(they/them)
Hello and welcome! I am going to share some about my approach, my philosophy, and also my lived experience so you can get a feel for what it might be like to work with me. Thanks for reading!
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and an EMDR-trained clinician with advanced training in IFS-informed EMDR through Syzygy Institute, Avoidance in EMDR therapy through EMDR Consulting, and Trauma Informed Stabilization Treatment (TIST) Level 1 with Janina Fisher at the Academy of Therapy Wisdom. My approach with these frameworks can help you untangle your inner experience by guiding you to differentiate yourself from your survival strategies and to reprocess traumatic experiences held deeply within your nervous system. Or more simply, I will help you understand how you got here and witness you get where you want to go.
I view the world through a trauma-focused, anti-oppressive lens and am attentive to the intersections of multiply-marginalized individuals. This includes efforts to decolonize my practice the best I can within the present systems. I firmly believe the current systems in which we all live, work, and love perpetuate and encourage cycles of violence. As an abolitionist, I value reconciliation, harm reduction, and resources for all. I view my work, helping guide you to rewire your uniquely wired nervous system, as a privilege. I strive to bring a patient, curious, and intentional presence to the therapeutic relationship.
Now, I will share a bit about my own lived experience that shapes my work and touches multiple facets of my life. I experienced significant developmental or childhood adversity. To little me, the world was a scary place and everyone was a potential threat. I developed several strategies to help me adapt to my surroundings and survive. It taught me to accept far less than what I deserve and to find dysfunction and abuse more comfortable than stability. As an adult, I have also had difficult experiences and “stayed” because it felt like home to my nervous system.
I tell you all this not to elicit sympathy, but so that you might understand that I am not here to tell you that what you are doing to survive is wrong, bad, or maladaptive. I come to this work to help others begin to reidentify with their bodies so that they can learn what “safe enough” feels like so that breathing deeply gets a little bit easier, so that you can take in a smile as a smile rather than a sneer or a lure, or so you can finally get some sleep. I share all this so that you know I am here inside this work with you. I didn’t only read about these experiences in textbooks. I lived them. I walked them. And I continue to live in a body and mind that is healing, learning, and has to establish safety daily. Thanks to the approaches above, I am here now. Able to guide others to reconnect with themselves. I only use approaches that I myself have experienced in therapeutic spaces. I trust in what I do and I so look forward to connecting with you and learning how you uniquely adapted to survive.
Additionally, I am especially passionate about working with fellow queer, trans, and gender-nonconforming folks and those who are neurodivergent.
If all of this resonates with you, we may be a great match! We might cry, we’ll definitely laugh, and most importantly we’ll lay the groundwork for safe relational connection.
In my free time, I might be found researching something instead of paying attention, overthinking, reading several books, or removing a fluffy critter from the kitchen counter.
I see private-pay individuals at a rate of $150 for 55 minutes and offer sliding scale pricing for those who qualify. Inquire directly at constance@centerforconnection.org.