As a young girl growing up in Southern California in the 1950s, and orphaned at the age of eleven, I developed an early and fierce independence along with a passion for pursuing my dreams.
Dance, movement, exploring nature, and a deep sense of creative expression filled my life and helped me overcome many challenges of my childhood. As I grew up, I turned these interests and skills into my work, believing that if imagination and creativity could help me heal, maybe they could do the same for others.
Over 40 years ago, my journey to turning my personal experiences into my life’s work as a somatic depth psychotherapist solidified when I chose to attend graduate school at Antioch University New England to earn my master’s in dance/movement therapy and counseling psychology.
After finishing graduate school, I completed a nine-month internship with Janet Adler, focusing on Authentic Movement. Since then, authentic movement has formed the basis of all my somatic practices.
Learning to close my eyes, turn inward, and listen to my body without the narrative allowed me to fully embrace the present moment. Embodiment became my lived experience. I’m grateful to share this knowledge and experience with others as they search for deeper meaning and fulfillment in their lives.
Connecting with Peter Levine in 2011 and later with Stan Groff in 2014 deepened my understanding of the body as a gateway to transformation. I refined my skills as a somatic experiencing practitioner while also learning breathwork as a tool to expand my consciousness.
Motivated by curiosity and intuition, I started my journey into the plant medicine world in 2015, earning certifications in psilocybin and ketamine-assisted therapy. Exploring this new realm has deepened my practice further and allowed me to work with a diverse range of clients.
Today, my practice focuses on four main areas: individual and couples work, The Body Knows training, psychedelic work, and personal retreats.
I’m a mother and grandmother, and I find joy in daily rituals like morning meditation, hiking, playing with my dog, solitude, creative expression, and spending quality time with loved ones.
I’m grateful to my other teachers along this journey. Edith Sulwold taught me about the creative process, Joseph Goldstein introduced me to Insight Meditation, Bill Plotkin guided me through vision fasts on the land, and Angeles Arrien showed me how to connect with my ancestors, taught me The Four Fold Way, and how to use indigenous healing practices for myself and others.
