COUNSELING

As a psychologist for 3 decades, I have had the great honor of listening to what human beings most deeply long for. We need to know: we aren’t alone, we hold worth beyond measure, we can trust and use our voice, we can cope well with vulnerability and imperfection, we can experience compassion for ourselves and others, we can dare to express our authenticity, we can be empowered and selective in our relationships, and know beyond a shadow of a doubt we belong.

These are all experiences I am passionate about, and it is my greatest honor to be invited into these conversations with you.

General focus:

I work with adults and adolescents with
3 decades of experience with presenting concerns of: depression, anxiety, trauma, grief and loss, relationship concerns, adjustment to life changes, and self-esteem.

Therapeutic approach:

Research shows the most transformative results through an integrative approach, addressing both the mind and the body.

Depending on your unique situation and my appraisal of what will be most helpful, we can work together in some of the following ways:

Affirming the beauty and strength in your real stories.
Reflection of childhood experiences as they impact you now, honoring how you have coped, and creative processing to illuminate what would best serve you now.
Polyvagal Informed Therapy. As pioneer in the field, Deb Dana says, this work “invites you into the science of feeling safe enough to fall in love with life and take the risk of living. By bringing explicit awareness to the implicit workings of the autonomic nervous system you can learn to become a regulated and regulating resource for your own well-being, and for the people around you.”
As a practical application of Polyvagal theory, the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) is also available. SSP acts as a non-invasive acoustic vagal nerve stimulator, helping to retune the nervous system to better support connection, collaboration, emotional regulation/calm, and resilience. The SSP involves listening to specifically filtered music through over-the-ear headphones alongside a provider in person or remotely. The SSP has demonstrated benefits for individuals with trauma, anxiety, depression, sensory processing differences, and much more.
Internal Family Systems, which much like the animated film “Inside Out,” focuses on caring for your inner system of parts and feelings, as well as your core calm/compassionate/ courageous/curious Self.
Guided imagery and clinical hypnosis.
Dream Work.
Mindfulness.
Mind/body relaxation/calming.
Cognitive therapy.
Creative/playful.
Eclectic.

how to reach out

I am available for counseling
through my private practice in
St. Paul, MN
Online throughout the pandemic,
and can be reached at
rachelawes@gmail.com
or (612)701-4296.

& for those of you interested in clinical hypnosis, here’s a little more:

Clinical hypnosis had me at hello.

Here’s what it’s not. It won’t make you cluck like a chicken. That’s stage or entertainment hypnosis. You won’t lose control or have amnesia.

Here’s what it is. Clinical hypnosis helps you to focus on your goals: feel calmer, sleep better, etc. Did you know only 10 percent of your thinking is conscious? Hypnosis includes involving your unconscious, so more of you can go to work. We see our unconscious/fuller processing operate in our dreams, imagination and creative processes. It’s a powerful thing to engage with our fuller selves.

Clinical hypnosis invites a more absorbed state, much like it feels when you get absorbed in a good book. This time, the good book is your precious life, deserving all of your kind attention. And I cherish joining you in paying attention. Along with my words, I watch you closely. I follow my words with your breath. I watch your subtle body movements and follow them with affirming words like “that’s right” and “yes.” We all crave such a “yes set” from one another. And research is showing glowing results when therapy weaves in hypnosis. I found this all compelling. I’m looking forward to my next read waiting
for me on my desk “Clinical Hypnosis for Pain Control.”

I am in awe of what my clients are sharing with me following Clinical hypnosis. There are inspiring whole worlds they see.

Here’s the thing. We are each plump full
of inner knowing, wisdom, resource, and beauty. Sometimes we just need a little prompting to learn how to listen to all
our bounty.