Hi there!
I’m Miranda.
I’m a somatic therapist because it helped me so much with my own symptoms.
Before I found my somatic therapist, I had no idea why I struggled like I did. I blamed myself, saying I was “crazy” or “weak” or “a space cadet” . . . and some less kind things. Over time I found words for it. . . PTSD. . . chronic pain. . . unpredictable brain function . . .dissociation. . . and just knowing what to call it helped a lot!
Over the years I’ve had multiple physical symptoms that later I understood to be signs of emotional distress. I quit 3 jobs in a row, thinking they were causing my pain. I tried doctors, chiropractors, acupuncture, massage, yoga, medication, and my favorite: just pushing through the pain and yelling at myself from the inside.
When I finally tried somatic counseling I was able to put the PTSD into remission and begin the long journey of listening to my body and understanding what my pain is REALLY about.
I stopped trying to do it all myself. I began to see myself more as a mammal with reasonable mammal needs–giving myself the same compassion as I gave to my dog. Over time, my symptoms got more manageable. Eventually I began to consciously build a life that suited me instead of continually putting myself into situations that were wearing me out.
About 10 years ago I learned I was ADHD, and finally in 2023 I learned that I’m Autistic and have Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder too! Unfortunately, I learned I was Autistic after suffering a pretty severe Autistic Burnout, where my capacity cratered and I lost real skills, like being able to process visual data. It was scary because I couldn’t read and I couldn’t drive and had to come to terms with my new limits and support needs. This experience put ALL the stuff I wrote above in a new perspective! The new information I have about hypermobility helps me understand a lot of the chronic pain that I experience as well. And it turns out that many of my clients are neurodivergent and hypermobile too. . . are you?
These days I’m usually able to see how situations and relationships impact my symptoms, and correct my course as needed to be healthy and well. I’d love to help you get there too!
Me In A Nutshell:
- BA in Women’s Studies from Yale University
- Master’s in Counseling from St. Edward’s University
- Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Texas
- Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) in Vermont
- Somatic Experiencing training (3 years)
- 20 years of waiting tables and bartending in Austin and Minneapolis
- Five years in a lesbian relationship, half the time closeted half the time out
- Kundalini Yoga teacher training at Yoga Yoga
- A challenging marriage and a painful divorce
- 4 seasons of banked-track Roller Derby
- 15 years and counting in my second marriage
- A sister, two parents, no children
- An abundance of extended family and in-laws
- And the most beautiful dogs in the world.
