M-Bodied Therapy & Coaching

How? I hope to work together to understand your story, discover your deeper hungers, and transform that energy into self-love, creativity and freedom. My passion is helping people reconnect with their natural rhythms and deeper hungers through body-based techniques and mindful movement. I offer a blend of cognitive and somatic therapies through an attachment-based lens. Integrative mind-body therapy is like a safe container for exploration; like a womb for self-discovery, nourishment and growth.

You set the pace: Sometimes we talk, sometimes we write or color, sometimes we play with yoga shapes and breath work, and sometimes we do all three. I practice listening to your story, needs and wants to set our pace.

Background: As a trained psychotherapist (M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Georgia State University, practicum/internship at the Atlanta Center for Eating Disorders), I’ve treated a variety of disordered eating, addictions, anxiety, depression and maternal mental health issues. In addition to being a therapist, I’ve worked with eating disorders and addictions for 13 years as a movement educator and/or therapeutic yoga teacher.

My therapeutic approach: I draw upon a blend of DBT, ACT, CBT, narrative therapy, psychodynamic theory, somatic psychology and movement therapies from an attachment-based framework. By combining top-down and bottom-up approaches in a unique way, the therapist and client are more informed of the parallels, strengths or imbalances of psychological and physiological roots, development, and patterning. This integrative mind-body approach informs us what areas need attention, compassion, sensitivity and nourishment.

Why body-based psychotherapy? Throughout my work, I have both researched and personally witnessed the value of integrating the body into the healing journey by weaving attachment-based theory and cognitive techniques into somatic psychology, intuitive and developmental movement methods, and trauma-informed interventions. Paying attention the body’s messages, patterns and sensations offers insight into not only the felt sense but also the unconscious which can provide a more nuanced, experiential pathway to living more fulfilled and healthily embodied.

Sessions: If you’re interested in hearing more or want to see if we are a good fit, call me at 404-210-6752, for a free 15-minute phone consultation. To schedule an appointment with me in Decatur, GA, visit: www.gaiacounseling.com or my website www.bodybasedpsychotherapy.com

Education

Georgia State University, M.S. – Clinical Mental Health Counseling

University of South Carolina, B.A. – Journalism & Mass Communications, Broadcast Journalism + emphasis in Theatre Speech/Women’s Studies

Registered Yoga Teacher 200 hrs, Yoga Alliance – Kashi Atlanta (July 2010)

Body of Light Immersion 100 hrs, Yoga Collective with Gina Minyard E-RYT 500 (Spring 2014)

CPR/AED (Oct 2017)

Applied Su***de Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) (Mar 2017)

Conference Presentations

Southeastern Eating Disorders (SEEDS) conference – Destin, FL Aug 2017

International Association for Eating Disorders Professionals (iaedp) symposium – Orlando, FL Mar 2018

Presented somatic techniques informed by the latest neuroscience research such as Polyvagal Theory for clinicians treating the eating disorders population. Techniques included a blend of DBT, yoga postures and breath-work, Kestenberg Movement Rhythms and Authentic Movement as informed by Dance-Movement and Sensorimotor therapies.

Community Outreach

Eating Disorders Information Network, medical advisory council & volunteer – Atlanta, GA 2003 – present

Served on EDIN’s Speaker’s Bureau, Professional Resource Network and volunteered at annual fundraising galas. Has offered Love Your Body Month movement-writing workshop each February for several years; Active member of the Medical Advisory Council.