About the Spiritual Therapist
Ever since I was little, I knew that helping others was part of my life’s purpose.
My Story…
I have always been very sensitive, both physically and emotionally.
I used to always put the needs of others before my own. I would become easily overwhelmed and tearful over things other people didn’t seem to be affected by.
After talking with others and doing some self-discovery, I finally was able to understand myself as an Empath.
I grew up as an only child so I have spent a lot of my time in solitude, especially in nature. I have been journaling and reflecting almost daily since a young age and have always been a deep thinker. As I grew older, I became a lover of learning, self-improvement, philosophy, and other deep concepts.
I have also always been very spiritual and intuitive. I constantly feel that I am being guided as I go about my days. I believe that I am a soul who has a body, that life is a miracle, and there is much more out there than meets the eye. My spiritual practice has helped me in the worst of times; it has become a part of my daily practice and is a large part of who I am. I would love to share this with whomever else this resonates with.
In my junior year of high school, I took my first psychology course and I immediately fell in love with it. The more I learned, the more aligned and exhilarated I felt. I just knew I needed more.
So, I did the things I felt I was supposed to do. I went to college, and received my masters degree in mental health counseling.
While grieving some losses in college, I began to realize how much I struggled from anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and feelings of self-loathing and unworthiness. I still didn’t even start therapy until after college--I just wasn’t ready.
I would think, “Why should I go to therapy? Plenty of people have it way worse than me.” (That unworthiness monster reeking its ugly head.)
Thankfully I finally started therapy in grad school when I reached my breaking point and felt as if I had no choice. It definitely helped, and I have not stopped going since!
Since becoming a therapist, I knew that one day I would want to start my own private practice.
After completing graduate school, I started working at a counseling outpatient clinic.
Though I gained tons of experience there, I also struggled with burn-out, and soon realized it was not the right fit.
I then worked for a residential treatment center where therapy did not have to be restricted to just an office.
I was also able to integrate animal-assisted therapy into my work, which was amazing.
My dog, Obie is now working to become a certified therapy dog himself so that I can continue this again soon!
After completing my requirements, I officially received my mental health counseling license. I felt ready to expand and be on my own and I decided to open up my own therapy practice, and it was one of the best decisions I have ever made for myself.
Things were going great...and then *cringe*...our lovely friend, covid-19 hit. After years of having a hold on my anxiety, it came flooding back. My clients were also panicking and asking me tons of questions that I did not have the answers to.
This forced me to really get my sh*t together.
I have never done more work on myself than I have since covid hit, and I’m still going. I continued therapy and also worked with various types of coaches, joined virtual groups, etc., but the main thing that kept me going through this hardship was my spirituality.
I used to have this belief that I needed to keep spirituality separate from therapy.
I didn’t want to make anyone uncomfortable and I wanted to make sure I was keeping things “practical” and “evidence-based”.
I was also afraid of being judged as “woo woo”. After two years in my private practice, I realized that keeping this part of myself separate
from my work was not only doing a disservice to my clients, but also to myself.
My spirituality is a huge part of my identity that I practice daily, and it has helped me through many difficult times,
especially this most recent global crisis. I realized I no longer can bear to separate this part of myself from my therapy practice.
I believe from the depths of my being that this type of healing is what the world needs during this time of turmoil.
I decided to share part of my story here in case it resonates with you and so that you can learn how to:
Release patterns of codependency, and set boundaries with yourself and others.
Take care of yourself first, without guilt, so that you can use your strengths to contribute to the highest good and effectively be there for others.
Validate yourself, accept yourself, and even love yourself in a healthy way instead of always seeking these things externally.
Why do I believe this?
Because I did it -- and I can teach you the tools that I’ve used to get here.