you (already) have everything you need to heal

Neurodiversity Affirming

You long to be able to bring your whole self (to therapy), with someone who sees you and quite possibly ‘gets’ you! Maybe your brain, or your child’s brain, could be (called) neurodivergent. That doesn’t mean less than, wrong, or needing to be fixed, just simply different from what societal standards dictate as the norm. (Neuroqueer; Nick Walker). Living in a society that wasn’t created for you can be traumatic and utterly exhausting. There’s a special layer of *extra* if you are also parenting a child who doesn’t fit that mold either. There may be shame wrapped up in your sense of self. Maybe you have internalized messages of ableism (that able-bodied folks are better than) and it feels icky. Or possibly you are experiencing some grief around how you thought life would look for you as an individual or what you imagined as a parent. This is just so so much to hold. You decide what support you are needing – I am committed to offering that in affirming, non-pathologizing, and my own brand of out-of-the-norm ways.

Religious Trauma

You may have great clarity about how you have been harmed by your experience in religious or other high-control environments. And sometimes, the long-standing influence in thought patterns, ways of being in relationship, and hidden systems of power – may be evident much later. Often universal messaging about being disconnected from your body blocks all trust in your own intuition. Some have experienced how purity culture harms relationship with – your body, your sexuality, your gender identity, and prospective partners.

Each person’s experience is unique to themselves, however there are painful themes so ‘finding your people’ can feel validating and simultaneously full of grief. Two of the things our brains long for are – survival and connection. Considering this, one might notice how complex and insidious religious trauma may be.

LGBTQIA2S

You belong here. Whether you are out, proud, and grounded in all of who you are or you are just beginning to wonder about your truest expression of self – all of you – belongs here. 

With so much hate towards all of the queer community and increasingly aggressive moves to silence and pretend the trans community doesn’t exist; we truly need connection. Connection to each other and rooted connection to self.

As someone who came out later, partnered with a human who did the same, I can recognize the ongoing learning and plethora of emotions and reactions that may come along with this awareness and truth.

There is so much I could say, yet no words seem to be quite right, right now.

I just want you to know;

You truly do belong here.

You are wanted.

You are loved.

You matter.

You are enough.

We need each other.

Chronic Illness and Disability

How do you return to yourself when you feel like your body is betraying you?

Maybe you are accustomed to your illness or disability, or make personal accommodations – sometimes without awareness.

You want to feel well, but your baseline just doesn’t allow for this. It’s practically a full-time job to meet with the various medical providers who are apparently experts, but often you don’t feel heard in your advocacy of self.

Given my personal experience with chronic pain and ailments that seem to leave providers stumped, I unfortunately understand how exhausting coordinating your own care can truly be. It may include fighting with numerous layers of the healthcare system, researching providers, looking up potential answers, and quite literally needing a nap – it’s just so much.