Kathy Ekren

I am a licensed marriage & family therapist and certified brainspotting therapist specializing in helping adults heal from trauma, both recent and developmental. I received a Master's degree in community counseling from Gonzaga University in 2009. Before becoming a psychotherapist I worked as a court reporter for over twenty years and then as a stocks and futures trader. I became licensed as a California LMFT in 2016. With eight years of experience as a psychotherapist, I have helped many people overcome challenges and lead happier lives. I believe that the client is the expert on their life and that the wisdom you seek lies within you. I feel honored to accompany you on your healing journey.

Brainspotting is my primary treatment modality. When a person becomes overwhelmed by event(s) that exceed their capacity to cope, the brain compartmentalizes/cuts off/dissociates from the event to maximize survival potential. With brainspotting, we are able to identify within the system where/how the system was challenged. Brainspotting helps the system recognize that the survival strategies activated by the perceived dangers from the trauma are not necessary in the same way that they were during the traumatic event(s). In a brainspotting process, the system integrates deep psychic lessons and makes connections and begins to respond more flexibly in the present, bringing the wisdom gained forward, allowing for a more confident, expansive way of being. Brainspotting provides deeper access to wounded parts and deeper healing than talk therapy alone.

A session with me can be characterized as a catalyst for growth and change. New neuronal connections are made during a brainspotting process. The world begins to look different in a progressive, subtle way, and you will begin to notice and experience the resultant changes as you navigate your world between sessions. Only in living can the full impact of brainspotting be appreciated.