“Compassion is not a relationship between the healer and the wounded. It’s a relationship between equals. Only when we know our own darkness well can we be present with the darkness of others. Compassion becomes real when we recognize our shared humanity.”
-Pema Chödrön
Hello and welcome! I’m Megan. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC) with a Master’s Degree from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology and a postgraduate diploma from the University of Glasgow in Scotland. I am licensed to provide therapy in Arizona, California, Idaho, Maine, and Virginia. Now that we have the formal things out of the way…
I believe that anyone can heal given the right conditions, which are unique to the individual. I feel that it’s imperative that the therapeutic relationship be the right fit in order to achieve the goals that you have for therapy. If we decide to work together, we can find skills and strategies that help reduce the impact that your symptoms have on your life.
I strive to create the conditions of safety and trust within the therapeutic relationship, so that deeper change can occur, beyond symptom reduction. My hope is that during our work together, you can begin to live your life free of the patterns and beliefs from your past that are holding you back from the life you want, and sustain those changes long after our work together is complete.
The typical clients I work with are usually high-functioning in many areas of life, though have symptoms of trauma/adverse life events, including: feelings of worthlessness, disrupted sleep, feelings of hopelessness or helplessness, dissociation, addictive behaviors, difficulties with emotional regulation/processing, anxiety, depression, loss of interest in things once enjoyed, feeling “burned out,” and may be experiencing challenges within relationships. I have extensive experience in working with complex trauma, first responders, frontline workers, and therapists.
I am an EMDR certified therapist and use Relational EMDR psychotherapy as my primary treatment modality. I am also certified in basic Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART). I completed an immersive, six-month training on understanding and working with the nervous system (Polyvagal Theory-based). I utilize elements of cognitive behavioral, dialectical, mindfulness, compassion-focused, and psychodynamic therapies. I regularly participate in advanced trainings and consultation to continue to enhance my skills and grow, both professionally and personally.
I care about and do my best to create a safe space for everyone. I am neurodiversity affirming and LGBTQIA+ affirming.
When I’m not working, I enjoy being outdoors, traveling and exploring new cultures, trying to propagate plants so I can make the inside of my house feel like I’m outside, playing around with creative arts from pottery to poetry, learning about all things celestial, and moving my body through running, hiking, and yoga.
Relevant Advanced trainings:
- Relational EMDR Therapy℠ – Examining the Self of the Therapist (The Center, 2024)
- Special Considerations for EMDR with Autistic and ADHD Clients (Christine MacInnis, 2024)
- R-TEP: Recent Traumatic Event Protocol (The Center, 2024)
- EMDR and ADHD (Carla Natalucci, 2024)
- Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (3 modules, Polaris Institute, 2023)
- Impact of Moral Injury on Veteran Family Dynamics (2023)
- Psychedelic Sciences Conference (MAPS, 2023)
- Foundations: Polyvagal-Informed Practice (Polyvagal Institute, 2022-2023)
- Easy Ego State Interventions (Robin Shapiro, 2022)
- Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy and EMDR (Sunny Strasburg, 2022)
- Ketamine and Trauma Treatment series (Psychedelics Today, 2022)
- Basic Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) training (2021)
- The Craft of EMDR Therapy (The Center, 2021)
- The Dance of Attachment: An Advanced EMDR Clinical Course (The Center, 2021)
- Healing the Wounds of Attachment & Rebuilding Self (The Center for Excellence in EMDR Therapy, 2020 & 2024)
- EMDR Adult, Complex Trauma & Dissociation Specialist Intensive Program with Kathy Steele and Dolores Mosquera (Agate Institute, 2019)
- EMDR Basic Training (Dragonfly International Therapy, 2018)