Gestalt Therapy

I offer Gestalt therapy, a collaborative approach that helps you explore how you relate to yourself and others. Rather than just talking about your experiences, we focus on what’s happening for you in the present. Your feelings, reactions, and body sensations will all be explored. This process encourages self-awareness and empowers you to make meaningful changes. It’s a space to reconnect with yourself, uncover patterns, and move toward a more grounded and authentic life.

This therapy uses a phenomenological approach that focuses on awareness in the ‘here and now’. Gestalt therapy is very present-central, without concentrating on the past or future, allowing personal growth through insight and clarity of an individual’s needs, goals, and values. This phenomenological approach explores a person’s subjective meaning of existence in the world through the awareness of their own movements amidst their personal life experiences.

Gestalt therapy focuses on the here and now. We explore what feels alive for you in the present moment and use that aliveness as a launching pad for where you would like to go. Body sensations, thoughts and feelings inform the process of discovering what choices you have as you move forward.

Nearly seven years of clinical experience using gestalt therapy.

I use a Gestalt therapy framework to help clients focus on the 'here and now,' bringing awareness to their present moment experience. Through this process, we explore the awareness continuum, noticing thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations as they arise. This approach fosters greater self-awareness and empowers clients to recognize patterns, deepen their understanding of themselves, and make more conscious choices in their lives.

Sometimes just talking about a problem doesn't quite get the job done. By engaging in "safe experiments" in session, Gestalt therapy helps us to release ourselves from the bondage of old emotional wounds.

Gestalt therapy helps the client focus on the present to understand what is actually happening in their lives at this moment, and how it makes them feel presently, rather than what they may assume to be happening based on past experiences. The whole person must be explored, discovered, and confronted.

Integrating conflicting voices within.

“Gestalt therapy is about helping people become aware of what they do and how they do it, and to encourage living in the present, to ‘be here now,’ and make better choices.” – Violet Oaklander. In Gestalt therapy, I use talk or play to help you or your child experience, explore, and process thoughts, feelings and sensations to bring greater awareness, self-understanding and empowerment. I am not an ‘expert’ but a partner on your journey, in the process with you every step of the way.

Currently engaged in six month ongoing Gestalt training and supervision through GATSEA.

Gestalt therapy focuses on the here and now. We explore what feels alive for you in the here and now and use that as a launching pad for where you would like to go. Body sensations, thoughts and feelings inform the process of discovering what choices you have as you move forward.

Gestalt is my foundational theory that aligns with my views of human nature and counseling. I lean to the side of relational, nondirective gestalt therapy that utilizes dialogue and talk, rather than the popularized gestalt techniques. I am a gestalt nerd and love counseling gestalt therapists.

Gestalt therapy is oriented around building awareness: of ourselves, of our thoughts & behaviors, of our choices, and of our physical systems that are constantly sending us invaluable data about our experiences. Through the gestalt process, clients learn to become more aware of how their own negative thought patterns and behaviors are blocking true self-awareness.

Together we will work to understand how you holistically experience the present moment in your mind, body and emotional self. This work seeks to uncover and accept the fullness of who you are and what you need to find contentment, joy, and meaning in your life. We may explore your family system or notable events from youth if they are creating an interruption in your life now.

With extensive training and years of experience, I specialize in this holistic approach that emphasizes personal responsibility and awareness in the present moment. My expertise lies in guiding clients to fully experience their thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations, facilitating self-discovery and growth. Through innovative techniques personalized for the individual, I help clients resolve unfinished business and realize their full potential, creating meaningful and transformative change.

Working with the body and the different parts within yourself are very powerful and effective ways to gain deeper insight into what is going on with us.

To me, Gestalt therapy means being aware of what's alive in the present moment, and attending to that. Clients don't need to prepare anything for session, because there is always something happening in the mind and body to be curious about or just be with. I also invite experimentation into our sessions to explore and have new experiences, often through art or somatic movement.