Licensed Psychologist
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I approach therapy as a deeply relational and experiential process.
Healing does not happen through insight alone, nor does it unfold in isolation. It happens through attuned connection, embodied awareness, and meaningful action taken over time. In our work together, I pay close attention to your lived experience—your thoughts and emotions, your relationships, and the subtle ways your body holds stress, memory, and meaning.
My Story
I have long been interested in the intersections between psychology, physiology, and spirituality. I began working in the wellness field in 2005 as a certified fitness trainer in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where I first came to understand how profoundly our physical, emotional, mental, and energetic lives shape our health and well-being. From the very beginning, it was clear to me that no single dimension of the self can be separated from the others if we are to heal and truly thrive.
Since those early years, I have intentionally sought training and mentorship that would allow me to work with people in a genuinely holistic way. I studied with leaders across disciplines—fitness, holistic healing, and psychology—gradually weaving together a broad and integrated set of skills. Alongside my professional training, my own health challenges became powerful teachers. Experiencing healing from the inside taught me how much patience, compassion, and ongoing care the process can require. I know firsthand that healing does not emerge in isolation, but through supportive relationships, true presence, and the ongoing practice of listening to what our minds and bodies need in each season of life.
My decision to earn a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology grew out of a commitment to serve clients with the highest level of skill, integrity, and insight, and from a deep passion for lifelong learning. In my formal education, I was fortunate to be mentored by thoughtful, compassionate, and accomplished psychologists whose work continues to shape the field. My research has focused on counselor development, specifically exploring how counselors-in-training cultivate and apply mindfulness in both their professional and personal lives. In addition to my clinical work, I am honored to teach and supervise future mental health professionals as a full-time faculty member at the graduate level. Teaching and mentoring allows me to stay deeply engaged with emerging research, clinical innovation, and reflective practice, all of which enrich my work with clients.
Education and Training
Northern Arizona University
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Combined Counseling and School Psychology
With Distinction
Southern Arizona Psychology Internship Consortium (SAPIC)
Pre-Doctoral Internship in Health Service Psychology
Primary rotation: Strategic Alternative Learning Technology (SALT) Center, University of Arizona
University of Arizona
Bachelor of Science in Psychology
Magna Cum Laude with Honors
Specialized Training
EMDR International Association (EMDRIA)
EMDR Basic Training I & II
Somatic Experiencing International (SEI)
Somatic Experiencing Beginning and Intermediate Levels
Michael Yapko, Ph.D.
Comprehensive Training in Clinical Hypnosis and Strategic Psychotherapy