About Sophie

My early years were marked by various health conflicts as I struggled with chronic digestive issues from birth and severe depression/suicidal ideation starting at age 3.   

I entered into my teens and found that the only thing that helped quell my inner discomfort was through delving into the mysteries of the human experience.  

While I grew up outside of Philadelphia, PA, I decided to venture west to continue my education and enrolled at Colorado College. There, I was inspired to learn from some of the great thinkers from the past, gaining my undergraduate degree in Philosophy with a minor in Psychoanalysis.  

After my time in the Rocky Mountains, I was immediately drawn to the Pacific ocean where I spent the next two years completing my first master's degree in Spiritual Psychology at the University of Santa Monica.  

I am an ordained minister in the Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness and grew up as part of a spiritual community where I spent most of my life wanting to "transcend the body."   
I had developed a powerful foundation in psychology and spirituality, and had explored various avenues of personal development, however something was still missing.  I continued to struggle personally until I discovered more body-oriented modalities of trauma and therapy work.  I began to realize that the body actually holds the key to true healing. 

Because of this I became further intrigued with the role of the body in the healing process and decided to pursue my own education in various bodywork modalities.
I went on to train with an ex-Navy Seal in Chinese Meridian based approaches of bodywork.  In one of these modalities I walk on different parts of a person's body that correlate with various meridian channels to release any stagnant lymph, blood, and chi. Another modality utilizes strength and stretch exercises to pack chi into the channels of the body. I have also trained in Chi Nei Tsang where the internal organs are massaged helping release trauma and stored energy within this sensitive area.  I have further trained in Jin Shin Jyutsu, which is a sublet energy work focused on opening the meridian channels with gentle hands-on touch work.  I am an advanced level Reiki practitioner for enhanced energy work. Additionally, I have trained through the Advanced II module of Somatic Experiencing and am waiting to complete that certification for when hands-on work can be completed.  In sessions I will also utilize practices from my Spiritual Psychology training, energetic clearing techniques, and Gamma breathwork.  I may also incorporate Human Design, which can help illuminate one's self-understanding and acceptance.

I earned my PhD from Pacifica Graduate Institute in Depth Psychology with an Emphasis in Somatic Studies where my dissertation focused on the interrelational dynamics of physical contact by specifically inquiring into the lived experiences of hands-on bodywork practitioners with their clients.  The overarching theme I wanted to explore was: What happens, beyond the physical stimulation, when two people touch?

With a Depth Psychological and Somatic Studies background I believe the body speaks in symbols and symptoms, making the objective to listen carefully to these unconscious ways of being as guides into the hidden shadow and unconscious material that could be inhibiting one's being.

I believe the idea that we are independent beings who do not impact others and are not impacted by others is outdated and contributes to the disconnected and isolated experience most people now struggle with.  My intention is always to come with full compassion and resonance focusing on being entirely with the person in front of me and attending to what comes forward through the innate wisdom of their body.