Reconnect to yourself and Reclaim your life.

Depression Therapy in Santa Rosa, Ca.

You’re tired of feeling Lack -lack of energy, lack of motivation, and lack of purpose.

It’s like you just can’t get things going .

Maybe you have been experiencing some physical discomfort for a while.

You wake up in the morning only to feel a heaviness in your body, an achiness in your joints, and constant digestive distress. It’s a struggle to get out of bed. You feel dull, uninspired, and a general experience of ‘blah’.

You find yourself reaching for caffeine and sugar more and more to help you get through your day. You feel like you are on auto-pilot going through the motions, putting up a front at work.

You feel overwhelmed by everything. It all just feels like too much. TOO MUCH.

You feel stuck in a persistent state of indecision. Just the thought of having to make another decision about anything is exhausting.

Your mind feels foggy and scattered.

You find yourself procrastinating more and more with everything. It’s hard to mobilize to get out of the house so you are always having to text people to tell them that you are running late.

Your self-esteem is at an all-time low.

You would rather choose to numb out on Netflix than go out with friends or do anything social in the evenings or on the weekends.

You have done a lot already.

Maybe you have been working with a naturopath and have a closetful of supplements. Maybe you have already done some therapy in an effort to heal your trauma history. Possibly the things you have tried have seemed to help for a little while. Unfortunately, though, the persistent experience of overwhelm and shutdown always returns.

The experience of collapse or freeze, the debilitating survival patterns that overwhelm your system always inevitably returns.

Sound like you?

Struggling with focus and follow-through.

Tired of feeling shut-down and numb.

Ready to stop doubting and judging yourself.

Wishing that you didn’t feel so less than around people.

Here’s what we’ll do together

Body-centered Therapy can help you feel more hopeful, inspired and connected to your vitality and aliveness.

How a depressed state develops within our physiology

Our autonomic nervous system is comprised of the Sympathetic State (fight, flight or freeze) and the Parasympathetic State (rest and digest). We need both of these states to be working harmoniously in partnership together in order for us to be healthy, regulated and responsive to life.

When we are faced with a threat or danger our system shifts out of a safety state and into the Sympathetic State of fight or flight.

If the situation is too overwhelming then our system switches to the branch of the Parasympathetic State known as the Dorsal Vagal freeze or shutdown response.

Our nervous systems are designed for our survival and safety. This Dorsal Vagal shut-down is our physiology’s brilliant protective mechanism responding to an extreme threat, an experience of stress that is too intense or prolonged.

Various stressors, including unresolved emotional issues, past traumas or loss, chronic pain or illness can all trigger this Dorsal Vagal shutdown in the system.

This shut-down freeze mode moves us into immobilization, conserving our body’s energy and resources. This mechanism is what is considered to be the body’s trauma response.

Any situation that overwhelms the body’s ability to cope can lead to a Dorsal Vagal shutdown.

So regardless of how big the actual “traumatic” event was, the trauma response is simply how your system responded to the situation. This survival response served a vital function of protection in the past when you were feeling unsafe and unsupported.

Once the situation is over, though, if your system continues to react from this survival state then overwhelm, shut-down, disconnection inevitably becomes your habitual experience.

It is this trauma response that gives rise to your patterns of collapse and shut-down.

This experience of overwhelm has now become your system’s default mode. It’s like you are still reacting as if the danger from your past is still occurring in the present.

How we will transform your depressed patterns

In order to actually shift the experience of chronic overwhelm and shut-down we have to work with your body and nervous system. This is where the adapted survival state is set on default mode.

In order to shift out of this survival state we will safely bring in more energy from other parts of the nervous system.

We will bring in the more mobilizing state (Sympathetic State) and the state that is wired for connection, social engagement, vitality and health (Ventral Vagus branch of the Parasympathetic State).

The way to transform your patterns of overwhelm is to bring in more regulation, safety and support into your system so that you are no longer operating out of your early adaptive survival responses.

What the process looks like

In sessions together I will guide you through a creative process where we will map your different nervous system states bringing deeper awareness, compassion and insight into the habitual learned survival patterns that lead you down the spiral of overwhelm and self-doubt.

I will guide you to turn your attention inward so that you can bring deeper awareness to all the various disconnected parts.

Through curiosity and compassion we can explore the functions that these survival strategies have served for you.

Together we will explore how you are feeling, sensing, noticing different parts of your body and your breath as we turn our attention and give voice and expression to these frozen, shut-down, depressed parts.

Using imagery, mindfulness, gentle movements and breath awareness

We will discover new options, new patterns of movement, thoughts, and behavior in which these disconnected parts of you can start to safely embody.

This somatic process will enable your nervous system to re-wire your depressed patterns.

Newer healthier and more vital neural connections form as you start to embody a felt-sense of support, safety, regulation and greater capacity.

This process offers a whole new way of coming home to yourself and your life.

Through this somatic journey we will re-wire your nervous system patterns associated with low self-esteem, shut-down and overwhelm, and create new connections that are more life-affirming, energizing and joyful.

At the end of the day, I want you to know:

You are strong enough to overcome self-doubt, overwhelm and shut-down. With the right support and process you can reconnect to yourself and your life with vitality, joy and purpose.

What we’ll work on

Imagine a life where…

  • Your relationships feel deeply satisfying - you feel more confident in expressing your needs and boundaries.

  • You feel more engaged and energized at work.

  • You’re connected to yourself - appreciating your inherent gifts, and feeling gratitude and enthusiasm for your life.

  • Your past no longer holds your system hostage -you have shifted out of survival mode and into thriving mode.

Healing is possible.

Healing is possible.

Questions?

FAQs

  • Yes. This approach is extremely effective no matter where you are starting from in relation to your body. If you are open to remaining curious in exploring and shifting your relationship to your body/mind even if it may be challenging at times - Transformation happens.

    Safely with support at a pace that feels just right for you, we will listen and connect to the innate wisdom of your body and it’s cues as we embark on re-shaping your nervous system for lasting change.

  • Yes. Transforming your experience of overwhelm and low self-esteem is really possible through online work. There are always advantages to working in-person, but there are also a significant number of advantages of working online. Since Covid many people have discovered that they actually prefer it as well.

    People appreciate the convenience of online therapy, not having to leave their home or office, get in their car and deal with traffic. They find that this actually alleviates a lot of extra stress when arriving to therapy as well as transitioning after the session.

    Safety is one of the key components to working with your nervous system when shifting depressed patterns. Having sessions in your own environment orients you to an experience of familiarity, comfort and safety which can truly support the changes and facilitate the healing process.

  • Some people find that they can make significant shifts in their patterns of overwhelm and low self-esteem within the first 3-4 months of working weekly together.

    For other people they may notice more gradual changes in their nervous system. Their depressed patterns gradually shift as they uncover deeper layers, and by 6 -12 months feel that their relationship to themselves and their overwhelm and self esteem has significantly transformed.