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DEPTH THERAPY

for individuals & couples

Kansas

in the words of sigmund freud:

“How bold one gets when one is sure of being loved.”

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Yet so many of us carry wounds that deprive us of that certainty. In an effort to protect ourselves, our unconscious creates defenses to prevent us from getting hurt in ways similar to our past. However, these creative efforts can ironically prevent us from being seen and loved as we truly are. 

For many women and marginalized folk, over-functioning is a primary defense mechanism. We become the supermom, the perfect partner, the tireless colleague, pushing down our needs to earn our place in this world.

But you are so much more than meets the eye. I am here to see you, know you, and gently guide you into the unknown places within. Together, we will process your unfelt emotions, reclaim your unspoken desires, and with time and tenderness, recover your truest most alive self.

“Keep some room in your Heart for
the Unimaginable.”

mary oliver

depth therapy goes beyond the surface to explore…

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YOUR Unconscious

The unconscious is a shadowed realm beneath the surface of the mind, where forgotten memories, unspoken desires, and buried fears quietly live. Like the hidden mass of an iceberg, it shapes the course of our lives from below, steering thoughts, dreams, and impulses in ways we seldom notice. It is both a vault of what we cannot face and a depth of imagination, haunting and guiding us in equal measure.

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YOUR Past

As difficult as it may be to face, the truth is our past is alive in the present. For better and for worse we constantly find sneaky ways to replay patterns from the past. Neuroscience, attachment theory, epigenetics, and a well of research shows our views of self and ways we relate to the world are all a construct of our past. For this reason exploring the past is a crucial part of this process. Identifying the ways in which our past is alive in the present is the beginning of untangling from the ways we feel stuck. 

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YOUR Imagination

Our imagination consists of many things, including fantasies. A fantasy is a symbolic mental narrative in which unconscious desires, often rooted in childhood experiences, are played out in disguised form. Fantasies include our wishes, dreams, fears, and desires. Fantasies are neither good nor bad, they just are. Yet, they are rich in meaning that can take us to the root of something important inside of you. Fantasies can also hold our projections about others and the world. 

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YOUR Dreams

Dreams speak the language of the soul—revealing truths we hide even from ourselves. In their strange symbols and shifting scenes, they carry the whispers of our deepest fears, longings, and unresolved pain. By gently unfolding them, we begin to understand what our unconscious is trying to say, turning mystery into meaning and helping the hidden parts of us come into the light.

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YOUR Defenses

From early on we unconsciously create defenses in an effort to protect us from both real & perceived threats. Defenses can be important for our mental health. They manage our emotional pain and design our perceptions of ourselves and the world around us. Their protective function, however, can also limit our ability to examine and live our lives to the fullest. This process can help untangle you from defensive patterns that no longer serve you in a meaningful way.

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OUR Relationship

Relationships are the catalyst for both pain and healing, which is why creating a safe and secure relationship is so important. The bond between therapist and client becomes a mirror of past connections, where old patterns are re-lived and, through new understanding, reshaped. It is here, in this shared space, that healing begins and new ways of relating unfold.  

  • "Jewel has helped me create the life I have dreamed of living." 

    “ I have been a client of Jewel's for nearly 2 years, and am beyond appreciative of our relationship and her guidance through my mental health challenges. She has been there every step of the way as I explore my thoughts, feelings and behaviors coping with past trauma and grief. She keeps me focused to explore deeper in session and gives me tools to discuss and understand myself and experiences on a deeper level. Jewel has helped me create more of the life I have dreamed of living.”

  • "Quite literally life-changing for me and my relationships."

    “Before I met Jewel, I dealt with anxiety, depression, and feeling ‘stuck’ with my family of origin and marriage. I was deeply attached to my emotions, and highly sensitive to triggering situations. Jewel has helped me untangle and understand these complex emotions. She has assisted me in processing trauma, making my daily life feel much lighter and more manageable. She empathetically holds space for my pain and assists me in processing it. I couldn't be more grateful for all she has done for me!”

  • “Jewel helped me advocate for myself and find my own voice.”

    “I was feeling anxiousness about aging, starting a new phase of life, and relationship struggles.  My sleep was disrupted, and I felt depressed a lot of the time. Jewel provided a safe space for me to share and tell my stories, worries and concerns. She listens with compassion and no judgement.  She reflects, and then offers empathy and feedback that helps me to see things in new ways.  I had several ‘Aha’ moments during our sessions. She’s exactly what I hoped to find in a counselor.”

  • " I was able to heal the past, and participate more fully in my life."

    “Jewel’s consistent weekly sessions really created a shift for me. She always provided a safe space to explore and a soft place to land when dealing with painful situations. She has such a warm and full presence, and I appreciated the way humor and laughter emerged through our work together.  I was able to heal and integrate past experiences to allow for more full participation in my own life and relationships. This was truly a meaningful investment that improved my quality of life in many ways.”

  • “Working with Jewel has truly changed my life."

    “I came to her office filled with anxiety after experiencing religious trauma. She made me feel safe, and I felt comfortable sharing what I was thinking and feeling without fear of judgement. She was very patient and gently guided me as I made sense of my emotions. It has been over a year since I was an active client, but I often think back to my sessions with gratitude for the healing I experienced, my relationship with Jewel, and for the tools that I still use as I continue to grow.”

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About Jewel

Things are rarely as they seem, and that’s what excites me.

It’s why I got a BA in Art Education and an MA in Counseling. Because like art, people have depth and dimension beyond what meets the eye. Within us lie dark shadows and long-lost treasures that mold and shape how we live our lives. Though facing what haunts us can be terrifying, it is often there—in the depths—that we uncover what sets us free. While there is a lot we cannot control, I believe we all have the power to create. 

I know what it’s like to feel stuck and alone. I know what it’s like to grieve my past and reconnect with my longings. I am not perfect, and I never will be. Yet, I know what’s possible when you take the risk and dive into the unknown to do this work. Depth Therapy has changed my life, and over the last decade, I’ve had the privilege of supporting many others’ change their lives too.

I cannot promise you a pain-free life, but I can promise to be with you in the depths of it all, helping you mourn what you did not have, and find the courage to live as your truest, most free Self.

FAQ

  • Depth Therapy is a Psychodynamic Therapy that relies on attachment theory, processing emotion, and exploring the unconscious. It goes beyond behavior to understand how our past is impacting our present, and untangle deeply rooted patterns that are keeping us stuck. Through deep, consistent work, it creates deep and consistent change.

  • My hope for you is that you will be able to bring your whole self to therapy, which includes all of your thoughts and feelings. We will explore how your past is alive in the present and identify defenses that have attempted to keep you safe, yet are no longer serving you. It is not my job to tell you how to live or what choices to make. Rather, I will bear witness to your deepest pains and help guide you to where you want to be. In addition to talk therapy I also integrate mindfulness and body based techniques to help slow the body down to the here and now.

    Our first session will be a time for you to share why you have sought therapy and for you to ask any questions you may have about the therapy process. Then, we will take the next three to four sessions assessing whether I am a good fit therapist for you. From there, the art of therapy starts to unfold in a nonlinear process. My hope is for therapy to become your weekly ritual that feels like a gift just for you. It will become the placeholder in your life to be held, seen, and accepted exactly as you are.

  • Individual sessions are 50 minutes at $180 a session.
    Couples’ sessions are 50 minutes at $200 a session.

  • We live in an age where fast food and 2-day shipping means we expect everything to happen quickly. But change, real deep change, does not happen this way. The therapeutic process requires slowing down, consistency, and commitment. Research shows that depth therapies, such as psychodynamic treatment, have greater change upon ending treatment than short term behavior based therapies. Research also indicates continued growth upon followup months after treatment.

    Because therapy is unique to each person I cannot prescribe a specific time-frame. This process is dependent upon your goals and ultimately how free you feel. For some, this may look like 6 months to a year or more, while others like to have therapy as an ongoing process in their lives.

  • Consistency is a crucial part of depth therapy’s efficacy - it allows us to gain traction and explore what’s under the surface. I have found that anything less than weekly sessions is simply “catching up,” yielding less beneficial results. This is why I meet all my clients on a weekly basis.