Methods

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Sessions entail debriefing and reframing life events from a spiritual perspective so that an understanding can be developed from which painful emotions such as anger, fear, resentment, and disappointment can be released. Regular processing and reframing of events lead to a shift in perception, while spiritual practices develop the Will and help break destructive patterns. They also assist in the development of a strong and trustworthy inner voice, and healthy habits and approaches to life and personal relationships. I also teach will-strengthening and relaxation techniques from sacred traditions that help calm the heart and mind, and provide the emotional foundation from which a more accurate and healthy perspective of reality can be developed.

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Education

 

I graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from University of Maryland, Munich Campus in Germany. My Master’s Degree is in Comparative Religion and Philosophy with an emphasis on Counseling from the California Institute for Human Science in Encinitas, California. CIHS is known for its innovative research in the field of energy medicine and its dedication to bridging the gap between science, psychology, religion, and spirituality. At CIHS I studied the world's major religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Shintoism, Judaism, Christianity, Gnosticism, Islam, Sufism, and Shamanism. These were approached from a historical, psychological, and consciousness-based perspective. The emphasis of study was on counseling using the wisdom of these traditions, always keeping in mind the body-mind-spirit connection.

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Psychiatric Practice Experience

 

I worked in a spiritually based holistic psychiatric practice for 18 years, from 2005 to 2022. Rather than solely diagnosing clients using classical psychiatric labels as found in the DSM-V (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), the practice re-framed the client's diagnosis by taking into consideration the patient’s body, mind, and spirit. If the client was seeking an alternative to pharmaceuticals, their symptoms were used as the basis for guiding holistic treatment. If the client was already on medication, the medications, when possible, were slowly weaned under the supervision of a medical doctor and psychiatrist. In either case, symptoms were used as the prime opportunity to address the underlying causes of mental distress, and then managed and alleviated through a combination of depth psychotherapy, dietary recommendations, and spiritual guidance.  

 

Private Work Experience

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I have put Eastern and Western sacred traditions into practice for over thirty years, and with clients for eighteen. In addition to the psychiatric practice, I have served my clients in hospitals and in their homes. Along side offering spiritual guidance, I am also involved in a range of practical matters that afflict patients and their families, including whatever tasks they cannot focus on, and which they are able and willing to let someone else manage. I have served as a liaison between patients and the police, paramedics, and hospital staff. I have accompanied nervous patients to court and successfully mediated in business dealings and personal disagreements by providing both parties with a better and more compassionate understanding of the other’s position.

 

Volunteer Work

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I am a Hospice Volunteer and have stood at the side of many families as their parent, spouse, sibling, or child was facing life's greatest challenge and mystery.

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My Passion

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I have a Farm Animal Sanctuary that is currently home to sheep, cows, goats, dogs, cats, free roaming hens and roosters, visiting wild pigs, turkeys, and many small birds.