Your body is living wisdom
Central to my work is guiding people back to their bodies - a process of softening the armors we’ve built for protection and calming the overactive mind, so we can listen to inner wisdom.
It takes courage to prioritize our own well-being and listen to the part of us that seeks change. Yet, our creative bodies can make this process gentle and enjoyable.
This reconnection naturally extends to the world around us, where the wisdom of nature forms a foundation for our healing and sustained growth.
My Methods and Approach
My approach is rooted in the Halprin Life/Art Process®, also known as Tamalpa Life/Art Process® (TLAP), an internationally recognized methodology that weaves somatic movement and expressive arts to help us reconnect with the body’s intelligence and resources. This work is practiced worldwide in settings ranging from therapy and education to performance and social justice initiatives.
What makes the TLAP special
While many somatic modalities focus primarily on the path back into the body, the Halprin Life/Art Process® goes further, integrating somatic movement, expressive dance, artistic expression, and the essential role of witnessing in the healing process. In that, it teaches us to walk the spiral in both directions: from the outside in - from the noise of the collective back to ourselves; and from the inside out - from the wisdom of our bodies back into the world, carrying new resources.
Feeling in the body is fundamental, but TLAP offers a way to translate that experience into tangible forms - such as a drawing or poem - that we can observe, reflect on, and draw meaning and resources from.
The body is both a reservoir and a map of our lived experiences, so artistic expression reveals unconscious beliefs and hidden associations, while returning to movement opens new layers of insight and possibility. In this process, we notice that how we live shapes our creative expression, and that our creative choices, in turn, influence how we show up in our lives.
The role of witnessing is vital. Being truly seen and reflected without an agenda supports us to see ourselves more clearly, and to restore safety, dismantle isolation, and build trust in our authentic expression and capacity to be in relationship with others without leaving ourselves behind.
In this way, TLAP transforms stories of suffering into narratives of resilience, possibility, and deeper connection to ourselves and the world.
In addition to the TLAP, I bring over 15 years of experience at the intersection of art and healing, informed by a diverse background of academic study, personal practice, and lived experience. My influences include meditation and mindfulness (from both Buddhist and secular perspectives), experimental theater, parts work (IFS-informed), feminism, psychoanalysis, dreamwork, and, most recently, a journey through breast cancer that profoundly shaped how I show up in my work.
My approach is grounded in inclusivity, guided by cultural humility, feminism, and a commitment to anti-discrimination. I emphasize the continual practice of aligning self-reflection, critical thinking, and conscious action for sustained growth.
A Tiny History of the TLAP:
The Halprin Life/Art Process® began in the 1950s with the pioneering work of Anna Halprin, one of the first in the West to use dance for healing and social change. In the 1970s, her daughter - and my teacher -, Daria Halprin, expanded the work through the lens of psychology, building the bridge between movement, art, and psychic life that defines the approach today.
For more information, visit: www.tamalpa.org.
WORK WITH ME
Whether you’re seeking ongoing individual support, a group experience, or clarity around a specific issue, my individual and group sessions meet you where you are and support you in moving forward with greater autonomy, confidence, and creativity.
FAQs
01.
What is Somatic Movement Therapy and Education?
Somatic Movement Therapy and Education is a holistic approach that uses mindful movement and body awareness to support healing, self-discovery, and personal growth. It integrates body-mind-heart processes, helping individuals process emotions, learn how to self-regulate, and develop a deeper and resource-oriented relationship with their bodies for improved well-being.
02.
How does Somatic Movement/Dance differ from other movement/dance practices?
Unlike movement methods focused on technique and aesthetic form, somatic movement emphasizes internal experience and awareness, using form to cultivate a deeper understanding of one's anatomy. It encourages exploring movement from the inside out, guided by sensations, emotions, and intuition. The aim is to enhance the body-mind connection, soften rigidity, and develop a sense of ease and presence—shifting away from performative movement toward authentic embodiment.
03.
What are Expressive Arts, and how are they used therapeutically?
Expressive Arts integrate modalities like movement, visual arts, writing, and sounding as tools for expression and healing. We use the creative process to access emotions, explore inner experiences, and facilitate self-discovery and transformation. It helps us to express what is beyond words, in the pre-conscious layers of ourselves, and to process complex feelings in a safe and supportive way—while also developing our aesthetics and artistic skill.