The purpose and mission of Avalon Rising
Woman-Centered Counseling and Hypnotherapy is to provide compassionate,
respectful counseling honoring the feminine body, mind and spirit.
I
have a Master's Degree in Social Work, am a Certified Clinical
Hypnotherapist and Ordained Non-Denominational Minister with 22 years
experience working with relationship issues, depression, shame, grief
and loss, sexual abuse and other body and soul traumas.
Although
PTSD and trauma work have always been a primary focus of my practice, I
also work with the natural life transitions of all women; straight,
gay, bi-sexual and transgendered -- from adolescence through menopause
-- as well as the life situations that arise for women as they age in
this culture.
Other areas of my expertise
include working with adult children from alcoholic and other trauma
impacted families, adult survivors of sexual abuse, and individuals
dealing with the compulsive behaviors that can result from growing up
in a shame-bound family system.
My Approach To Therapy
The Greek word "psyche" means "soul" and the Greek
word "therapeia" means "attendant." Therefore, "soul attending" is
actually what any form of counseling is meant to be. This sacred work
of honoring and attending to the uniqueness of each client and hearing
her story as a gift she gives in trust is at the core of my practice.
The
goal of soul-based therapy is not just relief from symptoms -- although
this certainly does take place. When symptoms are viewed and
appreciated as a way of "getting our attention," they can then subside
as deeper issues needing exploration and healing surface in the
environment of trust formed in the therapeutic relationship.
"Talk
Therapy" is an avenue to help clients identify patterns of thinking and
behavior that have resulted in limited and unsatisfying ways of living.
Discovering these patterns allows individualized solutions to shape new
choices and make new decisions in attitude and action that empower and
heal.
I also use dreamwork, active imagination,
inner dialog observation, journaling, and creative homework assignments
to assist in releasing past trauma and grief and increasing compassion
for self and others. I also assist clients in building a system of
"soul symbols" -- a lexicon of specialized personal symbols that
provide a spiritual and practical structure of meaning and purpose on
the continuing journey of the Soul.
Contact information: 503.309.6256
avalonrising@mac.com
