Supporting Women With Anxiety and Trauma Counseling in Benicia & Vallejo, CA
I'm Simone, an imperfect being navigating the human condition just like you
Regardless of choices you've made, still make, or whatever imperfections that you think you have:
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You have the right to feel safe and valued.
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I'm here for you and together, we explore how your experiences or trauma(s) affected your sense of who you are.
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I provide a safe, judgment-free space for you to explore beliefs about yourself and increase your self-acceptance.
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We'll strive to address the root issues of anxiety and trauma to create a foundation for you to trust and love yourself.
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I'll help you learn to deal with the complex feelings that arise when you set boundaries, prioritize your needs and navigate relationships with confidence and authenticity.
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I honor your personhood and your right to accept or decline my recommendations.
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I regularly ask for your feedback to ensure that you are benefiting from our work.
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My favorites: Laughing, connecting with people whom I feel safe with, the ocean, music, trying new foods, family fun nights at home, dancing, yoga and writing poetry/ short stories.
My Experience
I've worked with children, teens and adults from a variety of backgrounds. I've helped people challenged with life transitions, anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), dissociative symptoms, relationship issues, complex trauma (c-PTSD), legal stressors and more.
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I combine traditional talk therapy with somatic (body) methods such as yoga, grounding and breathwork to customize treatments that meet your unique needs. I use a holistic approach, which means that we invite and welcome all parts of your being - mind, body and spirit - into our work together. I attend training regularly to continuously learn new approaches and techniques to support your desires for therapy.
Education and Certifications
Licensure Information
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, 137157 California Board of Behavioral Sciences
2015 - 2019
Master of Arts in Counseling
Saybrook University, California
Yoga Certification, RYT® 200
Integral Yoga Academy, 200-hour Teacher Training
San Francisco, CA
2010 - 2014
Bachelor of Science in Human Services
University of Phoenix, California
My Intentions and Commitments to You
I intend and commit to:
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Develop a safe relationship with you.
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Help you reduce internal suffering.
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Support you to increase your capacity for self-attunement and self-acceptance.
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Humbly walk alongside you.
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Help you to recognize and heal issues that make you feel stuck or limited.
I intend and commit to:
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Honor your sense of freedom over and within your life.
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Guide you to act and make choices that align with your values.
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Encourage the ripple effect that happens as you create healthy relationships with yourself, with others and your world.
An Encouragement to Find Your People
"The best advice I can offer anyone breathing in this world; find people that make you both soft and strong. People that hold you in tears and hold you accountable. People that show up to listen or help you fight. People that create safe places to land in a world that banks on your trauma. People that owe you nothing and still give you everything. People that see you even when they don’t see your path."
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- Dr. Ashley Nash, PhD, NCC
Grounding and Co-Regulation
Including grounding techniques in our work together can increase your ability to stay connected to the present moment and maintain emotional stability.
Co-regulation is a powerful tool backed by science, which supports your body's sense of safety by using the power of another's emotional state to manage your own.
Mind-Body Connection
Psychosensory techniques include your mind, the 5 senses (taste, touch, smell, sound and vision) and your body's emotional signals to comfort and reprocess traumatic or stressful experiences.
This can reduce the frequency and intensity of triggered reactions so that you have a better ability to remain present and respond in ways that feel good to you.
Movement and Breathwork
Movement and breathwork are powerful ways to alleviate stress or anxiety symptoms and release emotions and trauma responses trapped in the body. Your nervous system is constantly working to return to a balanced state. Movement and breathing exercise can support your body's ability to return to and remain in a zone of safety and connection.