Hi, I’m Pix.

I’d like to give you an idea of what I can offer, my style, and some of my identities so that you can sense how or if they fit with you. I work primarily with couples and individuals to address the various ways that trauma and unwanted relational patterns show up in their lives. Most often, couples come to me wanting to work on communication. Individuals often come with symptoms/patterns of anxiety, depression, PTSD, OCD, ADHD, ASD, or bipolar. I don’t love labels but I think they can help us conceptualize these patterns. I’m a holistic, relational therapist. Holistic means that I endeavor to understand a whole person, in the context of their environment, beliefs and biology and undertaking practices and exercises to address those different aspects of their being. Relational means that I use my own body, mind and spirit as instruments of attunement and I focus on the quality of relationship both in therapy together and in a client’s life as vehicles for change and transformation. I hold that feeling safe, seen, and secure in relationships is fundamental to overall health and well-being.

Practically speaking, I’m curious, playful, thoughtful and dynamic. I try to understand my clients deeply though I sometimes fall flat and am most definitely flawed, imperfect, complicated and human. I like to say that therapists are some of the people who need therapy most! In that vein, I am in active supervision, consultation, and my own individual therapy/coaching - elements I view as essential and ongoing back-end parts of this job. I focus heavily on what a person can do right now to support their own well-being. That may be sleep hygiene, body movement, eating regularly, learning deep breathing techniques, practicing stress reduction activities, developing mindfulness, pursuing community, or exploring hobbies or meaning. I’m working on this stuff alongside you. I can’t fix anyone, and I don’t offer a space to solely vent, ruminate, or dump (although we all need some of those sometimes!). If you are someone who is seeking a space of reverence and care for you to explore and work with the deepest parts of yourself, that’s truly my jam! 

Often people come to me with a lot of supportive behaviors already on board, ready to work on residual nervous system responses that take up space in day to day life. Think, “my partner looked at me in a certain way and my whole body was flooded with shame/anger and I couldn’t speak”. To get at this material, I am EMDR-trained and beginning my training in Somatic Experiencing, which I incorporate into my work with clients. I have an extensive background in Vipassana meditation and body-based mindfulness, and when it comes to unwanted patterns, I’ve found that the body is the best in-road for changing the experiences that keep us stuck and for developing lasting peace. 

In terms of personal identity, I’m a 43-year-old white cis queer woman, mother, and sister. I grew up in the suburbs of Philadelphia and attended Quaker schools. Non-violence has always been a part of my personal ethos. As an adult, I have explored the destructive forces of racism, white supremacy, capitalism, misogyny, and how these intersect with my identity - a process I will continue til death. I’m a survivor of developmental and sexual trauma. A curious explorer at heart, I learned fluent Spanish and lived and traveled abroad extensively, visiting 20+ countries. I lived in Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona and Vermont before settling back in my birth city. I have been an avid gardener for 25 years and I love yoga, dance, being in nature, hand work, and baking. I live in Mount Airy with my husband and son.