Dena Schwimmer (she/her)

I am an active member of the LGBTQIA community and a native Angelino. I have marched all over the country for our rights and have experienced the power of our collective voice. As our culture has evolved there is still much work to be done in self acceptance, internalized homophobia, self esteem and being perceived as "other". I am fully committed as a Queer woman and therapist in working within our community for healing, well being and fully realized acceptance of self.

My family has a multigenerational relationship with Alzheimer's disease. My most recent experience is being a caregiver to my mother. I realized then that there is a lack of support for caregivers be it spouses, children, or friends. I became a therapist for my community of caregivers and it is my greatest gift to be of service to those who share this journey. With education and tools for self care this is a journey that can be supported with love, empathy and a safe space to grieve.

My family has a multigenerational relationship with Alzheimer's disease. My most recent experience is being a caregiver to my mother. I realized then that there is a lack of support for caregivers be it spouses, children, or friends. I became a therapist for my community of caregivers and it is my greatest gift to be of service to those who share this journey. With education and tools for self care this is a journey that can be supported with love and empathy and a safe space to grieve.

My family has a multigenerational relationship with Alzheimer's disease. My most recent experience is being a caregiver to my mother. I realized then that there is a lack of support for caregivers be it spouses, children, or friends. I became a therapist for my community of caregivers and it is my greatest gift to be of service to those who share this journey. With education and tools for self care this is a journey that can be supported with love and empathy and a safe space to grieve.

My family has a multigenerational relationship with Alzheimer's disease. My most recent experience is being a caregiver to my mother. I realized then that there is a lack of support for caregivers be it spouses, children, or friends. I became a therapist for my community of caregivers and it is my greatest gift to be of service to those who share this journey. With education and tools for self care this is a journey that can be supported with love and empathy and a safe space to grieve.

As an EMDR therapist I know how frustrating it can be to be stuck and not know why talk therapy is not moving you in the direction you need to heal. EMDR is a very direct and specific tool that works within the brain to move trauma into a space that allows your nervous system to know that the trauma is not happening in this moment and tamping down the flight, fright, or fear response. I would love to explore this mode and see if it is right for you.

We all have a life story and some of the chapters were written for us and not by us. Narrative therapy allows for a collaborative space for you to reclaim and rewrite your chapters, reclaiming your life story and your voice. Let us explore your novel and rewrite your journey!

I know that Mindfulness has been overused in our current culture yet what would life look like if we disengaged from auto pilot to manual control? How would paying attention to paying attention shift your focus? How does your inner world reflect on your outer experience? A lot of questions and an interesting path towards finding Mindfulness in living life with intention and clarity.

EMDR is an amazing tool for working through life traumas or resolving being stuck in patterns that do not feel safe or authentic. Sometimes talk therapy does not provide all the tools needed to move forward. EMDR utilizes emotions, somatic responses, Trauma or road blocks to help move through to the other side of healing and growth.