Rachel Smith

Throughout the ages, humans have to come together to tend the losses, heal the wounds, and celebrate the victories in community with one another. This kind of connection and interrelatedness was not a luxury. It was (and is!) necessary for survival. These days, this kind of connection is harder to access than at any other time in human memory. We have forgotten how to love and trust ourselves and other people! We have lost the power that comes from holding our interconnectedness sacred, and tending to one another with deep care and authenticity. Let’s reclaim it! I have been in the field for over 25 years specializing in the intersection of Relational Trauma (childhood trauma/ complex PTSD), Eating Disorders, and Anxiety. The path of healing is powerful to witness: life-changing and transformative. What I have noticed overt the years is that as people achieved certain milestones in their individual therapy, learning how to connect and develop intimacy with others became a top priority. I have developed a keen interest in the question, “How do we build community?” We all need it, and nobody seems to know how to get it! So I began experimenting, and over time, in community with lots of folks, developed a pathway for psychological, social, and spiritual transformation. What does this look like? Most of my clients begin in individual therapy. When there is wounding from the people that are supposed to love us, we have to first connect with and learn to love ourselves. As people build this capacity, I invite them to join a community in which they can learn how to connect with others, how to build community, and how to practice this in the rest of their lives. It is still shocking to me what happens when people experience a sense of belonging. It is the healing elixir we all need right now - in our intimate relationships and in the larger society. We can get through anything when we know we belong, and that is a huge part of this offering. I think “getting through,” however, is the tip of the iceberg of what community can do for us. Together we can create culture and be a critical part of transforming society from the ground up. You matter more than you think. If you know how to really be present with others, you will become the change you hope to see. Belonging matters more than you think! There is a deep, transformative power in good counseling, but it is supercharged when we are willing to be seen and heard in community. Real belonging happens with other people in the room.  I would love to leverage the power of community with you! Take a look around my website and give me a call! The world needs you, and the time is now. With love, Rachel