I have trained extensively with Terry Real LICSW, for over 100 hours, in his Relational Life Therapy (RLT) model. I have been certified in this model for several years and have found it to be a very effective way of getting through to both men and women in therapy. 

The commonsense and direct approach works well with couples and focuses more on how to understand and change the underlying cycles, as opposed to just the surface-level issues. Through my training with Terry Real, I was introduced to one of his mentors, Pia Mellody. I became very interested in her Post-Induction Therapy model, so I completed the training in that as well. 

As a result, I have begun conducting childhood trauma intensives with adult clients who need to work though negative messages they received in childhood, as well as the needs that were neglected by caregivers. Parents do the best they can with the information they have, but often their information is faulty and their own childhoods involved unhealthy or non-nurturing environments. In this 3-4 day workshop, clients learn more about themselves in a safe, small group environment, and have the opportunity to work with their inner children and do some feeling reduction work, so that the past can stop affecting so much of their current lives and relationships. This therapy has completely changed my own life, which makes me a true believer in its effectiveness. I work with many adults in individual sessions on this model as well. It is one of my greatest passions currently.

Another important modality in working with trauma that I use is Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). This has been effective with several clients struggling with many issues, ranging from depression and anxiety to explosive anger. More recently, I have also trained in Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) which is similar to EMDR and I have found it can work much more quickly. Lastly, I am trained in Somatic Experiencing (SE) which is all about what we hold in our nervous system. It is so important to tune into our bodies and help move our stuck emotions so we can more quickly get out of fight or flight and deal more effectively with other people in our lives. 

Telehealth Sessions available in Minnesota