Approach

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is an evidence-based therapy that helps the brain heal from trauma and distressing life experiences. Using an 8-phase, three-pronged approach that addresses past events, present triggers, and future resilience, EMDR engages your most adaptive and resourced neural pathways—what I often refer to as your wisest, most resourced self.

Through guided bilateral stimulation (such as eye movements), EMDR facilitates the reprocessing of difficult memories stored in the nervous system, reducing their emotional intensity while increasing integration between trauma-based networks and healthier neural pathways. Rather than erasing the past, this process helps the brain reorganize and integrate fragmented experiences into a more coherent and adaptive framework.

As integration strengthens, clients experience greater emotional regulation, clarity, and resilience. When stress or hardship arises, they are better able to respond from a place of safety and flexibility rather than react from survival-driven patterns. Experiences that once felt overwhelming often become integrated parts of one’s story—sources of insight, growth, and self-trust rather than ongoing distress.

Internal Family Systems (IFS)

Internal Family Systems (IFS) is an evidence-based, parts-based therapy grounded in the understanding that we all have distinct inner “parts”—patterns of thoughts, emotions, body sensations, and beliefs that develop over time, often in response to stress, pain, or unmet needs. Some parts carry the emotional weight of past experiences, while others adopt protective roles to help us function and prevent further hurt. It is common for parts to hold competing perspectives, such as one part desiring change while another feels hesitant or resistant.

IFS strengthens access to the Self—the natural core state within each person characterized by calm, curiosity, clarity, compassion, confidence, courage, creativity, and connectedness (the “8 Cs”). From this Self-led state, clients can approach their parts with understanding rather than judgment, allowing long-held emotional pain, fears, and limiting beliefs to soften and reorganize in a way that better serves the present.

As parts become less overactivated and more supported by the Self, internal conflict diminishes and the nervous system settles. Life becomes increasingly guided by clarity and intention rather than reactive survival patterns. This process fosters greater self-acceptance, emotional balance, and internal harmony, supporting a deeper sense of coherence and alignment across mind and body—particularly during times of stress or challenge.

Mindfulness

Mindfulness practices strengthens present-moment awareness of thoughts, emotions, and body sensations, allowing traumatic stress responses to be observed without automatic reactivation, suppression or avoidance. Rather than reliving past experiences, clients learn to anchor attention in the here and now, engaging more regulated and resourced neural pathways.

Through repeated, nonjudgmental awareness, mindfulness strengthens neural networks associated with attention regulation, emotion and body awareness, and self-regulation. Over time, this increases integration between present-moment, regulated states and previously trauma-linked survival patterns—reducing reactivity and expanding choice in how experiences are processed and responded to.

Somatic practices

Somatic practices support healing by increasing awareness of bodily sensations, breath, movement, and posture—bringing attention to how stress and trauma are held and expressed in the body. Rather than relying solely on cognitive or verbal processing, this approach works directly with the nervous system through lived, physical experience.

Drawing from the foundational work of Peter Levine and somatic trauma theory, alongside yoga-informed movement and breath practices, this work recognizes that trauma is not only remembered cognitively but often stored in patterns of physiological activation. When left unprocessed, these patterns may manifest as chronic tension, stress, discomfort, or a sense of disconnection from oneself.

Through gentle, titrated awareness; coordinated breathwork; grounding techniques; and mindful movement, clients strengthen physiological and neural pathways associated with stability, regulation, and felt safety. These practices support greater integration between regulated bodily states and trauma-linked survival responses, increasing flexibility and resilience within the nervous system.

As embodied capacity grows, greater coherence develops across mind, body, and nervous system. When stress or challenge arises, clients are more able to remain grounded and present—responding with steadiness, adaptability, and self-trust rather than being driven by automatic survival patterns shaped by earlier experiences.

Olivia has completed a 200-hour Level 1 yoga teacher training and is currently pursuing a 300-hour Level 2 training to deepen her practice and integration of this work. This training allows her to thoughtfully incorporate both contemporary somatic trauma principles and the ancient wisdom of yoga into therapy in accessible, clinically grounded ways. By attuning to the body’s signals with compassion and care, clients can reconnect more deeply with themselves—supporting healing, resilience, and the strengthening of their wisest, most resourced self.

Spiritual Considerations

For clients who are interested, Olivia offers a spiritually integrated approach to therapy that honors the role of meaning, connection, and faith in healing. While her personal perspective is informed by Christianity and influenced by yogic philosophy, she does not impose any belief system or expect clients’ values to align with her own. Instead, spirituality is approached as a potential resource—one that can deepen self-awareness, foster connection, and support emotional and physical well-being.

She also holds this work with humility. She does not claim to have all the answers, nor does she view spirituality as something one person teaches another. Rather, she understands it as an ongoing journey of exploration—one that two humans engage in together with curiosity, openness, and respect. Many spiritual traditions offer ancient, time-tested wisdom that can help us navigate suffering, purpose, and transformation, reminding us that we do not have to reinvent the wheel.

When desired, she may draw from these spiritual frameworks to explore themes such as compassion, surrender, embodiment, resilience, and connection to something greater than oneself. This exploration is always guided by client’s beliefs, values, and comfort level and remains grounded in their lived experience. Spiritual integration is entirely optional and intended to support healing across the mind, body, and spirit.