Find home and guidance within you.
Central to my work is a return to our bodies — a process of dissolving the armors we've built to protect ourselves and steadying the overactive mind to reconnect with inner wisdom.
It takes courage to prioritize our well-being and listen to the part of us that seeks change. Yet, our bodies can make this process gentler and actually enjoyable.
This reconnection naturally extends to the world around us, where the wisdom of nature forms a foundation for healing and sustainable growth.
MY METHODS AND APPROACH
My approach is rooted in the Tamalpa Life/Art Process® (TLAP), an internationally recognized methodology integrating somatic movement and expressive arts to reconnect us to the wisdom and resources of the body. It is widely used in therapy, education, performance, and social justice initiatives across the globe.
What makes the TLAP special?
While most somatic modalities focus on the somatic experience, the TLAP goes further by integrating somatic experience, artistic expression, and the essential role of witnessing. This matters because, when processing our stuff (emotions, traumas, wounds, conflicts) feeling in the body is fundamental but incomplete. The TLAP allows us to translate our subjective experience into a tangible form—something we can observe, reflect on, and build a new relationship with.
The body is both a reservoir and a map of our lived experiences, holding stories and wisdom. Through somatic movement, we access this rich repertoire and can work with it. Artistic expression—such as exploring the somatic experience through a drawing or poem—offers a concrete representation of our inner landscape, illuminating the unconscious beliefs and mental associations tied to the experience.
When we return to movement and explore that representation further, new layers are revealed, uncovering information and possibilities that were previously invisible in relation to the theme, pattern, or conflict we are exploring. This allows us to experiment with new possibilities of movement, art, and symbolic meaning that can inspire change and growth in our lives—the way we live is reflected in our creative process, and our creative process can change the way we live.
TLAP recognizes the vital role of witnessing in our healing journeys. Traumas can leave us feeling isolated and unseen, but when we share our authentic selves with someone who truly sees, understands, and reflects our inner experience, we reconnect with our sense of safety to feel what we feel and be who we are.
This process of feeling, expressing authentically, and being witnessed allows us to reshape narratives of that bring us suffering into stories of resilience and possibility, and to foster new ways of experiencing and relating to ourselves and the world.
In addition to the TLAP, I draw from 15+ years working at the intersection of art and healing, from a diverse background of academic and personal studies and practices. These 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 has deeply impacted the way I show up in my work.
My approach honors inclusivity through a lens of cultural humility, feminism, and anti-discrimination. I emphasize the ongoing effort to align individual self-reflection, critical thinking, and conscious action.
A Tiny History of the TLAP:
Originated in the 1950s through the pioneering work of Anna Halprin, who was among the first to use dance in healing and social justice efforts in the West. In the 1970s, her daughter (and my teacher), Daria Halprin, further developed the work through the lens of psychotherapy, deveopling the bridge between movement, art, and psychology that shapes the approach we use today. For more information, visit: www.tamalpa.org.
WORK WITH ME
Whether you're seeking ongoing support, a transformative program, or clarity about a specific issue, my individual and group sessions are shaped to meet you where you are and help you move forward with expanded 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, release tension, 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.