My “Why”—A Passion for Freedom

Every therapist has their “why.” Mine comes from a sincere passion for helping people live life well: enabling them to break free from the unwanted thoughts, emotions, and limiting beliefs that keep them stuck in a default pattern that doesn’t work.

This passion wasn’t born from a textbook or a classroom. It came the single most monumental thing that ever happened in my life: finding a way to live free from anxiety, panic, and agoraphobia. On the way, I discovered a life far more meaningful than the one I lived pre-panic.

My Greatest Teacher: Panic

During the worst of it, I was trapped in relentless cycles of fear, overthinking, and obsessive questioning –  Why is this happening to me? Why can’t I get to the root of this problem so I can fix it? Spoiler alert: I was asking the wrong questions.

Looking back, I now see that the life I was living wasn’t truly mine. It was a socially prescribed version of success, shaped by a mind that couldn’t see beyond its own conditioning. Panic wasn’t the problem—it was the wake-up call. And for that, I’m grateful. Really. Forever. Steeped in Gratitude.

I’ve since wondered whether the universe is a merry trickster… knocking me off my game with an affliction so consuming that it sent me back to square one to reevaluate the whole shebang. Touche Universe!

Starting Over—Square One in Japan

Here”s the short version of how it went down: At the height of my struggle with this life-sucking debility, I was living in rural Japan, isolated and without access to mental health care. Desperate for answers, I turned to the spiritual practices that had guided me for years: Buddhism, Tantra, and yoga.

I ordered stacks of books and cassette tapes from the States (yes, cassettes—it was the 90s, my friend). My hope? That these ancient wisdom teachings would offer me a way to get my life back, preferably in the form of a quick fix. Little did I realize the life, aka mindset, I wanted back was the crux of the problem.

Gradually, I realized that my relentless fix-it strategy—my wish to be different because I found myself unacceptable—was the very thing that kept me stuck.

Tiny Openings, Big Shifts

I clung to the teaching, but the change process was excruciatingly slow. I was so entrenched in my default mindset that I could barely grasp the wisdom I was studying. But over time, I experienced tiny, imperceptible shifts— and only by looking back was I able to notice that I wasn’t as stuck as I had been the year before.

Small openings began to add up. I started testing myself with incremental actions that pushed my comfort zone. Eventually, with a boatload of fear and trembling, I committed to doing what I feared most: leaving my seemingly successful yet wholly fabricated life in Japan… hook, line, sinker. Unfortunately, panic stowed away on the boat.

Then came the breakthrough: in the middle of a devastating panic attack, something unfathomable happened. I let go—or rather, letting go happened. It wasn’t a strategy or something I “did.” It was a full body/mind surrender that came from years of mindfulness, acceptance, preparation, and the willingness to do what scared me.

That moment changed everything. It was the last full-blown panic attack I ever had.

The Beginning of My Framework for Change

Looking back, I see that freedom not only came from taking meaningful action in the face of boot-shaking fear—but, more importantly, it came from the very tangible, felt sense of surrender and freedom that happened in the body.

These insights occurred as I began my graduate psychology studies. As serendipity would have it, I was introduced to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).

 For the first time, I had language to describe my decades-long struggle. ACT encapsulated all the truths I had discovered in simple, practical terms. For a long time, it wholly informed my work as a therapist.

But over time, ACT became one piece of a larger puzzle. Around 2016, I discovered Immunity to Change (ITC), which offered a deceptively simple yet profoundly transformative mapping process for uncovering and invalidating deeply entrenched beliefs. In its own way,

ITC encompassed the core processes of ACT while expanding the focus to include human development and the activation of mindset shifts. It was nothing short of mind-blowing.

Yet, neither of these groundbreaking frameworks recognized the body’s essential role in transformation. My experiences have shown me that true, lasting change is only possible when body and mind integrate harmoniously. This realization led me to integrate subtle body-based practices into the mix. Here, the body’s quiet, almost imperceptible wisdom creates the space for profound, enduring change.

Combined, these approaches—ACT, ITC, and subtle body-based practices—form the foundation of my framework for change. By integrating mind, body, and the very subtle, this holistic approach delivers a groundbreaking trifecta for real change.

Why Groups?

Now, my energy, focus, and passion are centered on group work. Why? Because groups embody an inherent power for transformation that is far beyond what an individual can achieve alone. When one person experiences a breakthrough, the ripple effect touches everyone. It’s powerful, grounded, supportive, and practical.

What’s Next?

I’m calling myself a coach because it’s a term people understand. It’s not perfect, but it works for now. Coaching allows me to leave behind the constraints of managed care and focus on what truly matters: helping people create meaningful, lasting change.

Join Me on This Journey

I’d be honored if you’d check out my new group coaching workshop. In it, I combine ACT, Immunity to Change, and subtle body-based practices into a holistic approach to transformation. You won’t be disappointed.