My Approach

Outdoor therapy, also known as “nature immersed” or “eco” therapy or “walk and talk” nurtures the relationship between humans and our own mammalhood as part of an ecosystem. Inspired by the stories of Robin Wall Kimmerer, a Potawatomi botanist, I believe some of our deepest healing can come from being in community with plants, animals, and natural environments. In my work, nature is not just the setting for therapy, it is a co-facilitator in the process.

I weave together the sounds of the breeze, the sensation of raindrops, and the rhythm of the seasonal shifts with a trauma-informed, nervous-system-based lens rooted in Polyvagal Theory. This helps deepen awareness of perceived safety and threat, the core elements of how we navigate life as mammals. I center the body’s experience and communication, challenging the cultural myth that the mind is the most intelligent organ. I also approach bodies through a Health at Every Size (HAES) framework, promoting body acceptance and respect as integral to being and healing.

My work is neurodivergent-affirming, trauma-informed, and feminist-theory-centered, emphasizing autonomy and empowerment. This includes deconstructing internalized patriarchal messages and decolonizing minds and bodies from white supremacy culture and colonialism. I draw on parts work/Internal Family Systems (IFS), mindfulness, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), somatic therapies, and polyvagal theory, integrating these frameworks into the counseling space. Along with building a safe therapeutic relationship, these approaches support the practice of inner tenderness and curiosity needed to embrace healing as a radical process.

I offer Telehealth sessions as well, which can incorporate many of the same approaches, including body-centered awareness, nervous-system-based practices, and trauma-informed frameworks. Even in a virtual setting, therapy can lean into embodied experiences, mindfulness, and exploration of one’s internal and relational landscape.