Aerin Riegelsberger (He/they)

AKA "Parts Work". Multiple parts exist within us, each with their own needs, wants, fears, and beliefs. All of them are important - even the ones we don’t like. Parts Work can help name, give voice to, and integrate these parts. It can be particularly helpful for expanding our sense of agency and clarity when addressing stuckness, inner conflict, ambivalence, and self sabotage. If you’ve seen the movie Inside Out and resonate with the “emotional headquarters” concept, this is probably your jam.

The body, the heart/spirit, and the mind are constantly communicating with us in an effort to keep us healthy and whole. Somatic psychotherapy aims to listen to and integrate the three. Together we’ll become more fluent in the language of the body, practice internal awareness of sensations, expand and refine your toolbox of physiological regulation techniques, build tolerance for both difficult and pleasurable bodily sensations and suppressed emotions, and release/complete survival responses.

Harm Reduction aims to decrease the negative consequences of a person's drug use without necessarily reducing the consumption of drugs. It honors an array of goals - not just abstinence. Although harm reduction is most commonly applied in a substance use context, it can be applied to any behavior that is concerning to you (self harm, isolation, overworking, etc). It can be helpful for reducing the downsides of that risky, exciting thing you do or that familiar coping mechanism you cherish.

“Being trans means I made myself and the world didn’t make me. I defy some of the most powerful cultural institutions in the world.” https://glaad.org/ilovebeingtransbc/ I partner with folks in understanding, accepting, expressing, and asserting their gender. I see gender as an infinite spectrum, and gender alignment/transition as a nonlinear process unique to each person. Let's cultivate trans joy.

“Being trans means I made myself and the world didn’t make me. I defy some of the most powerful cultural institutions in the world.” https://glaad.org/ilovebeingtransbc/ I partner with folks in understanding, accepting, expressing, and asserting their gender. I see gender as an infinite spectrum, and gender alignment/transition as a nonlinear process unique to each person. Let's cultivate trans joy.

“Being trans means I made myself and the world didn’t make me. I defy some of the most powerful cultural institutions in the world.” https://glaad.org/ilovebeingtransbc/ I partner with folks in understanding, accepting, expressing, and asserting their gender. I see gender as an infinite spectrum, and gender alignment/transition as a nonlinear process unique to each person.

Part of anxiety's function is to keep us safe. Let’s honor the adaptiveness and good intentions of your inner protectors, build a tolerance for nonjudgmentally noticing your anxiety sources and patterns, and practice ways of signaling safety to your body. We'll respond compassionately, patiently, and creatively using combination of bodily, behavioral, and cognitive practices.

I approach substance use through a harm reduction lens. Harm Reduction aims to decrease the negative consequences of an individual’s drug use without necessarily reducing the consumption of drugs. It’s about meeting people “where they are” and helping them become more conscious of harm and how to reduce it. It recognizes that the needs, goals, and readiness of each individual are different.