Paola Johnson

Using the words of a mentor, "Witnessing another is one of the most profound acts of kindness and healing possible." My deep belief, rooted in both my practice as a therapist and in my experience healing my own trauma, is that our brains and bodies have the innate ability to heal from trauma when provided with a safe enough space to connect to and experience our internal world. As human beings, we are neurobiologically wired to be in relationships with others. For that reason, I have also learned that a key aspect of trauma recovery involves being in the presence of someone who can create safety and hold space for us to explore our own internal landscapes, somatically experiencing and releasing unprocessed emotions, and the stuck survival response trapped in the body. In therapy, I take a person-centered approach—you’ll get a chance to share all of your feelings and be heard and understood. I consider my approach holistic and integrative, using interventions informed by Polyvagal Theory and different experiential and body-based modalities such as Brainspotting, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT). We will collaborate on what approach will be helpful and when. This collaboration will help us feel on the same page and help you feel more connected to yourself and more clear and confident about the therapy process. If you are open to approaches that are alternative to traditional talk therapy and ‘ready to do the work,’ I’d be honored to hold space for you!