Rachel Fernbach (She/Her)

Chronic pain can be so isolating, and can contribute to depression, anxiety, and trauma symptoms. My approach to pain is multifaceted, including relational therapy, mindfulness, and somatic movement. I'll help you identify triggers, develop self care skills, and learn how to regulate your nervous system in order to feel more in control. I will also offer you deep empathy and compassion, and a safe space in which to be honest about your difficulties.

Somatic Psychotherapy is a process that honors and incorporates the intelligence of both our bodies and minds. By examining the ways in which thoughts and feelings are related to physical sensations, we develop a more nuanced understanding of ourselves in relation to the world around us. If you're open to it, I'll guide you through simple movement exercises to help increase body awareness, and we'll talk together about how what you feel in your body relates to what is going on in your life.

Fear and worry are normal feelings, something that all people experience from time to time. Anxiety becomes a problem if it's impacting your work, your relationships, or how you participate in meaningful activities. In our work together, I will help you to understand your anxiety and take care of yourself, with actionable tools to apply in daily life. Clients in my practice often report a significant decrease in anxiety within the first month of working together.

Healing is possible: I see it in my clients every week, via compassionate, body-oriented care for PTSD and C-PTSD. Addressing trauma is a non-linear, individualized process. Not everyone needs the same approach; some of my clients heal through telling me their stories, while others benefit from tools like Guided Imagery, Yoga, or Mindfulness. In all cases, a stable and trustworthy relationship acts as the foundation for identifying the therapeutic tools that will help you move forward.

At its heart, Expressive Art Therapy recognizes that each person has a rich inner landscape that's worth connecting with, understanding, and sharing. The creative process offers a bridge to the parts of us which may be hard to express via words alone, and allows us to take what is on the inside and give it shape on the outside, through whatever medium we enjoy (art, music, dance/movement, poetry, etc.) Sharing what we make with others who see us and care about us can be deeply healing.

Relationships are a primary influence on emotional wellbeing. This approach respects the fact that relationships hold the capacity to provide healing. In our work together, the cultivation of a warm, compassionate, reliable, and enjoyable partnership serves as the vehicle in which you are safe to face your habits and your hurts, knowing that you have a caring and skilled helper whose role is to model healthy relating. Clients are often surprised by this experience, and how much it helps.