Approach
I work from an integrative, nervous-system-informed lens that honors the mind–body–spirit connection. My approach blends evidence-based psychotherapy, somatic therapy, and mindfulness-based practices. It draws from Western clinical science and Eastern meditation traditions, and it is also informed by Indigenous and earth-honoring wisdom traditions that emphasize interconnectedness, reciprocity, and right relationship within the web of life.
This integrative lens shapes how I understand symptoms and what supports true healing. Rather than treating you as a diagnosis to manage, we explore what your system has been responding to and what your current pain points are signaling about the shifts needed for greater alignment and holistic emotional health.
Specialized care at the intersection of Trauma, Anxiety, and OCD
Many clients come to me after standard talk therapy or standalone ERP has not been enough, especially when trauma and chronic anxiety are intertwined with obsessive-compulsive patterns.
I specialize in working at the intersection of trauma, anxiety, and OCD, and I integrate modalities in a way that protects both effectiveness and safety. I may blend IFS-informed parts work, somatic trauma therapies, and EMDR with ERP principles in a paced, collaborative way. This matters because:
ERP without a trauma-informed lens can feel destabilizing or retraumatizing for some clients.
Trauma work without specialized OCD knowledge can unintentionally reinforce compulsions and prolong symptoms.
We move with precision, consent, and pacing, so treatment is both grounded and tailored to you.
What it feels like to work together
My style is active, attuned, and collaborative. I prioritize a strong therapeutic relationship, clear boundaries, and a pace that supports integration. I work to call forth your inner wisdom rather than replacing it, and I aim to support you in building practical skills alongside deeper healing.
About Paula
My path into this work has been deeply personal, shaped by my own recovery journey from trauma and fear toward greater peace and authenticity. I am also a visual artist, long-time meditator, and yoga practitioner. These practices have refined my capacity for deep listening, embodied attunement, and seeing the patterns that underlie our inner experience, our behavior, and our relationships.
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and National Board Certified Counselor (NCC). My clinical training includes Somatic EMDR, Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) for OCD and anxiety disorders, and Clinical Hypnotherapy, with additional training in Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Somatic Experiencing. I hold a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Georgia State University and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Georgia. I also completed over 200 hours of mindfulness meditation training through the Vipassana tradition and post-baccalaureate study in mindfulness-based CBT with a focus on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
I am also a Certified Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapist and trained in Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy. I have received training and supervision from respected leaders in the field and have worked as a psychedelic facilitator in FDA-approved research trials supporting studies of psilocybin compounds, LSD, and DMT for anxiety and depressive disorders.
I approach this work with cultural humility and a commitment to honoring what is true, what is safe, and what is genuinely supportive for each individual person.
A systems perspective
on symptoms
In addition to supporting you in healing trauma from the past, I take a systems perspective and explore how present-day symptoms can reflect nervous system responses to relational, environmental, and cultural stressors, not simply individual pathology. Together, we identify patterns that keep you stuck and develop new ways of relating, coping, and living that feel healthier and more sustainable.
Values
-
I am devoted to providing honest services and being a real practitioner of the healing work I invite clients into.
-
I believe that at our center lies our own greatest healer and that it's possible for all of us to gain access to that. We are equals in this work. Although I am generous in sharing the tools and wisdom that my own journey and training have given me, I prioritize cultivating an environment of safety where you will be empowered to access YOUR authentic truth and come home to your own inner guidance system.
-
Every pattern and part of us that keeps us looped in cycles of suffering has within it a golden nugget of wisdom that carries medicine for our liberation. If we are able to meet this pain with compassionate, non-judgmental inquiry and presence, this medicine begins to reveal itself. Thus, through the gateway of curiosity, that which hurts within us, can become our greatest teacher and ally.
As seen in
Podcast
You can find my podcast on Apple and Spotify!
If you feel called to begin this work, you’re invited to schedule a complimentary 15-minute consultation. Together we can get a sense of what kind of support you’re needing right now and whether working together feels like a good fit.
