Gestalt Therapy

Gestalt Therapy is a psycho-dynamic, present-centered and relational approach to talk therapy. I believe that a person’s history colors how they experience the present, but that few are fully aware of this process in day-to-day life. We’ll work together to move from judgment to curiosity, so that we can notice what reactions are based on historical assumptions, or grounded in our actual, shared experience of one another in the here-and-now.

I am a Certified Gestalt Therapist and trained at the Gestalt Associates for Psychotherapy 4 year Clinical Fellowship Program.

With extensive training and years of experience, I specialize in this holistic approach that emphasizes personal responsibility and awareness in the present moment. My expertise lies in guiding clients to fully experience their thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations, facilitating self-discovery and growth. Through innovative techniques personalized for the individual, I help clients resolve unfinished business and realize their full potential, creating meaningful and transformative change.

Gestalt is my foundational theory that aligns with my views of human nature and counseling. I lean to the side of relational, nondirective gestalt therapy that utilizes dialogue and talk, rather than the popularized gestalt techniques. I am a gestalt nerd and love counseling gestalt therapists.

I use a Gestalt therapy framework to help clients focus on the 'here and now,' bringing awareness to their present moment experience. Through this process, we explore the awareness continuum, noticing thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations as they arise. This approach fosters greater self-awareness and empowers clients to recognize patterns, deepen their understanding of themselves, and make more conscious choices in their lives.

With this approach, we will work together to focus on your experience in the present moment.

Gestalt therapy is focused on exploring, unpacking, and understanding your present experience.

Be here now, with me, talking. Gestalt therapy draws on the power inherent in creative dialogue grounded in embodied awareness of the present moment. This style of therapeutic interaction grows out of earlier psychodynamic styles as they encounter mindfulness traditions from Asia. After training five years, I became credentialed as a certified Gestalt therapist and psychoanalyst. Before and during that, I did a lot of meditating, retreats, and ran a dharma center. Still do, still no expert.

As a Gestalt therapist, I help individuals gain deeper self-awareness and personal growth. By focusing on the present moment and exploring your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, we can work together to overcome challenges and live more authentically. My approach emphasizes holistic healing, empowering you to take responsibility for your choices and create meaningful change.

Gestalt therapy focuses on the here and now. We explore what feels alive for you in the here and now and use that as a launching pad for where you would like to go. Body sensations, thoughts and feelings inform the process of discovering what choices you have as you move forward.

Gestalt therapy is oriented around building awareness: of ourselves, of our thoughts & behaviors, of our choices, and of our physical systems that are constantly sending us invaluable data about our experiences. Through the gestalt process, clients learn to become more aware of how their own negative thought patterns and behaviors are blocking true self-awareness.

Gestalt is a type of parts work therapy, which means we see the human psyche as a combination of different parts that sometimes have quite different feelings and needs. Parts work can be incredibly helpful when we conceptualize inner conflict, and can help bring compassion to parts that hold challenging or outdated beliefs about ourselves, others or the world. I use Gestalt therapy to support my clients in growing awareness and understanding of our complexity as human beings.

Together we will work to understand how you holistically experience the present moment in your mind, body and emotional self. This work seeks to uncover and accept the fullness of who you are and what you need to find contentment, joy, and meaning in your life. We may explore your family system or notable events from youth if they are creating an interruption in your life now.

Gestalt is a way of understanding human experience and the process of change. According to Gestalt, change only happens when we accept ourselves exactly as we are. By paying close attention to the present moment, we discover both new and familiar aspects of ourselves and unlock new possibilities for choice and growth. I receive ongoing training through Gestalt Therapy Training Center Northwest, as well as regular individual supervision and consultation.

Working with the body and the different parts within yourself are very powerful and effective ways to gain deeper insight into what is going on with us.

Be here now, with me, talking. Gestalt therapy draws on the power inherent in creative dialogue grounded in embodied awareness of the present moment. This style of therapeutic interaction grows out of earlier psychodynamic styles as they encounter mindfulness traditions from Asia. After training five years, I became credentialed as a certified Gestalt therapist and psychoanalyst. Before and during that, I did a lot of meditating, retreats, and ran a dharma center. Still do, still no expert.