The cultural phenomenon of white-centered wellness can perpetuate perfectionism, hustle culture, hypervigilance (or an opposite kind of lax), and an overemphasis on individualism. I aim to consciously cultivate a different experience, one that values what our challenges have to teach us, supports slowing down when possible, prioritizes relationships over resumes, and develops opportunities for community through shared learning.

Spiritual bypass is the idea that we can escape responsibility and skip over difficulty by way of spirituality or positivity. Essentially, it’s a form of denial. While it might feel good in the moment, it can be harmful to the bypasser and others. This shows up a lot in the wellness world as, “just think positive.” While it’s important to have a hopeful mindset, it’s not the only ingredient needed. Change-work requires a willingness to grapple with the hurt parts of ourselves, value their wisdom, and actively heal.

Hypnosis might have a reputation for being magic (and it can feel pretty magical) but most scientists just call it practical neuroscience. (See more in the Q&A above, under “Is hypnosis magic?”

On the parenting side of things, bypass can be expressed as “love is enough.” Love is certainly central, but it isn’t always neurodivergent-affirming. Any parent (or grown child) knows that education, skill, and a customized parenting toolbox are important, too, whether they come easily or they are hard-earned.

I view personal development as life-long process and privilege, one that supports our ability to have practical, intentional, accountable agency in an imperfect world.

When consulting research, I prioritize authors that have or amplify lived expertise. For example, when learning about autism, I prioritize information from autistic adults and research that centers the lived experience of autistic people.

This is reflected in my approach as a practitioner, which centers a humanistic psychology perspective. I believe that, with guidance, my clients are the experts in their own healing journeys, just as parents can be the experts in their own children, in collaboration with their children.

Often my work is to support clients to find the resources and agency to enact solutions that, with my help, they discover, themselves.

When I use the word “neurodiversity,” I mean to acknowledge the fact that all of our brains are different and unique, to different degrees, diagnosis or no diagnosis. But also that there is a range of typicality that our culture privileges to the exclusion of others. Brain differences come from different sources. Some are genetic differences that we are born with and represent an aspect of our inherent identity. Some come from developmental differences. Some come from experiences including physical or emotional traumas. Some are a combination of some or all of these.

The term neurodiversity or neurodivergent is sometimes used as code for autistic. When I am speaking about autistic people I try to say that explicitly. I use the word “autistic” rather than “person with autism,” because the first term honors the fact that autism is an inherent part of one’s multifaceted identity, not separate from who they are, and a difference not an affliction.

As a practitioner, facilitator, and parent I am in active learning mode about my own neurotypical experience, orientation, and biases, and how to counteract and undo them.

For more information on what hypnosis really is, where it came from, and how it has developed throughout the ages, see my FAQ.

American Jack Kornfield coined the term “mindfulness” and instigated the mindfulness movement. He defines mindfulness as the heightened quality of awareness that arises when we pay attention, on purpose, without judgement.

I recognize that Kornfield was greatly influenced by longstanding South Asian religious traditions that established this way of thinking, including Hinduism and Buddhism, and specifically the practice of Vipassana Buddhism. I welcome the freedom that the philosophical framing of mindfulness brings to secular contexts while appreciating its cultural and religious roots. I recognize that the need to separate religion and philosophy is cultural, too, reflecting American values.

As my practice grows, I will offer 10% of my sessions at sliding scale rates and 10% (in time or money) to organizations that support families in foster care.

Please see my Appointments page for more information.