Courtney Engelstein (she/her)

I help people recognize the ways thoughts, emotions, and body states have been impacted by present day, historic and intergenerational trauma, and what is most getting in their way. I share and explore knowledge and techniques that work for each individual to gain clarity and competency in tolerating distress, modulating moods, helping bodies feel safe, and asking if their thought patterns are helpful. I also work with people to build self-advocacy skills and healthy boundaries.

I work to create a warm, accepting, supportive environment where over time people can begin to feel safe. I utilize Mindfulness, CBT, Sensorimotor and Poly Vagal techniques to gain understanding of how anxiety is showing up in the body, the emotions and thought patterns, and how to gently shift these patterns to become more fulfilling. I understand that gaining insight into nervous system states, employing Mindfulness techniques, and building self-compassion can help release anxiety.

All humans have the need to survive and to connect. As infants, our ability to connect is directly linked to our survival. Through the patterns of our caregivers, we learn a blueprint of how relationships work, and how best to get our emotional and concrete needs met. I work with people to understand these early patterns, how they may shift and change over time and circumstance, how to more directly ask for needs to be met, and how to build internal self-assurance.

Person-centered practice means that I believe what you say, that you have within you the skills and strengths you need to make the changes you desire. Working from a person-centered lens means that I collaborate with you as an active participant to understand what is important for you and why. Being person-centered means I meet every client with unconditional positive regard.

I find Mindfulness to be one of the most helpful perspectives for working with unhelpful thoughts, difficult or distressing emotions, and self compassion. Mindfulness techniques teach us how to be aware of what is happening internally, to pause and ask if this is serving us, and to shift when helpful. Mindfulness techniques can connect us to pleasure, gratitude and appreciation as well as fierce motivation in making choices connected to our values.

I am trained as a Trauma therapist, primarily working with folks with cPTSD. I integrate person-centered therapy and Poly Vagal theory to create a welcoming, non-judgmental space to contain difficult experiences. I use Mindfulness skills to check in on my nervous system to offer safe connection to those I work with. I collaborate to build awareness of emotions, thoughts, and body states impacted by the experience of trauma with tools that work for the individual.