Many therapists are uncomfortable with 'God' talk or discussions of ultimate meaning. In my practice, I welcome such conversations. It is my belief that the deepest healing and the greatest growth occur when we use both our psychological skills and our spiritual resources to work through issues and find deeper meaning in our lives.

HEALING OLD WOUNDS
     Many times we carry wounds from our past, from the people who have hurt and betrayed us. We are also burdened by guilt and self judgment for what we have done or failed to do. All of these issues are best healed with loving attention to the hurts and misunderstandings we hold within us, and by the application of forgiveness to ourselves and others. Love is  the answer, but it's often a process getting there!

FINDING MEANING AND PURPOSE
     Perhaps you have lost the sense of having meaning in your life or you have fallen into despair or cynicism. You may have experienced the loss of a loved one, a severe setback at work, the loss of your health, or a difficult mid-life transition. Grieving, letting go of the need for total control, encountering our vulnerability and our dependency on others are all deeply spiritual issues. In this work we talk about developing our trust and faith in ourselves, others, and God. We explore vulnerability and find that we can rest in it without being overwhelmed. And  we regain a sense of meaning that may be hard won, but based upon a deeper reality than we knew before.

RECOVERY WORK
     For those of us who are in the process of recovery from addictions, there is a need to grow up, to take responsibility, to make amends, This work includes being forgiven for our failings and forgiving others for their actions which have hurt us. Steps One, Two, and Three in the AA tradition are about coming into right relationship with the 'God of our understanding.' For some of us raised in non religious families, the idea of a Higher Power may be puzzling or even off putting. I find that part of my work as a spiritual therapist with recovering clients is to help them to find a way to make spirituality applicable to them in their own life.

RELEASING TOXIC RELIGIOUS BELIEFS
     Some of us carry around a burden of shame and guilt from old religious beliefs that told us we were inherently sinful and evil. Others of us have been abused by persons we trusted who used religion as a way to shame, manipulate, and control us. Because these toxic beliefs were often handed down to us when we were young and credulous, they are often deeply imbedded in our minds and hearts. I will support you in a process of discerning what is a true and healthy spirituality for your life and healing and releasing what has been false and wounding.

My office is located Pasadena, CA