Highly specialized in aiding you through life’s transitions

I’m Alissa, and for the last 10 years I’ve facilitated individuals through the innate process of change- helping them not only traverse uncertain times, but integrate new versions of themselves whom are grounded & empowered to take on the new. Critical rites-of-passage shape our lives, yet we are rarely given the space to fully honor them. Whether we’ve chosen this change for ourselves or not, reverence for this messy, painful, and transformational process is the only way to get from where we are to where we must go next. The grief, shame, self-criticism, and insecurity that arise as we reflect on what we have lost as can be transmuted into something far more helpful and profound; a discernment that direct us into our fullest, most fulfilling futures. This process enlivens us to discover the nuanced wisdom living in our own story, process the pains of our past that have brought us to this distinct moment, and prepare us for what’s next.

Even if you arrive in pieces, you can leave whole.

I believe that together, we can find ways forward that work with your unique system. If you are neurodiverse, have a history of complex trauma or are currently navigating chronic illness, specialized care from someone who understands the added complexity of your inner world & how it impacts your relationship to your outer world makes all the difference. Formulaic methods don’t cut it, and often intensify feelings of alienation and self-blame when they don’t work. It’s crucial that your therapist normalizes your experience, helps you understand your strengths and pain points, and works collaboratively with you to create innovative approaches that you truly resonate with.

As a neurodiverse therapist who has struggled with chronic illness and complex trauma myself, my top priority is helping you feel safe, seen, and valued in your unique way of existing in the world.

There’s nothing you need to “fix”.

As counterintuitive as it may seem, perpetually trying to “fix” yourself is likely contributing to your pain more than your growth. It’s easy to fall into a perpetual cycle of self-criticism, judgement, listlessness, burnout…exacerbated by endless attempts to tame or stop the impulses that drive it. A new approach can help break the cycle of pain; an approach that honors the pieces that you’ve tried so hard to fix. When each part of the self is given space to be heard and understood, rather than diminished or avoided, tension eases, a greater sense of clarity emerges, a path forward reveals itself. Through this process, self-trust grows as conflicting needs become a cohesive whole, instead of continuing to tear you apart. You begin to see your inner world as a thriving ecosystem, not a war zone. You begin to see yourself deeply rather than critically. In this system, synthesis and peace are possible. I often pull from a combination of Internal Family Systems, Narrative Therapy, Dreamwork, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Critical Rites-of-Passage work to help clients harmonize those neglected, avoided, or vilified pieces of themselves that simply wish to be seen & loved. We are all worthy of being valued in our totality, and when we are witnessed in our wholeness by another, the outcome is truly healing.

What I want you to know:

There’s a natural process to this work.

You already have ways to cope with life’s difficulties. You may spend a lot of time trying to “think” your way into feeling calm, or perhaps you keep yourself distracted until you feel better, only to find that soon enough, you once again wind up with uncomfortable feelings you don’t know what to do with. Talking, thinking, or distracting ourselves from life’s frustrations have a time and place (you wouldn’t do them if they didn’t do something for you). The trouble lies when they perpetuate a painful cycle of hurt, overwhelm and exhaustion. If you could simply “think” or distract yourself into feeling better long term, you would feel better by now. You’ve heard that the path forward is to “feel your feelings”, but this too is entirely useless without tools that open the door for your brain and body do exactly that. What’s often missing is pacing, safety, and personalized regulation tools that help you navigate your nervous systems natural processes. When we understand how our nervous systems function, and similarly, how they get stuck, we find the missing pieces that allow us to access versions of ourselves that have been overburdened or offline. Following the rhythm of our internal systems, promotes deep regulation, from which real emotional processing & integration naturally flow. The results are long lasting and life changing.

Book a free consultation

Let’s walk this road together.

Contact

Alissa@VitalPartsPsychotherapy.com

Confidential Phone Number:

1 (720)-871-4517

Boulder, Colorado

Serving the state of Colorado via Telehealth