Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapists in Essex, VT

One of the best things my dad ever said to me was: Unless you believe in reincarnation, it’s time to be happy now. (Personally, I think this applies even if you do believe in reincarnation.) How to make the most of our time, our relationships, and ourselves - for me, these are the key questions that led me to become a marriage and family therapist. Along with traditional talk therapy, I use EMDR (if desired), as well as IFS, to help you work through present challenges and past difficult experiences so that you can live more freely in the here and now - unencumbered by old self-defeating beliefs and fears.

I believe that women deserve skilled, expert guidance at every phase of their journey, not just when something is "wrong". I teach powerful skills to deepen your inner relationship through a leading-edge approach called Internal Family Systems (IFS) paired with the Expressive Arts & Sacred Feminine Spirituality. In our time together, I'll help you stop self-abandoning, re-establish inner trust and build the life and/or businesses you love on a foundation of Sacred Self-leadership.

As a woman of color and an ally to the LGBTQIA community and sex workers, I pride myself on providing a welcoming, safe space where I listen to clients with compassion and non-judgment while challenging them to move forward. I specialize in trauma therapy with adult-aged individuals who are facing the desire to improve the quality of their lives.

Many of us have internal critical voices telling us: "Get it right! Achieve more! Work harder! That was stupid! Lose weight! Quit drinking so much! Stop being selfish! Stop caring about what others think!" You are familiar with the tapes that run in your head and keep you ruminating about your mistakes or worrying about the future. In Internal Family Systems (IFS) individual therapy & Intimacy from the Inside Out (IFIO) couple therapy, we recognize these messages as different aspects of our personality, or “parts” of us, who perhaps lead us to experiences of feeling anxious, depressed, or behaving harmfully to ourselves and others.

Helping and guiding those who have experienced trauma, including the trauma of being in narcissistic or other toxic and antagonoistic relationships, is my focus and specialty as a therpaist. My training, skills, and tools are honed to help people heal from these experiences. With the use of Internal Family Systems (IFS), Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), extensive training to treat all levels of dissociation (including DID), and regulating the nervous system to a more calm state, I can help my clients to manage the day to day much more effectively and start to live with more peace in their bodies and their lives.

Currently accepting waitlist requests for October. As a licensed professional, I help clients navigate intense emotions and complex relationships within themselves and with others, supporting healing and transformation. My training in IFS, EMDR, ART, DDP, ACT, and EFT/EFIT equips me to offer unconditional positive regard, acceptance, and a safe environment for deep and transformative work.

If you have made it this far, I commend you for your courage. Seeking support is a huge step! The longer I’ve lived, the more I’ve understood that life brings both joy and pain, success and failure, beginnings and endings, and this duality can often bring dissonance within us, as we work to make meaning of it all. Healing and wellness are deeply personal to everyone’s journey, and I aim to honor your diverse life experiences through this work. On this journey, we’ll create an environment where you can be free to explore who you are, your needs, your values, and the priorities for your life in a safe space.

Betsy is trained in Internal Family Systems Therapy, and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Somatic therapies. She enjoys helping clients reduce physical and emotional stress, release old burdens, guilt and shame, improve self-esteem and vitality, and heal from old trauma. She finds these therapies to be transformative, healing, and life changing. With more than thirty years' experience practicing psychotherapy, Betsy holds a master's degree in counseling psychology, Keene, NH and a bachelor's degree in Transpersonal Psychology, Burlington College, Vermont.

My practice is rooted in compassion, curiosity, and self-discovery. My goal is to provide a safe container for you to bring all parts of yourself forward, explore what is blocking you from your joy, connect with your inner wisdom, & strengthen your ability to create loving connections with both yourself and others. I enjoy working with folks interested in delving deeper within themselves with curiosity and openness. Together, we'll identify different parts of your self and the stories they hold, creating space to rewrite your narratives from a place of empowerment and work towards meaningful change.

I work from a place of respect and compassion, in a down-to-earth and holistic way, with each person I see to build trust and a sense of partnership. I can help you navigate life transitions, stress, anxiety and depression, and relationships. My specialty is in working with individuals who have experienced trauma that has caused ongoing distress. This could be recent or long in the past. With support, you can heal and grow no matter what you have been through. I provide space to help you learn about and explore the world that lives within you. I support you in building skills that build your insight and access your internal wisdom.

I believe in creating a kind, supportive space where people are welcomed as their whole selves and given opportunities to grow. Everyone has the inherent capacity to heal and I will walk beside you as you deepen your relationship with yourself, build self-compassion, and develop lasting change. I have a warm and supportive style while also encouraging deeper work and self-inquiry. In our work together, you can expect to connect with your intuitive wisdom, practice embodiment, and find groundedness.

I am licensed in Connecticut and Vermont. I am an EMDRIA certified therapist, approved consultant and EMDR trainer. I use a warm and supportive, yet semi-structured and intentional approach for both in-person and telehealth sessions. I do both short-term (EMDR Intensives) and more comprehensive (long-term) therapy. I can work with you to construct a plan to overcome life's challenges and help move you to a more desired outcome. I use systems theory (how we interact with the world and ourselves) and EMDR therapy (helping brains naturally rewire in a more adaptive way), in combination with IFS and various other approaches.

Are you or your child finding it difficult to manage life changes, cope with stress, face depression, tackle anxiety, address trauma, or combat addiction? Do these issues profoundly affect your relationships, career, and daily life? Rest assured, I'm committed to providing support and guiding you toward realizing the love and happiness you deserve.