It's a Family Affair
Collaborating with my Sister and Upcoming Events
“The Blue-eyed Brat” was what my two older sisters, Angela and Marcy used to call me when I was little. The term was well deserved. Eight and nine years younger and so desperate for attention, I made tattling, ruining their dates, or taking and using their “grown up” things my job. Angela got married and moved out when I was nine, and Marcy left to attend a sign language program when I was ten or eleven. Not because of me, (haha) but I didn’t have as much time with them as I would have liked.
Though our paths diverged in many ways, my sister Marcy and I have a string of things in common: we both went to college and earned graduate degrees, we had children a year a part (my niece Hollis turned 26 this year and a week later, Harrison turned 25), and we both through different avenues have landed on teaching and practicing somatic therapies.
While my education and experience has mostly been college instruction, a decade ago, I started training in teaching meditation, and more recently breathwork and Gateless Writing. Marcy is a licensed therapist, LCSW and worked for over a decade at the Veterans Administration. She has specialities in EMDR, prolonged exposure, cognitive processing therapy. Recently, she’s been practicing equine assisted therapy and a powerful method called Brainspotting. My sister is impressive in her desire to learn and grow to say the least.
What is Brainspotting?
Brainspotting is a powerful, focused treatment method that works by identifying, processing and releasing core neurophysiological sources of emotional/body pain, trauma, dissociation and a variety of other challenging symptoms.
During a recent visit to Costa Rica, Marcy, her friend Kovina and I spent a few days at a beach hotel to rest and enjoy each other’s company. Marcy brought along her Brainspotting wand and asked if we’d like to try out a session. It was a bit mysterious, but I trust my sister. She used a wand with a bright tip on it to track our eye movements along different coordinates while she asked a few questions.
Both Kovina and I were taken by surprise by Brainspotting’s power and efficiency. While both of us shared a snippet of whatever "issue or challenge” we were currently dealing with, we didn’t go into detail at all, as Brainspotting works via the body’s connection to the subconscious. Basically, it works best if your brain is quiet. Not so easy for me. I instantly thought this should be available to more people.
Later, I guided Marcy in a Breathwork session, and then we started talking more about collaboration, and Marcy’s interest in using the practice outside of traditional talk therapy.
Learn More about Brainspotting
So we decided to talk online about it and try it out in front of y’all.
Join us this Saturday either on FB Live at 12pm EST / 9am PST or Instagram Live 1pm EST / 10am PST. Marcy will explain the basics of Brainspotting and why she likes using it in her practice. Then, I’m going to be her guinea pig… volunteer… haha… and have her do a session with me. Each Live will be 30-35 minutes.
Camino Adentro: The Way Inside
A Somatic Wellness Retreat in Montezuma, Costa Rica February 21-25, 2025 at Aves Hotel and Retreat Center
More than its tropical location with epic ocean views and immersion in nature, Camino Adentro retreat will offer you an opportunity to go inward and bring greater heart and body coherence. Through daily Gateless writing, breathwork, yoga, sound healing (AND Brainspotting sessions with my sister) we will help you align and have fun in this idyllic setting. Wherever you are in life, you deserve radical acceptance and time to make lasting changes inside and out. My retreats are perfect for people who ready to go inward, be nurtured, have fun in nature and perhaps are struggling with
✨overwhelm & burn out with work
✨loss of a loved one
✨anxiety around the future
✨creative blocks
✨emotional cul de sacs
✨chronic self-sabotage
Conscious Planning
I offer pre and post retreat zooms to answer questions, give packing lists and help you with reintegration. I also including lots of surprise gifts from local artisans, in addition to must-have retreat items like sunscreen! Your attendance helps support the local community in Montezuma and Cabuya and creates a scholarship sponsoring a local Costa Rican woman's attendance.
If this sounds like something you need, send me a note or call or text 408-480-1828 to set up a zoom. Payment plans are available.
Sending love and deep breaths. I hope to see you on Saturday with our FB and IG Lives.
Love this one.