My primary focus is LGBTQ+ community, specializing in transgender/gender non-conforming folks. I also have expertise in Alcoholism/Addictions, Relationship Issues/Counseling, Depression, Anxiety, PTSD/Trauma: (Mental, Emotional, Physical, Sexual Abuse) I consider myself an eclectic therapist who utilizes a wide variety of theories and techniques including Mindfulness, Somatic, Cognitive Behavioral, Existential and Gestalt to serve the diverse needs of my clients. Psychotherapy has been shown to help folks heal and to cope with the unique stressors and traumas associated with life as LGBTQ+. For LGBTQ+ folks to heal trauma, heal emotional wounds, and accept and even celebrate themselves, is it beneficial to be seen, heard and understood by someone of their culture, who shares some of their lived experience and/or a supportive and affirming psychotherapist.

My passion for teaching mindfulness and meditation grew out of my own personal experience with these practices. A busy, stress-filled life, an anxious mind and no idea how to relax led to me experiencing chronic pain and fatigue on a daily basis. In 2012, with the support of a skilled mentor, I began practicing breathing techniques, mindfulness and meditation daily to help with my mental, emotional, and physical symptoms. The practices were transformational! They helped me to quiet my mind, change my relationship with the body and develop a sense of inner peace. I soon realized I could live with more ease than I ever imagined. I learned to love myself exactly as I am! Mindfulness meditation practices changed my life so much by helping me to cope with daily life, relieve stress, heal trauma and further accept myself and be comfortable in my own skin, that I trained for an additional two years to become a Certified Mindfulness Meditation Teacher. Teachers and influences include Timothy Butler, LMFT, La Sarmiento, Adyashanti, Thich Nhat Hanh, Larry Yang, Byron Katie, and Ruth King. I am a Certified Mindfulness Meditation Teacher, trained in the Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program (MMTCP) with Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach in partnership with the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkley, 2021. I offer Mindfulness meditation classes to provide tools for coping with daily life, relieving stress and creating community support. I began offering free meditation groups online during the COVID-19 pandemic. The free weekly Mindfulness Practice Group continues to this day. livewitheasemeditation.com