Spirituality

I believe that, broadly speaking, spirituality is a concern for everyone. The big picture and the largest questions of life are contained in it. What do you value? What do you worship? As David Foster Wallace said, "there is no such thing as not worshipping. Everybody worships. The only choice we get is what to worship...If you worship money and things, if they are where you tap real meaning in life, then you will never have enough, never feel you have enough."

In a safe and non-judgmental space, I offer the opportunity to explore what may emerge during spiritual exploration such as spiritual & kundalini awakening, supernatural phenomena, and sacred medicine experiences. Sacred Medicine Holistic Integration Therapy consists of embodied psycho-spiritual integration for psychedelic experiences that are a direct result of post spiritual rituals within a ceremony/retreat directed by a shaman/spiritual practitioner in a sacred group setting.

I believe that, broadly speaking, spirituality is a concern for everyone. The big picture and the largest questions of life are contained in it. What do you value? What do you worship? As David Foster Wallace wrote, "there is no such thing as not worshipping. Everybody worships. The only choice we get is what to worship...If you worship money and things, if they are where you tap real meaning in life, then you will never have enough, never feel you have enough."

During our time together, we will explore beliefs and practices related to meaning, existence, and spiritual health and healing. I often speak about spirituality in terms of the Universe and our connection to ourselves and the connection to something larger than ourselves. I will support you in exploring what your unique sense of spirituality means to you.

The importance of spirituality in ones life can help a person cope through difficult times. I want to help you use your own spirituality to help you and only if you want to use spirituality. I want you to be able to use practices that help you to find hope and healing in your life.

Healing from religious trauma? Find inner peace. Listen to your inner wisdom.

Life is inherently spiritual to humans as we wrestle to find meaning in our lives, whether or not we realize it; although we sure feel the symptoms of anxiety, numbness, anger, etc. when we do not find it. This could involve a search for fulfillment, a question of who we are and what we have to offer, how to live morally... The journey is not easy, as it concerns the very fabric of our beings; thankfully, we do not have to journey alone. Here as your wayfinder, let's explore.

Therapists and spirituality haven't always gotten along well. ​ Maybe your last therapist rolled their eyes when you mentioned God. Maybe you are looking for someone who gets your soul, not just your mind. Or maybe you heard that Freud said that God is just a projection of our fathers and are wondering if all therapists think that. (We don't!) I've been trained in spiritually integrated care. I'm able to be a nonjudgmental, compassionate presence as you discern your life path.

Spirituality is best understood as our sense of being fully human, experiencing ourselves as a part of life, not an object in isolation. Healthy spirituality doesn't require a theistic understanding, and having a theistic understanding doesn't guarantee us feeling fully human. I am a respectful and knowledgable therapist for those not interested in religion, religious minorities, AND those who seek a more meaningful connection to their own mainstream religion.

My master's degree included special training to support clients who would like to integrate the strengths of their faith tradition into their healing process. I also have experience working with individuals who have experienced religious trauma, including clergy abuse.

I grew up in a Christian Church where great joy and fulfillment were also saturated with abuse and control, and in grad school, I pursued an MA in Clinical Counseling. With a new understanding of life, people, and trauma, I also pursued an MA in Religion to open my understanding of spirituality and research spiritual/religious abuse in the Christian Church. No matter where you stand, I'm here to support you, your unique journey, and the healing you deserve.

I specialize in religious trauma, spiritual abuse, and recovery from high demand religions. I have written a workbook/journal to help individuals navigate faith transitions. I am a member of the Mormon Mental Health Association and work primarily with those on the Mormon spectrum (active to ex members). I am especially passionate about helping fellow members of the LGBTQIA+ community find healing in this area. I love helping my clients find new meaning after experiencing these transitions.

This is my strongest area of interest, as my own spirituality has provided the greatest source of inspiration in my life. Whether this is spoken about or felt - presence and the ability to be with suffering are the ultimate healers. I have a graduate degree in Eastern Philosophy, a certificate in Reiki, and many years of experience in India with time spent with an awakened being.

Experienced in integrating Spirituality and Mindfulness to increase coping skills and address life transitions and problems from a heart-centered, soulful perspective.

I understand how challenging it can be to struggle with your religion and religious experiences, especially if you live in an area where your spiritual beliefs are not the dominant religion. I work with individuals to explore their values and how that plays into their behaviors and lives. Spirituality is an important part of everyone's wellbeing, but it can look different for everyone. This is a safe space for you to explore what matters to you.

Please note that patients who have no desire to integrate spirituality into their counseling will not receive pressure from Dr. Braun to adopt her spiritual views. For individuals who are desiring to have their Christian faith integrated into counseling, services will be provided that integrate both psychological treatments based upon evidence-based research for the treatment of the condition for which they are needing care as well as Christian principles from their faith to support healing.

I earned my PhD in clinical psychology by studying spirituality and transformation. As faculty at Yale University, I conducted research with atypical psychedelic substances. My first published article was on the spiritual and psychedelic potential of dextromethorphan. I have written and spoken about psychedelic science for over a decade, co-founded the Yale Psychedelic Science Group, and documented traditional healing and religious practices in Mexico.

From a depth psychological orientation spirituality is considered a core ingredient of overall well being. When we are disconnected from our own spiritual center, however that is defined by each of us, we can be more vulnerable to emotional instability, addiction, and depression. While I do not push any particular spiritual agenda, I do invite you to become curious about the spiritual dimension of your life, and how this represent a vital internal resource.

Dr. Inez is informed by Jungian archetypology, ritual, ceremony, Taoist, mindfulness, and pagan approaches when working with psychedelics for consciousness expansion.