About Me

I received my Master’s Degree in Transpersonal Counseling Psychology from Naropa University, renowned for its Buddhist Contemplative approach, located in Boulder, Colorado. This program is distinguished for integrating Buddhist principles and psychotherapy to help individuals navigate their inner worlds and transform their lives. It teaches experiential learning — encouraging students to explore their own inner worlds and apply the teachings directly to our lived experience.

My diverse training experience has provided me with a rich set of skills and perspectives to draw upon in my work as a therapist. My training in the Psychobiological Approach to Couple Therapy (PACT) equips me with a deep understanding of attachment dynamics and neurobiology, allowing me to guide couples toward more secure and fulfilling relationships. Additionally, my immersion in the Hakomi Method has honed my ability to facilitate mindful, experiential healing processes, promoting self-awareness and personal growth. At the School of Lost Borders I trained as a guide in wilderness rites of passage, which underscores the importance of nature’s role in transformation and self-discovery. As an ordained dharma teacher, I bring the wisdom of Eastern philosophies into my therapeutic and spiritual practice, emphasizing the challenges and rewards of knowing our own mind. These multifaceted trainings allow me to offer a dynamic and integrative approach to healing and personal growth for my clients and students.

As a therapist, I understand the importance of continually learning and growing, not just from textbooks or courses, but from my own lived experiences in the realm of relationships, both with myself and others. It’s through these personal encounters that I gain deeper insights into the complexities of human emotions, communication, and personal growth. Every interaction and every moment of self-reflection serve as valuable lessons, enriching my ability to empathize, connect, and guide my clients on their own unique journeys. This ongoing process of investigating the self fuels my commitment to providing the most compassionate and effective therapeutic support to those seeking guidance.

Being a therapist has been an incredible source of learning and growth for me. Each day spent working with individuals and couples presents a unique opportunity to delve into the intricate dynamics of human relationships and psychology. I am continually amazed by the resilience, strength, and vulnerability of my clients. Their stories and challenges offer profound insights into the human experience. Witnessing their transformation, witnessing the power of empathy and connection, and witnessing the potential for healing and growth reaffirms my passion for this profession. It’s not just about imparting knowledge or guidance; it’s about the reciprocity of learning and evolving together on this shared journey towards better understanding and self-discovery.

Western psychology holds that a better quality of life comes from improving our sense of self, as well as improving our life circumstances. These are not wrong, as having a stable job and a secure home is important to our well-being. Yet, any freedom gained here is based on a set of conditions needing to be a certain way in order to experience this freedom, and much of these conditions we don’t have a lot of control over. The buddhist view asserts that freedom is found in how we relate to our experience. So it’s not about being anxious or depressed and getting rid of these states, but it’s about being fully alive, right in the middle of the anxiety or depression. Freedom arises from a willingness, and eventually, a deep-rooted trust, to stay with ourselves, no matter the circumstances.

Freedom (or, enlightenment) is found not in any particular experience. It is found in not clinging to any particular experience.