Licensed mental health counselor and substance use disorder professional working in private practice.

I had spinal meningitis when I was 5 and lost my ability to speak for a while. Movement became an important language of expression for me as I was not confident verbally. As an adolescent, I was active in springboard diving and gymnastics, competing on high school teams. I later went into the dance profession and would later teach and choreograph. I’ve always been aware of movement, and after I stopped dancing professionally, I continued with tai chi and ballroom dance classes (on and off, not always regularly). Now, as a licensed mental health counselor and substance use disorders professional, one of the first things I notice about my clients is how they hold their bodies, how they move, and if they are aware of their body or not. I want to know how better to incorporate body awareness and movement into the therapy I provide.