My passion in life is self-transformation and my mission is helping those who have been impacted by trauma, abusive childhood experiences, and those suffering from depression, anxiety and relational challenges. Over the past 20 years, I have trained in many paths of healing and have discovered that every person has a unique rhythm of recovery related to their personal history of development. My role as a therapist is to help my clients retrieve their story and the parts of themselves hidden in the rubble, shards and darkness. Finding the missing pieces and meaning along the way is the process of healing. For my CV, go here... My journey as a psychotherapist has taken me from psychodynamic and depth therapy, to Gestalt therapy to Trauma-informed therapy. There were many interesting stops along the way with training in IFS, Schema therapy, Existential therapy, Somatic Archaeology, EMDR, BSP, MBSR, Aromatherapy, and Transformational Breathwork. I offer a synthesis of twenty years of study, training, group work and private practice that has come full circle. What stands out for me is: * I value and recognize my client's strengths, past successes and core beliefs, as well as their true Self as the resources that must be identified in therapy before we delve into the deeper work. * Much of behavior is unconsciously motivated with an internal system of countless parts (memories, sensations, beliefs) interacting with each other and within us that we need to find, unburden and be in relationship with to live a 'self-led' existence. (Richard Schwartz). * The work of Irvin Yalom taught me the value of regular client feedback as necessary to keep therapy on track and effective. * Lengthy therapy is not necessarily better treatment and each client is different so the work needs to follow what the client needs. * The work of Alice Miller, PhD, taught the importance of doing my own inner work to understand my clients. * Individuals and couples in pain or in crisis, are not necessarily ready to make changes when they start therapy. Rushing into treatment and focusing on the pain often backfires. * The work of Dr. Besel Van der Kolk, MD, taught me that we can regulate our own physiology, of the body and brain, and this comes through self-care activities like abdominal breathing, yoga and body work, writing, music, laughter, and touch. My Story I was born in Istanbul, a city that bridges East and West, and raised in a cross-cultural family that included American, English, French and Italian This both broadened and narrowed my horizons. I felt like an outsider growing up, not as “American” as everyone else I knew, and I was an extremely sensitive child. Having been exposed to people from other cultures and religions and speaking different languages had an enduring impact on me, laying a foundation for my love of languages, cultures, art, music, philosophy and psychology. I experienced my share of childhood trauma and have come to understand more about inter-generational/family legacy trauma through my own personal healing journey. I explored a variety of different therapeutic modalities, both traditional and non-traditional, for over a decade, that included various forms of psychotherapy, bodywork, shamanic healing, creative therapies, and trauma therapy and for me, it was healing and amazing. My life and work has helped me be with my clients in a very authentic and compassionate way. Inspirations
My earliest method of inner work and personal growth was reading books. This is where I learned to travel inside myself and inside the lives of others, to find meaning, guidance and inspiration. I spent most of my childhood reading in my room and read myself to sleep most nights, until I went off to college. A new idea just lights up my soul! I continue to be a voracious reader in my adult life as well. |
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720.738.1500
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@ 2018 Suzanne DeMontigny Counseling | Individual & Couples Therapy | Trauma Therapy