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mindfulness-based

somatic psychotherapy
in colorado

for teens & adults | online & in-person

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why somatic psychotherapy?

Our mind & body are inextricably linked - one heals in conjunction with the other.

Sometimes, working with the inner territory of our mind can heal discomfort in the body.  Sometimes, connecting to our body can help process and heal our painful thoughts and emotions. By integrating body-based practices with more cognitive and behavioral modalities, we support deep, all-embracing change.

This work is for anyone who wants to find a home within themselves that they don’t have to earn. It’s for anyone who longs for softness, self-compassion and deep rest. It’s for anyone ready to do the deep, slow work of reclaiming their wholeness.

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whole-person support for your…

body

From…

feeling stuck in your head and disconnected to your body

To…

being deeply attuned with your body’s needs and wisdom, using it as a resource for soothing, connection, satisfaction, pleasure, and empowerment.

heart

From…

Conditional self-love based on externalized measures of worthiness rooted in oppressive systems

To…

radical friendliness with self, living from a place of alignment rather than reacting to dysregulation and others’ expectations.

spirit

From…

longing for meaning and sacredness in a mundane and chaotic world

To…

feeling resilience, flexibility and a connection to the sacred, with an inner compass that’s guided by your personal values, truths, and desires.

our therapeutic journey

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1. THE FOUNDATION

As we begin our work together, we will spend time understanding your current challenges so that we can build a road map or treatment plan towards your goals for therapy. I consider the full picture - including biological, psychological, and social factors of your experience.

For some, it takes a good amount time to build trust with a therapist. You will learn tools to help you find safety in your environment and within yourself so that we can feel ready to descend into deeper work. Some clients love journaling and learning between sessions, and some clients prefer quick mindfulness tools they can integrate into their current lifestyle.

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2. PROCESSING

Once we have built a solid therapeutic relationship and you have established habits and practices to support resiliency, we can enter the core work of illuminating and processing the parts of your life that feel distressing.

We will work on accessing these parts of you, honoring them, attending to their needs, and taking a fresh look at them with present moment awareness. In the present, there may be a call to mourn what has been lost, or there may be new insights that shift your perspective towards deep acceptance and even deep self-love.

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3. integration

With new insights into forgotten or disowned parts of ourselves, we will explore how to cultivate a life that feels more expansive: with new possibilities gained from uncovered strengths, authentic desire, and a more accepting and expansive mind.

Perhaps you will discover a way to use this newfound understanding to relate to others in a more loving and supportive way, bringing deeper purpose to your inner journey.

my therapeutic modalities

mindfulness

While therapy often focuses on your past and future, we also integrate mindfulness to help you connect to the present moment and experience more embodied safety & connection.

somatic psychotherapy

Our histories are stored both in the mind and the body. I weave cognitive and behavioral modalities (like MBCT, DBT, ACT) with somatic approaches to support mind-body healing.

transpersonal counseling

Together, we can explore experiences beyond the everyday “you”, be it your place in the collective, your religion or spirituality, or your connection to non-ordinary states of consciousness.

Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Emphasizing psychological flexibility, this evidence-based therapy can effectively treat trauma, anxiety and depression, chronic pain, gender dysphoria, etc.

gestalt therapy

Parts work and somatic processing are central to Gestalt, honoring the wholeness and wisdom of the client (beyond diagnosis and dysfunction), through mindful awareness.

Somatic EMDR

EMDR is an evidence-based protocol that helps reprocess traumatic memories, helping you regulate your emotional state and nervous system, and find positive insight and resilience.

I am guided by the principles of anti-oppression, neurodiversity & sex-positivity, and work with clients of all faith and wisdom traditions.

fAQs

  • We will first meet for a free 20-minute consultation (virtually or in-person) to see if we are a good fit for working together. From there, 90-min sessions are $150, and 60-min sessions are $120. Sliding scale rates are available for those in need.

    Psychotherapy Intensives: For grief and trauma work (including Somatic EMDR) clients may seek a larger container to ground, process, and integrate. Intensives start at 2 hours, and packages are available for multiple intensive sessions.

    Affiliations: I provide services to clients of Crested Butte State of Mind, Project Hope of Gunnison Valley, and Mines and Associates Employee Assistance Programs. If you are a client of any of these organizations, you may qualify for free sessions with me.

    Insurance: I do not bill directly to insurance companies or Medicaid. Please inquire with your insurance provider to see if you can be reimbursed for Out of Network services. Upon request, I can provide a monthly superbill that you will submit to your insurance company.

  • Somatic psychotherapy integrates body-based practices with traditional talk therapy to support mind-body healing. This offering is different from coaching, neuropsychological assessment, psychiatry, energy work, shamanism, and any one-size-fits-all learning opportunity such as social media, workshops, or self-help books. This is highly individualized psychotherapy based on evidence-based modalities from a licensed mental health professional.

    My licensure reflects years of advanced learning on a broad spectrum of mental health concerns, and thousands of hours of clinical supervision. It holds me accountable to high ethical standards - including challenging counselor bias and power dynamics - to protect my clients confidentiality and agency.

  • Our work cannot be fast if it is to be deep. It cannot be reduced to a simple number of steps or a tidy quantity of sessions. Yes, the goal is to support you in getting to a higher level of psychological flexibility and resilience so you can pause therapeutic work in your life for some chapters, or perhaps complete the work for good. But this is a slow, organic, patient process - and you are worth it.

    • Depression and anxiety

    • Complex and acute trauma

    • Complex trauma related to neurodivergence and marginalized identities

    • Nervous system dysregulation

    • Grief

    • Burnout

    • Finding meaning in life transitions

    • Codependency

    • Attachment wounding

    • Sexual shame, disconnection, or trauma (more on my sex therapy page)

    • Vicarious trauma/compassion fatigue for caretakers and helping professionals

    • Spiritual trauma and spiritual emergency

  • Because of the slow nature of this process, this work will not likely be the best option for someone in acute crisis, or someone who needs a fully integrated care team (psychiatrist, therapist, case manager.) If you are reading this and are in urgent need of support, please call 988 (Colorado Mental Health Line) or contact the Trevor Project (for queer youth). If you are in Gunnison County and are experiencing sexual assault or domestic violence, please call the Project Hope 24/7 Crisis Line at (970) 275-1193 to connect to support, advocacy, and social services.

REFLECTIONS

  • “After working with you, I was able to feel emotions that I couldn't before, which has helped me be myself. I chose you because I knew that you wouldn't look away no matter what I brought up, which felt amazing.”

  • "Ali is unapologetically authentic, light-hearted, and compassionate. She provides an empowering, healing space of unconditional acceptance, celebrating all the aspects of your identity that make you YOU."

    Hannah Elliott, MA, LMHCA

  • "More than any other therapist I’ve worked with, Ali has a knack for helping me identify the heart of the matter - and building my skills to take that new found clarity and apply it in my life. I’m so grateful!"

  • “I enjoy my time with Ali, taking time to slow down and reflect on how my body and mind are at. She is supportive of the ADHD brain, working with me in-person rather than through the sterilizing computer screen.”

  • “Ali's open minded approach to therapy has been a huge blessing to me. I especially appreciate how she holds on to important moments, reminding me to slow down and feel. I couldn't be more grateful to have found her.”

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