Outdoor adventure changed my life. I believe in the power of facing challenge at the right pace and how putting ourselves in vulnerable situations helps us build confidence, resilience, and expands our ability to work with stress and fear. Connecting with nature can also help us feel grounded and more present than we usually are in the hustle of daily life.
I take individuals and families on mountain biking adventures in conjunction with 'office-based therapy' in order to work through their struggles with trauma and anxiety. Along with being a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor, I am a Professional Mountain Bike Instructor (PMBIA Level 1). In these sessions I teach you mountain biking skills at the pace that works for you, and incorporate therapeutic activities into these experiences utilizing the Trauma Resiliency Model (TRM) and somatic techniques such as resourcing, titration, and pendulation while out on the trail.
Adventure therapy experiences are crafted for you and your needs. During these sessions you will learn new outdoor and therapeutic skills slowly, use nature as a metaphor for healing, practice grounding techniques to calm your central nervous system, and reflect on the experience of being vulnerable and pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone in a safe way. We will talk about transference and how these experiences can relate to and be utilized in your daily life.