Q. What do you like most about your job?

A. I love it all. I get to sit with courageous people determined to face their inner demons in service to increasing their capacity to love and contribute to life; theirs, mine, yours, ours. It takes guts to go into therapy and I have enormous respect for the people willing to do it.
And then, of course, is the joy of watching the transformation that takes place over time through the therapy process. Seeing a person find compassion and tenderness for themselves, casting off the burden of taking life personally and making room for others to just be themselves, watching their trust of others and themselves expand are all pretty wonderful things to get to see. From the experience of feeling love for themselves its astounding how much a person's physical appearance can even change, and there is a direct proportion to someone's capacity to love themselves and their ability to give and express love to others. I get to watch the universal love pot just keep growing with every client.

To be able to take someone from the pain of whatever brought them in and see the loving changes they make in their lives--well, it just doesn't get much better than that! I really do think I must have the most wonderful job in the world. I certainly know it's the most wonderful job for me!

Q. What do you wish customers knew about you or your profession?

A. That there are as many types of counseling as there are counselors. We all have different training, philosophies different focuses, and even interpretations of what our role as counselor actually means.

If you've had an unsatisfying experience or don't feel connected to someone you've been working with for awhile, don't give up. There is someone out there who will work in a manner that fits you the best. Trust your own knowing and remember that therapists are just people with their own personalities and idiosyncrasies. One who may be perfect for someone else just may not be a fit for you. That's OK. In my personal opinion the magic happens in your personal connection to the practitioner, your willingness to do the work, and the practitioners awareness that really, we're just the tour guide creating a safe place for you and your higher self to reunite in an atmosphere of love and acceptance.
It's a misconception that as healers we actually do the healing. No one can heal us but ourselves. The best recipe I know is a combination of working the work of therapy, being open to the guidance of our own higher selves and Spirit (however you define it) with the willingness to face change.

But as I said, we're all different. All I know is that I've seen miracles happen on a regular basis in the 25 years I've been doing this work and know that everyone deserves to work with a person that tells the truth and sees the beauty of who they are.