Areas of Practice
"When an inner situation is not made conscious it appears outside as fate"
-CARL JUNG
We integrate neuro-counseling research with a depth focused approach, to facilitate lasting neurological changes that impact our resonance with others. This addresses underlying issues from their root cause and plants seeds for growth deep enough to support healing related to trans-generational adaptive response, systemic oppression, systematic abuse, and attachment disruption. Our evidence based services are individualized and take a somatic and psychological approach to mind-body healing.
We specialize in the intersectional individual and relational needs of neurodiverse and queer clients that are seeking support for complex trauma including the unique needs of the plural community (DID/OSDD systems).
Specialty Areas
Complex Trauma (CPTSD), Dissociative Experiences, & Perceptual Disturbance
Trauma is a deeply distressing or disturbing experience that leaves us somehow impacted. The source of the trauma can be physical, emotional, sexual, psychological, relational, and spiritual. Trauma can however look and feel very different from person to person. Sometimes events that we may not view as a 'trauma' have in fact impacted us so greatly that the brain protects itself just the same. Trauma can also compound over time with subsequent experiences and have lasting effects for years and even a lifetime if not addressed. Sometimes symptoms of trauma can be confusing because they may seem unrelated or seemingly flair up without any identifiable trigger. No matter if you are new to the idea of discussing impactful experiences, or if you have an internal system with diverse perspectives on managing your stress, therapy can be a useful tool. Trauma and neuro-informed therapy can assist in working with these experiences and adaptive responses to clarify/achieve present day goals and intentions to access a sense of confidence, functional internal communication and/or access relief.
Some symptoms include flashbacks, intrusive thoughts, absence of childhood memories, sleep disruption, loss of time or spacing out, anxiety/panic symptoms, difficulty with trust or intimacy, social isolation, dissociative feelings of not being real, hyper-vigilance, poor self-esteem, underlying feelings of guilt and shame, internal conflict/multiplicity, hearing voices, unexplained body sensations/movements, perceptual disturbances, history of chronic mental health support needs for self-destructive behaviors or recurring interpersonal patterns that do not sustain healthy relational dynamics.
Enhancing Intuitive Life Direction
Though many of our problems and patterns can be within our awareness, there are deeper subconscious and unconscious levels of the mind beyond our awareness. Together we can can help you interact with and gain insight from these deeper levels to increase conscious choice in working to increase quality of life and depth of experience. Strengthening techniques to access deeper parts of self and make connections between different experiences can support the development of new physical connections in the brain and help manifest our dreams! Transpersonal work deepens our experience and increase a sense of intuitive and meaningful conscious living.
Our identities are very complex and ever changing. Many times throughout life we find ourselves searching for who we are as our identities evolve. This search can be complicated by life transitions and events such as marriage/divorce, parenthood, coming out, loss of a loved one, trauma, changes to school or work, disability, retirement or just growing as a person.
Coming into Yourself as You Come Out
Defining ourselves to ourselves is a big order. Understanding yourself and having a support to help you identify strategies to best reintroduce that self to the people we love can ease the journey. Whether you're out and proud but your partner is not, or your wondering if you might want to transition from head to toe, you don't have to do it alone. Minority stress is a very powerful influence and often can result in trauma symptoms when support is scarce. Our providers participate in the interdisciplinary Charlotte Transgender Healthcare Group, are familiar with navigating WPATH guidelines, and have received specialized training related to considerations related to facilitating and coordinating care for healthy identity support for those with diversity of gender, sexual development and relational orientations. We partner with medical providers in NC and other states to assist with navigating oppressive systems to access research based and life saving medical care.
Teens & Emerging Adults
Adolescence and early adulthood is arguably the most drastic time of change in our lives. Literally the brain undergoes the most massive reorganization of our lives! This is when we carve our place out not only within ourselves, but also within our relationships and society. Often this is a time of turmoil, high emotions, risk taking and conflict as brains work to integrate more fully. Counseling can provide a safe and healthy place to navigate challenges that often are not talked about at home. Often teens that would benefit from counseling may engage in impulsive behaviors, mood swings, cutting./self-injury, drug/alcohol use, social problems, or a drastic change in personality or image. Other issues that bring teens and their families to seek support can center of gaining confidence in parenting through LGBTQIA related stress that is unfamiliar to parents. Healthy confident parenting and securely attached youth can literally be a lifesaver during times of high minority stress.
Unique Developmental Needs Addressed with Teen Counseling
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Parenting Support
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Identity Development and Healthy Self Expression
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Tasks of Independence & Addressing Risk Taking
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Hands on, Creative and Interactive Activities
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Family Support Navigating Alleviation of Gender Dysphoria & Minority Stress
Nervous System Dysregulation: Stress, Anxiety & Mood Problems
Stress has a huge impact on our lives every day. Often one of the first signs something is bothering us is a disruption of our physical health or sleep... It can all go down hill quickly from there! Stress and anxiety impact our thoughts, behaviors, relationships and our physical functioning. High blood pressure, digestive problems, mood problems, anxiety, racing thoughts, hair loss, decreased immune function, infertility, memory problems, sleep problems, chronic pain and irritability are all symptoms of nervous system dysregulation that can be addressed with polyvagal focused therapy.
Psychoneuroimmunology is a growing area of research regarding the preventative health benefits linked to caring for the mind body connection. Things like stress can impact our immune system, so remaining healthy requires attention to both physical and psychological factors. Incorporation of talk therapy, bodywork and Mindfulness to impact the physiological stress response are powerful tools to improve your health and quality of life. The research being done in this area is increasing dramatically as western science catches up with ancient healing philosophy.
Attachment & Relational Work
Relationships come in many shapes, sizes and constellations of arrangements. We offer relational work ranging from parent-child support to polyamorous and ethical non-monogamy sessions for queer and plural clients. Often the problems we face in our intimate and family relationships have can be traced back to pattens experienced in our youth, or within ancestral experiences of our families of origin. Who we are today is a reflection of where we have been both on a social and genetic level. Ongoing emotional and relational problems are often so deep that we are not conscious of our patterns. Depth work can help bring insight and choice to patterns that no longer serve us. Stigma, cultural and identity trauma and social norms incongruent with healthy development can be difficult to untangle individually, let alone within relationships. Let us support you and your loved ones in building the connections that nurture your relationships!
Transformation & Healing From Within
MIND
BODY
