Lauryn Estrada (she/her)

NVC is a wonderful foundation for learning how to notice, acknowledge, and request that one's needs can be met. I utilize this framework with individuals and couples when there have been challenges with communication, assertiveness, or patterns of misunderstanding.

IFS is a way to explore conflicting feelings, desires, and ideas within oneself through the language of parts. No one is all one way, we are a mix of beliefs and ideas that sometimes work well together, and sometimes don't. All of these aspects of us are working to keep us safe and protected. However, some of the tactics they use result in the opposite effect. There are no bad parts in us, so our work isn't to change a part of who we are, but rather to shift our relationship to that part.

CBT helps us look at the interaction between our thoughts, behaviors, and feelings. When we're able to identify core beliefs we hold, we can then examine our allegiance to those ideas. Recognizing the patterns in our minds, bodies, or actions let us begin the process carving out new neural pathways into our brains so we can actively choose something vs reacting out of habit.

The only constant in life is change, and all change is a form of loss. Therefore we are constantly encountering loss in our lives. I invited clients to acknowledge and address these losses in a way that validates the complexity that exists in leaving behind the familiar to start something new. Together we unpack the "both and" that comes with life transitions.

All humans have bodies and those bodies hold the capacity to be sexual. Unfortunately, sex and sexuality often vacillate between shame or exploitation, it's either something to be celebrated or concealed. This dichotomy leads to a disconnect between our minds and bodies. I support clients in reconnecting to their bodies as they explore their sexual expressions, preferences, identities, relationships, and encounters. Nothing is off limits in therapy.

Many religions provide guidelines of who and how to be in order to belong to their community. They do in the name of the Divine, complicating one's permission to explore, doubt, or denounce their messages. I love helping clients unpack the implications of these ideas, validate their experiences, and support their journey of reassessing how they see themselves, others, and the Holy. Through this they can discern what's best for their own spiritual practice or lack thereof.