Open Presence Counseling

but sometimes words can derail us into reasoning and problem solving, which are important, but can still avoid the actual expression of a feeling. Trying to find the right words can also confine us in the same way that describing swimming is nothing like actually being immersed in water. As you tell me what you're feeling, thinking or experiencing, I will invite you to show me what it looks like. You may work with clay, draw, paint, collage or you may use music, song lyrics, poetry, vocalizing, movement or dance. I have a large collection of print images that we may use. We will also incorporate somatic awareness - how feelings show up in your body, and mindfulness, breath work or meditation as tools for calming and observing how your brain and your body respond to current thoughts or emotions. All of these tools help to evoke, access, express and process thoughts or feelings in a safe container and give them a physical form that is now on the outside instead of stuck inside. In time, this process helps to free your soul. Less encumbered, things tend to become more clear, more purposeful and more meaningful.

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Relationships

Relationships are where it all comes together and where it all may fall apart. Much of our unconscious and unintentional stuff comes out in our relationships. Creating conscious, resilient and fulfilling relationships is possible when each partner is willing and able to do their own deep work. I work with individuals, so our work together focuses on you. We may begin by creating a visual guide to who you are and all that you bring to relationships; your history, your world view, your hopes, your gifts and more. We will address open and clear communication, boundaries, consent, accountability, attachment, individuation, love languages, unspoken narratives, projections, expectations, making repairs, pleasure, intimacy and sexuality. I generally do not work with couples or more than one person at a time, but our individual counseling offers tools, insight and clarity that you can bring into your relationships. 

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Open Presence Counseling is LGBTQIA+ affirming and sex positive. I support you, in who you are and in how you express yourself. Sex positive means that sexuality, consensual sexual interactions, and pleasure derived from sex are positive and healthy. A sex positive perspective affirms that sexual expression, activity or interaction may take many forms. I support your personal values, preferences, boundaries and questions. 

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Open Presence Counseling is committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, nationality, ancestry, citizenship, marital status or relationship configuration.

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Midlife Metamorphosis

Sometime in the middle of adult life, we may find ourselves questioning everything. Life as we've known it, and even we ourselves may seem to be falling apart. When processed consciously, this challenging and often painful rite of passage into our "second adulthood" (James Hollis) becomes a midlife metamorphosis, a rebirth or reawakening of our true soul. We find a renewed sense of belonging that in turn leads to a fulfilling and meaningful second half of life. Our counseling work together looks at the developmental and spiritual tasks inherent to this rite of passage. Dreams, mythology, fairy tales and other images direct our attention toward unconscious obstacles and act as guideposts leading us in and out of the labyrinth of metamorphosis.