Brenda Aufderhar

Working as a nurse in the ICU, oncology, medical and surgical floors for 10 years gave me a strong anatomy focus. Becoming diplomat certified in Craniosacral therapy (CST) through the Upledger Institute gave me the skills to gently palpate the housing of the nervous system and body. Instead of telling the tissue how to be, this light respectful touch listens while also offering the body options on how to move. I use this quality of listening touch when working with bodies that hold depression, anxiety, and trauma of different kinds. This inclusive, hands on way to welcome the body, enhances the client's ability to be more calmly present to their own body's intricate story in the layered tissues. 

I am certified in Hakomi Mindful Somatic Psychotherapy that helps me finetune my ability to create safety, track client-therapist attunement and use experiments to bring more awareness to the client. I am also certified in Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS) developed by Dr. Richard Schwartz. After 20 years of using IFS therapy, it has become an art form that offers a structure or map, bringing clarity of direction, when applying grace for deep healing and support for the client's Self-leadership. 

As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker using IFS therapy and being a registered nurse using craniosacral therapy, I love assisting the integration of both the body and mind in support of wholistic healing. Observing the life changing impact of CST and IFS has fueled my passion and conviction to include the body in various ways with talk therapy as well as include IFS therapy with body work and to teach others how to do the same.