Annie Vail, MA, LPC, CHT
Holistic
My approach to therapy is fundamentally holistic. I not only see you in your wholeness and wisdom, but I also embrace your complete self in our work together, including your body, heart, mind, socio-cultural, and spiritual aspects. I empower you to develop the skills to engage with these dimensions, using them as resources for transformative change.
Mindfulness
My sessions emphasize active mindfulness, a mental state where you focus on present moment experience, tracking your emotions, thoughts, and bodily sensations. Mindfulness helps clients cultivate a greater sense of awareness and understanding of their inner world, as well as developing strategies for managing mental and emotional challenges. I will support your development of mindfulness skills in service of our work together.
Somatic
Soma=of the body. Rooted in the brain-body connection through the nervous system, somatic therapy posits that the body holds memories, emotions, and unconscious impulses from past experiences. In sessions, we will use mindfulness to access your body's wisdom, serving as a gateway to more core levels of consciousness. My approach to somatic therapy is highly experiential, in addition to using the body as a source of resource and support.
Hakomi
The Hakomi Method is a pioneer in the field of somatic therapy. Grounded in mindfulness and holistic principles, it also embraces non-violence, unity, organicity, and change. This distinctly experiential therapy unfolds through present moment experiences, guiding clients toward unconscious core material and related neural patterns. In a loving, gentle, and safe container, I assist clients into a place of self study, exploration, release and transformation. Hakomi is the primary modality I use with clients.
Gestalt & IFS
My training in Gestalt was based within a strong Internal Family Systems (IFS) lens. These modalities see humans through a system of wounded and protective parts lead by a core Self. I will work with you to help identify and accept the your different "parts," heal wounded parts, while strengthening the core Self. This can help shift areas you struggle and lead to greater self awareness, empowerment, and personal growth. Click here to find out more about Gestalt and click here to find out more about IFS.
PACT Couple Therapy
PACT Couple Therapy is founded on the latest findings in developmental neuroscience, attachment theory, and arousal regulation. Through this therapeutic approach, I focus on helping couples build secure attachment and greater connection, which can lead to long-lasting changes in your relationship and overall well-being. Click here to find out more about PACT
Attachment
As humans, we have a biological need to bond with each other. Experiences with early relationships and caregivers create a blueprint that informs the sense of safety and security you bring to adult relationships. My approach to attachment wounding is grounded in an attuned therapeutic connection through limbic-resonance, meaning you can feel me in connection with you. This direct relationship is focused on exploring deep, unconscious bonding templates and their behavior consequences to heal earlier attachment wounds. Together, we support you to create healthier, more skillful ways to navigate life and relationships.
Relationally
Working relationally means that my therapeutic relationship with you, person to person, is foundational to our work. Providing you with an attuned, empathetic, and positive relationship allows us to attend to and heal attachment wounds and trauma from your past. Our therapeutic relationship may also serve as a place to study relationship patterns in your life.
Recreation-of-the-Self
Re-Creation of the Self Model (R-CS) asserts our innate wholeness as ever present, though we often create a "committee" of limiting trance states to navigate life’s challanges. Using R-CS, I help you recognize and disidentify immediately from these perceived limiting selves, and to support your re-immersion to your innate wholeness. R-CS does not focus on the content or historical origins of these states, but instead invites people to choose to shift right now into their already present, more expansive, preferred way of being. This is true transpersonal modality, directly connecting you with your resourceful, organic Self.
Systemically
Who we are as individuals is significantly influenced by society, culture, and sociopolitical forces, in addition to our families of origin. These forces are embedded with systemic oppression and power structures that can be the source of one's identity, but also of trauma or limiting belief systems. I am committed to holding a systemic lens for all clients, especially those with marginalized identities. Throughout my adult life, I have prioritized ongoing education and awareness about privilege, power dynamics, and oppression. I welcome these considerations and inquiries in my office
Trauma
I provide a trauma-informed approach, addressing traumatic events and their associated memories, thoughts, and emotions that can become "stuck" within our bodies. I focus on managing trauma activation during counseling sessions, offering tools to recognize and manage triggered trauma responses. Additionally, I utilize trauma release methods to integrate trauma within the body.
NVC & MCD
Mindfulness Compassionate Dialogue (MCD) and Non-Violent Communication (NVC) are both consciousness practices and communication tools. They offer an alternative to conventional communication methods when facing challenges, be it with intimate partners or colleagues. By employing mindfulness and deep listening to our own needs and those of others, I encourage heart-centered connection, avoiding correction, judgment, analysis, and demands. The focus remains on staying present with ourselves and others, guided by compassion, acceptance, and individuation. This approach underpins my work with couples, but shows up with individual clients as well. Click here to find out more about MCD. Click here to find out more about NVC.
Authentic Relating
Embracing mindfulness within relationships and fostering the ability to communicate with honesty and vulnerability form the core of authentic relating practices. Cultivating these skills enhances relationships, deepens connections, boosts intimacy, nurtures emotional intelligence, aligns you with shared humanity, uncovers "blind spots," and facilitates actions aligned with your vision. I integrate authentic relating practices into individual and couples counseling. My primary influence in authentic relating comes from a practice called Solsara, but I also draw from Circling, another form of authentic relating.