ABOUT ME
Originally English, I lived in England, France and Switzerland before moving to Colorado in my early 20’s. I had completed my arts foundation at Bath and whilst I stayed within the arts when I moved to America, the focus became broader, incorporating other forms of the creative and traditional eastern arts in my B.A. from Naropa University. During my studies I also became more curious and engaged with meditation and yoga (an exploration that had already begun in my early 20s), along with other somatic and embodiment practices I was introduced to through my studies in theatre. These influences pointed me towards studying somatic (body based) psychotherapy at master’s level.
I was introduced to a broad range of modalities that could be found under the somatic ‘umbrella’ within my studies and after an internship in addiction and domestic violence choose to deepen into a specialty and study Biodynamic Cranial Sacral Therapy (BCST) in Colorado with John and Anna Chitty. BCST, with its orientation and focus on health & respect & awe for the innate creative intelligence that underlies and creates our experience felt like a deepening into the presence that I was seeking and wanted to be able to experience and offer to others.
I have continued professional training in various (largely somatic) modalities including eco therapy, trauma informed parts work, polyvagal informed therapy, IFS, Gestalt, Hakomi, Somatic Experiencing, Trauma informed creative arts, Dance movement therapy, attachment theory, and am qualified as an equine facilitated psychotherapist.
Over the years I have expanded my practice – incorporating yoga practice and philosophy (where appropriate), mindfulness and embodiment practices, eco therapy, creative arts & equine assisted psychotherapy. Always deeply connected to and enlivened in my relationships with animals and a devoted nature lover, equine therapy is a joy to facilitate.
Yoga, Equine Facilitated Therapy and Somatic Psychotherapy, Ecotherapy and the Creative Arts; and the philosophies that these systems originate from; form a set of practices that I am very grateful to keep on both practicing, learning from and sharing with others in one to one, group and corporate settings.
On a more personal level, I have a deep love of the ocean, the mountains, campfires, raw vegan cheesecake, stand up comedy, African dance and my bunny Bugs Bunny, who is unaware he is not a dog and will not hear otherwise. My happy place is camping in the Pyrenees.
GRATITUDE TO
Gratitude and thanks for my long-term mentor and teacher John Chitty, now passed. John taught me to honor the intelligence underlying every symptom and to work cooperatively with my own and others’ bodies and minds rather than enforce ‘treatments’. He taught me that ‘the health is never lost’ and that ‘running water clears itself’.
Steffi Bednarek, therapist and mentor who has helped me grow and find my roots, home and heart again.
Colleen DeRango, mentor and supervisor in the field of equine therapy, whose combination of SE and EFT is so beautiful and whose intuitive insight into my client work and support of my strengths and awareness of my limitations has been a huge resource. Deb Dana and Janina Fisher for their training in trauma therapy and supervision on a group and individual level.
Marlow Brooks and Anne Drucker, herbalist and traditional healers who opened up my heart and mind to plants and the elements on a greater level, Thich Nhat Hhan, B K Shavani and Sri Sri Ravi Shankar for the enormous amount of support and spiritual insight they have provided to me and countless others.
All the clients I have worked with who have taught me so much, and my co-therapists and colleagues for their friendship, insight and support; Allison Dutton for being an amazing friend, peer and fellow adventurer in the world of cranial sacral therapy, and many others….including equine co-therapists for the infinite grace and depth they bring. And of course my family, friends, spiritual & recovery community; and the natural world.
WHAT CLIENTS HAVE SAID
Companies:
“Elise was a delight to work with, and she created a professional and relaxing environment to do her healing work with our employees. We receive glowing reviews from the employees who chose to participate, and we have already had requests to host another day with Elise. Via would be thrilled to invite her back in the future, and we would be thrilled to recommend her services to other organisations.”
“I highly recommend Elise’s services. She has a talent in bringing gentle awareness to sensitive topics and treating them with kindness and compassion”
“Extremely sensitive and refined practice that accurately pinpoints schemes, facts… and respectfully touches to one’s heart”
Individuals:
“I found Elise to be sincere, thoughtful and incredibly perceptive during our sessions. I have found her perspectives and ability to listen very valuable to my healing journey”
“I have benefited hugely from my sessions with Elise. She is a very caring and empathetic practitioner, who manages to give you the time and space to fully relax and feel listened to at a very deep level. She gently encourages you to focus on inner listening, and steers you to a state of enhanced self awareness of your own body and feelings, allowing healing to take place. You leave feeling refreshed and restored in a very fundamental way, more at peace with the world and with your self, on a physical emotional and spiritual level”
“Elise creates the most wonderful space…She listens to me with all of her senses and is able to tap into exactly what I need. A true gift that I highly recommend”.
“I came to Elise after I had been experiencing pain and tightness in my neck. As a graduate student, I am one of the many who notice a shift in physical comfort as the result of the long hours of writing and the pressure of maintaining an often packed coursework schedule. Her peaceful, warm demeanour creates an energy of lightness around her and I instantly felt safe and comforted in her presence. She gently guided me in communicating what I was experiencing throughout the session and masterfully altered her movements to attend to my body’s direction. We were like a team, listening to the cues of my body and bringing light attention and pressure to the spots that wanted release. I feel like she helped me to sense, accept and love my body more deeply! My neck pain and back pain diminished considerably, but, more importantly, I slept so deeply that night and awoke with a feeling of softness and ease in my shoulders. I will highly recommend a healing session with Elise to anyone seeking greater emotional and physical balance”.
“I don’t understand what Elise does! but I continue to go back because it absolutely works! Somehow she has an ability to help me tap into a deep healing state that is hard to describe. It helps me feel grounded, alive, peaceful and healthy. I recommend her to friends often”.
“Your perception, sensitivity, and skillful care comes as much from the heart as from very real intelligence and training. This makes for great understanding of your clients and their conditions. Apart from a real benefit felt after a session with you- a feeling of somewhat greater harmony and balance – there is a feeling of social wellbeing too. I find these sessions and my work with you very special”.
You can contact me by phone (+33) 07 57 09 88 69 or e-mail me by clicking here to book an initial consultation.