About Me
As a mental health counselor, I view it as my responsibility to provide a safe and relational therapeutic space to promote self-rediscovery and facilitate a return to wholeness.
My dedication to this work comes from my own path to rediscovery and a heartfelt desire to hold space for others on their path. I am passionate about continuously seeking out trainings, supervision, and opportunities to deepen my own practice, and find joy in being able to share the lineage of wisdom that comes from this.
I attribute my ability to show up fully to the therapeutic space to time spent in nature, connecting with loved ones, moving my body, and my spiritual and meditation practices.
What I offer is what I have used on my own journey - Internal Family Systems, Somatic Experiencing and other somatic therapies, yoga therapy, and Buddhist philosophy, teachings, and practice.
My approach is founded in the belief that clients are the experts of themselves. What works for one individual may not work for another. Together we can explore ways to connect to self and others, to understand your own internal landscape, and to live a more authentic and present life.
My body-based, trauma-sensitive approach to treatment is founded in neuroscience, relational dynamics, yogic and buddhist philosophies. I aim to support clients in rediscovering safety in their own bodies and in reconnecting to and expanding internal resources to explore and navigate the full range of the human experience.
My Approach
Qualifications & Certifications
Mental Health Counseling
MA Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Lesley University
Somatic Experiencing (Beginner Level), Somatic Experiencing International
Complete IFS Therapy Immersion: Integrating the Internal Family Systems (IFS) Model Across Clinical Applications, IFS Institute
Suicide Assessment and Intervention, Riverside Trauma Center
Advanced Master Program on the Treatment of Trauma, NICABM
Healing Through Somatic Attachment Therapy, Embody Lab
Yoga & Yoga Therapy
Foundations of Yoga Therapy, Breathing Deeply Yoga
Trauma Center Trauma Sensitive Yoga Facilitator (TCTSY-F, 300HR), CTFE
300HR Yoga Teacher Training, Down Under School of Yoga
200 HR Yoga Teacher Training, Kaivalya Yoga School (India)
©2023
Valerie Niklas Counseling