Rediscover your true nature
Helping you do the deep work so you can stop turning against yourself and build a life you love
If beating up on ourselves worked,
we’d probably all be doing great by now
A paradoxical thing happens when we take a step towards accepting ourselves exactly as we are. A doorway opens into a whole new way of being.
Beneath all the self doubt, self judgement and anxiety, there is a version of you which is calm. Curious. Clear. Connected.
Let’s find her.
Offerings
Feel more alive in your body and mind
1-on-1 Work
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Healing happens in relationship. This includes the relationship to our selves and to our problems.
All of your strategies and coping skills that are messing up your life now? At one time they made sense and helped you in various ways. Until we know how to see them for what they are, and how to change our relationship to them, they often run our lives.
Together, we look with compassion and curiosity at the life experiences that brought you to this point. We untangle knots of confusion about what’s going on and why these patterns keep showing up. We learn what to do with all those dang emotions (hint: it’s not about keeping on pushing them down until they explode). And we practice the art of befriending yourself.
Groups
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What’s even more powerful than a single woman learning to support herself emotionally? A group of them.
It’s my view that women are ancestrally hardwired to be each others allies and champions. There is something profoundly healing in speaking your truth to a small group of women and having them simply receive it and hold it. Likewise, when we hear other women speak about their lives and inner worlds, we inevitably come to know ourselves better.
I occasionally run multi week containers for women to do this deep work together.
Reach out if you are interested and I’ll put you on the list to hear when the next one will start.
Psychedelic Support
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A lot of healing and transformative work can happen in psychedelic states. I would say that the real work is what comes after. I can help you make sense of and integrate these powerful experiences, as well as help set you up for success leading up to it.
In person ceremonial services are also available for those in or willing to travel to the San Francisco Bay Area.
I have been working with psychedelics for healing since 2010 and been a guide for others since 2015.
Approaches
Some of the things that may get woven into a session with me
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Parts Work
Parts Work, also called Internal Family Systems, is a therapeutic tool that encourages us think of certain emotions, thoughts or behaviors as personified “parts” in our psyche. This allows us to separate from them just enough that we can see them more clearly, but this time with a sense of curiosity instead of self-judgement.
As we learn to work with our parts from this vantage point, a new version of you naturally begins to emerge. Your psyche reorganizes itself to allow for more inner peace, self-compassion and clarity about your true self.
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Connecting to Nature
Using the metaphor of “inner seasons” we re-establish a framework of intimate connection and attachment to the natural world. Just like a parent and child, we start to see our resemblance to this planet that made us. We are made in her image, with seasons and cycles inside of us that mirror the wider ones all around us. We belong here.
We use this to orient ourselves like a map. With practice, this slowly helps us stop fighting against the natural ebbs and flows of our lives and learn what each “inner season” actually asks of us.
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Body Practices
The primal brain, also called the reptilian brain, is what makes us feel either safe or in danger. The language of this part of the brain is sensation. By getting in touch with what trauma therapist Peter Levine calls “the felt sense” of our bodies, we begin to heal trauma and enjoy life more.
In a session we may employ exercises like simply putting your attention on body to see what sensations - if any - you notice there. Or maybe a little gently touching your scalp with your fingertips while taking deep breath. Such practices often seem simple, but their effect can be profound and help us get back to the root of what life is all about.
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Mindfulness & Visualization
I think of mindfulness as the art of being present to what’s actually happening. It’s tuning into the subtle realms of our direct experience.
Visualization, including the use of Active Imagination is an approach that helps bridge the conscious and unconscious mind.
Together these tools help build a relationship with your own inner guidance system and create an inner world that is a refuge, where deep safety can be found.
Some of the things I love supporting my clients with:
Stress, anxiety, depression
Dissociation and embodiment
Recovery from high control groups and abusive dynamics
Intimate relationships
Aligning with nature as a healing force
Underworld initiations
Healing after burnout
Nervous system regulation
Trauma recovery
Personal exploration and growth
Spiritual growth and inquiry
Spiritual emergencies
Re-mothering
Creative blocks
Holistic health
Hi, I’m Olivia. And I’m really glad you’re here.
Think of me as a wilderness guide for the psyche.
My professional background includes a BA in Anthropology from UC Berkeley and an MA in Counseling Psychology from The Wright Institute.
But truthfully my real education has come more from 15 years of being utterly dedicated to my own journey of health, healing and wholeness rather than any theory or ideas I learned in school.
For me the journey of self growth was not optional. I had suffered enough major traumas and their resulting array of chronic shame, self sabotage and dissociation that if I was to survive, I needed to devote myself to the art of healing.
I know the territory of the deep psyche because I have traveled through it so many times, eventually learning how to be less afraid of the sounds and shadows and then finding the skills needed to not only help you make your way through, but connect deeply to something greater while you do.
As such, what you will feel when you work with me is not the energy of someone dispensing theoretically good advice from their intellectual knowing. Instead, you will feel is a depth of compassion, an embodied wisdom and a keen intuition that has been sculpted by walking through many challenges with eyes wide open.
Choose the rhythm that works for you
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Ongoing Depth Work
Ongoing weekly sessions allow for steady, in-depth work over time. With this rhythm we meet for as long as it feels helpful to you, going deeper as trust and knowledge builds between us. This approach supports long-term transformation and is especially helpful when you're navigating complex patterns, ongoing life changes, or when in need of a steady container for self-inquiry and growth.
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Focused Support Series
If you are drawn to a more defined and time-limited approach, the Focused Support Series offers a defined number of sessions, typically 3-9, decided upon up front. These are ideal when you’d like to focus on a specific theme or area of growth. We will work with depth and intensity over several weeks then pause to allow space for integration and reflection on your own.
How it works:
For individual one-on-one work, I offer a deeply discounted first session for just $35. I know it’s hard to find the right person to work with so this lets you see if it feels like a good fit, without having to invest so much up front.
Sessions are over Zoom and are 60 minutes long. There is an option of a hour and a half long-form session which can be great for getting into especially deep or difficult territory.
Sessions are $120/hr
I reserve a several lower fee spaces for those who need it. These are currently full, but contact me if you would like me to reach out when one opens up.
Testimonals
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“Since working with Olivia, I am way less afraid of my own feelings. She seems to ask just the right questions. My relationships feel stronger and deeper and more satisfying as a direct result of the work we’ve been doing. There’s been a ripple effect in my life, and it’s inspiring other people around me to want to work on themselves too, because they can see all the positive effects it’s been having on me and how much happier I’ve been.”
Monica R.
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“Olivia has been instrumental in my healing journey over the past year. Despite seeing many therapists, none have provided the tools, clarity, and insight that she has. Her ability to listen, understand, and provide insightful guidance is truly remarkable. She makes me feel heard, seen, and validated. I am immensely grateful for her wisdom and guidance.”
Kailey W.
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“I came to my first session super anxious about having to set a boundary at work. Within that one hour, Olivia helped me understand what was underneath that anxiety as well as visualize an archetype that helped me find my inner power again. The next day I went into work calm and confident and said exactly what I needed! Without guilt or apology. It felt like a major shift in what was possible for me and has continued to open up new doors.”
R.K.
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“I felt a deep connection to Olivia very quickly. I feel incredibly seen when working with her. I feel like there’s a wise woman holding me in a warm, connected, safe container. She has great attention to detail and helps me to slow things down so we can get to what’s really important and clear away the B.S. She’s a powerful guide who helps create an energetic container for big healing work to get done.”
Nicole Garrison
Let’s connect
To set up a free 20 minute phone call or an hour long introductory session (at the special rate of just $35), use the button to go to my booking page. If you prefer to send an email, you can use the form below.
Other ways to stay in touch
Substack
Check out some of my poetry writings, often about the psychological healing journey and falling in love with life as it is.
