Grief/Loss/Bereavement

Maria Thompson

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Maria is a first-generation Mexican-American woman who has worked in the mental health field and with the geriatric population for over 10 years. She has provided grief counseling, transitional support through life changes with couples, families and groups of unrelated persons. We are all individuals who require different interventions for navigating our personal goals and challenges/changes in life. The process of creating individual plans based on a patient’s strengths and resources is a creative process that helps Maria find joy and excitement in the work that she does. She loves that her work allows patients to build their tool box for managing phases in their lives. In addition to being a psychotherapist, Maria is a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS), Substance Use Disorder Rehabilitation Counselor (SUDRC) and Zumba Instructor.

Dani Salzer

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The journey into and through motherhood invites us to experience intense love and joy, but it also touches our most raw and vulnerable parts. We may experience worries of not being good enough or fears of losing our identity. The practical challenges of becoming a parent (such as breastfeeding and balancing work and home) can be particularly difficult and overwhelming when sleep deprived. Even the strongest/most capable among us sometimes experience stressors that challenge our ability to cope.

The poet John O’Donohue once wrote that our greatest longing is to be seen. I have a warm, accepting style that encourages you to process painful feelings and experiences and move toward healing and growth. My approach is creative and collaborative— based on your unique experience, strengths, and challenges. Drawing from humanistic and experiential theory, I incorporate positive psychology, mindfulness, and expressive arts to help clients accept themselves, challenge maladaptive thoughts, authentically connect with those they care about, and slow down and experience the moment.

As a therapist and mother, I understand how difficult it can be to take time for yourself when you may feel like you are barely keeping up with the demands of life and motherhood. But I also know that taking the time now, to increase self-awareness can move you beyond mere survival and transform your experience of motherhood. I invite you to discover meaning in your new role as a mother, connect with inner strengths and wisdom and recreate harmony and meaning in your life.

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Jennifer Quan

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Rooted in trauma-informed social justice and holistic perspectives, I’m passionate about facilitating transformative healing processes and empowering skill-building with people of all ages. Together, we can attend to what is happening and needed on the levels of mind, heart, body, and spirit for healing trauma and nurturing resilience.

You can expect me to be warm and curious, honest and engaged, open-minded and deeply affirming. I hold deep appreciation for multicultural experience and identity, and it’s especially meaningful for me to work with people who are marginalized by institutions of power and privilege.

I move through the world as a second generation Asian American woman, empath, life long learner, auntie, evolving spirit, and lover of nature, creative expression, and embodied movement. I believe in the power of joy, vulnerability, and authentic expression in forging a path towards personal and collective liberation.

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Sharon Humphrey

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Individuals come to therapy because they want something different in their lives. I believe that therapy is about transformation and enjoy working with individuals who are looking to evolve and grow, to understand themselves and their motivations so that they can make lasting changes. Whether you feel motivated to do so now right now or are hoping to find that motivation, therapy can help.
I specialize in trauma, anxiety, pregnancy loss, fertility issues, and insomnia. My training has been rigorous and I am well-versed in several modalities. You are a unique individual. Therefore, my approach with you is personalized. What you can always expect is warmth, genuine empathy, and a non-judgmental stance.
It is an honor and a privilege to walk beside you as we work together to form lasting, positive change. The most important thing is that we have a strong therapeutic relationship as this will form the basis for healing.

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Teen Empowerment Group

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For teens who are survivors of violence, sexual abuse, neglect, bullying, school or community violence, parental substance abuse, who have witnessed violence in their home, or have experienced any other child maltreatment.

This group focuses on self-esteem building, healthy relationships, gaining a sense of community and skills for growth, and helping teens access their own strength and courage to claim a healthy and positive future.

Parents, the reality of teen trauma is painful and overwhelming. Figuring out how to begin the healing process can be confusing. You want to protect your teen and ensure their safety and happiness. When you see your child suffering, it hurts.

We understand, and we are here to help.

Any of this sound familiar in regards to your teen:

– Anxiety or worry

– Falling grades

– Persistent sadness, lack of energy, changes in sleep or appetite, withdrawing from normal activities, or feeling “down”

– Changes in self-care, such as paying less attention to hygiene, appearance, or fashion than they usually do

Our Teen Empowerment Group is hands down the best way to help your teen:

–  Understanding of the symptoms of trauma to support self-regulation

– Develop greater understanding of themselves and their needs in a safe and supportive community so that they can set self-directed boundaries 

– Experience mindfulness-based practices to induce and deepen relaxation 

– Increase self-compassion in order to reduce self-criticism and self-blame

We are here to help your teen engage in the body and mind through arts based expression in order to heal and re-connect with joy and purpose.

NEXT Step? Email our office to schedule a brief phone chat with leaders Melissa or Megan. We would be delighted to answer any questions you have about the group. We look forward to hearing from you!

Expressive arts is an evidence based practice that provides practical tools for healing and emotional growth. Some art modalities we will use include; drawing, painting, collage, mixed media and digital art or photography. No experience or skill with art making is necessary to benefit from art therapy.

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Jennie Beuhler

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I came to psychotherapy a bit later in life, both personally and professionally. My experience of participating in my own psychotherapy led me to fully believe in the transformational power of this work. Understanding my need to explore my internal world had a significant impact on me as an educator. Having worked for 13+ years as a teacher, I came to see the need for integrating social emotional learning into the curriculum for my students. Through my personal exploration and facilitation of mindfulness and emotional exploration in the classroom I felt more engaged, energized and connected to both myself and the world than I had ever been before. It became clear to me that this was my calling. I took the courageous leap of changing careers and have not looked back.

While my approach is based in Gestalt and Existential Therapies, I have studied many other modalities and draw from a variety of approaches such as attachment theory, psychodynamics, and transpersonal psychology to name a few. I believe that my clients are dynamic beings and therefore there is no one size fits all approach to therapy. I work intuitively, drawing from my toolbox the technique that best fits the need of my client in the present moment. I am curious about how each of my clients experience the world and I work holistically, attending to not only their psychological experience, but also their physical, emotional, and spiritual experiences. I find that my clients come to therapy wanting a different experience from the one they are currently having, bringing with them a wide range of concerns or issues that they want to work on. My intent is to provide a nonjudgmental and empathic space to support my clients in the courageous act of discovering who they really are. I see myself as both a witness and co-creator of the client’s therapeutic experience, walking with my clients on the path to self-discovery.

I am a Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist. I hold a master’s degree in integral counseling psychology from California Institute of Integral Studies. I trained at the Church Street Integral Counseling Center, counseling individuals and studying gestalt therapy. I am now a therapist with Grateful Heart Holistic Therapy Center.

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Jyoti Nadhani

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The goals of therapy

In order for therapy to be effective, you’ll need to have a strong desire to improve your life and be as open as you can be in sharing your hurt and struggles.

Therapy helps you overcome your problems and move forward in your life. It enables you to get in touch with the deeper parts of yourself so that you trust yourself and others more.

Therapy empowers you to be better able to recognize your strengths and build upon them.

As you progress in therapy, you’ll be more accepting of life’s challenges and become more resilient to future stresses.

Working with me makes it possible for you to have more enjoyment and fun in your life and be kinder to yourself and others.

Life will never be perfect, but you can overcome the past and build the strength to tackle problems in the future.

My counseling style

In my therapy room, I offer a safe place where you’ll be accepted for who you are. You will never be judged. I am compassionate and truly care about your wellbeing.

You’ll feel understood and supported as you strive to overcome your problems to create a more rewarding life.

I trust that there is a deep part of you that knows what you need. I’ll help you get more in touch with that part so that you have more clarity in moving forward.

With my input, you’ll ultimately determine the direction of therapy and the goals you want to achieve.

I will always respect you, your problems, and your process in therapy. My ultimate goal is to help you develop the inner and outer resources to help yourself.

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All Identity Adult Relational Growth Group

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For accomplished adults who are ready to go from internal turmoil and suffering as the result of old wounds to thriving with internal safety and social confidence!

Have you ever wondered what it might be like to better understand your inner world and how to:

– slow down or completely stop being triggered & high jacked

– quiet the inner critic or inner perfectionist that sabotages your greatest efforts

– release yourself from the grip of stuck, stale and painful relationship patterns

This group uses Internal Family Systems (IFS) as a foundation for teaching about parts of your personality and exploring how they interact with each other. Group members will learn to recognize and identify those emotions, thoughts and reactions that create internal and external challenges throughout life. Sessions will include getting to know those parts of ourselves, and learning how to access the core qualities of a Self that is present within all of us. 

With others, you will have an opportunity to:

– Work through discomfort and anxiety so that you can achieve the level of closeness and intimacy you desire

– Courageously connect with vulnerability and anger rather than engaging in avoidance and repression

– Experiment with expression of Self which will help you to increase assertiveness, self-confidence and calm

– Practice welcoming all of your parts while increasing presence, awareness and mindfulness

IFS is a powerful tool that can help you achieve greater well-being and balance by not only becoming more aware of these internal patterns, but by going toward them with curiosity and compassion to better understand and heal them. 

Get to know your Self better, understand why you act the way you do, and develop a toolkit you can use to empower your sense of courage and creativity.

NEXT Step? Email our office to schedule a brief phone chat with Karla. We would be delighted to answer any questions you have about the group and support you with preparing for the learning and growing experience ahead.

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