Integration of Experiential & Creative Therapies

Ecotherapy

I have 25 years of kayaking and paddle-boarding experience and worked as a wilderness therapist in northern Maine, living next to the Penobscot Indian Reservation. I offer kayaking and paddle boarding sessions (may bring your own), as well as hiking or walking, combined with talk therapy to established clients in the Philadelphia region. Therapeutic benefits of paddling include improvements of physical, social, and physiological health (Schram, Hing, & Climstein, 2017), not to mention my personal observations of clarity of thought as related to decision-making, serenity, and improved focus and concentration. These sessions can be 1, 1.5, or 2 hours.

Somatic (Yoga) Therapy

With over 25 years of yoga practice, I might integrate or suggest yoga poses as supplemental therapy, combined with talk therapy during a session. Yoga helps with emotion regulation, self-efficacy, self-care, and belief in personal growth (Cook-Cottone et al., 2025). Yoga is a form of somatic therapy, as it emphasizes the interconnectedness of the mind and body, a core principle of somatic practices.

Mindfulness Meditation & Breath Work

During sessions, I often integrate mindfulness and breath work into sessions. Mindfulness meditation and breath work help to reduces stress and anxiety by calming the nervous system. It improves focus and self-awareness, helping you notice patterns and triggers. Mindfulness builds emotional regulation, making it easier to respond rather than react. Mindfulness also supports healing from trauma by gently reconnecting you with your body and present moment.

Creative Expression

As an oil painter and writer, I understand the necessity and desire for creation to nurture my soul. I often integrate creative expression into sessions, drawing upon my client's interests. Creative expression during sessions might assume the form of therapeutic writing, drawing or sketching, listening to or playing music (sometimes out in nature!). I encourage all forms of creative expression in and outside of sessions and I often find that many clients resonate with journaling for the expression of emotions and working through trauma.