About Katie
I've always been fascinated by the deeper, existential questions in life: "Why are we all here?" "What is our purpose?" "What is my contribution going to be?" "How can I most be of service?" "Am I creative?" "Am I a Healer?" "How do I know if I'm being authentic?" "Is there such a thing as an authentic self?" And my favorite: "There's more to life than this, right?" Right?
As a little kid, I loved making artsy, crafty things with paint and glitter and pipe cleaners - whatever I could find.
I loved listening to vinyl records for hours on my plastic blue turntable, trying to decipher the mysteries behind the lyrics. I loved to sing and put on silly plays.
I grew up, however, in a culture that valued intellect, education, and professional
work (which are certainly valuable pursuits) way above anything "creative".
Art was for kids, unless you were planning on going to Julliard or a prestigious
art school that could “guarantee” you a successful future.
The message was clear: You must give up your silly creative notions, and pursue
a corporate career.* Needless to say, by the end of high school, my long bout
with self-criticism and second-guessing my own creativity was firmly in place.
But I still had those questions...
Both the questioning and cultural pressures led me to graduate magna cum laude with
degrees in Philosophy & Sociology in the 1990's, but the questions - and the longing for the flow of creativity that felt like authentic self - still remained unanswered and unfulfilled.
After graduation, I drove from Pennsylvania to San Francisco. Once there, I dabbled in a couple "normal" jobs and finally landed a position as an Adventure Travel tour bus guide and driver all over the U.S., Mexico, and Guatemala.
In my time between tours, I started taking guitar and voice lessons. I took jewelry-making lessons and drawing classes...
Then I hit that fifty-thousand-foot wall of fear, resistance, and self-doubt that had been there for years.
My background includes anxiety, depression, and addiction, and those issues obviously had not been resolved or healed. So, I tried Gestalt therapy, traditional talk therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, EMDR, Tapping, etc. These modalities helped some, but only some.
I then began a long and winding journey of self-exploration and inner work, and
eventually began creating a newer version of that magical world of creativity and
self-expression I loved as when I was young.
I began training in meditation and energy work techniques in 1994. I earned an
Associate Minister certification after completing the 2-year Clairvoyant Program
at the Church of Divine Man, then located in Berkeley, CA. I learned about
the chakras and hands-on healing work like Reiki. I took classes in learning
to ground my body and stay centered. I have done Soul Collage, shamanic work,
journaling, and gone on more retreats than I can list.
Then a friend introduced me to Internal Family Systems, and it was like everything - all the studying, the therapy, the meditation, the shamanic work - they all came together, and I finally learned how to access what IFS calls the SELF.
In accessing (my) SELF, I fully saw where so much of my struggles - with my own creativity and
self-expression, my anxiety and depression, my food addictions - came from.
I earned a certificate in parts work techniques from Everett Considine, a Level 3
IFS Practitioner, and continue to train in this modality.
Most importantly, however, I gained the techniques to GO INWARD, build
compassionate relationships with the different parts of my psyche, and allow
those parts to transform and heal - almost by themselves.
After all of my questioning and searching,
how could I not share these techniques with others?
How could I not share what it feels like to experience the bliss and
freedom of pure creative expression?
I now write my own songs, sing, play guitar, and have recorded
harmony vocals and guitar on numerous CDs. I make silver and
stone jewelry**, mosaics, and enjoy
many creative outlets that cross my path.
I know that each one of us is born whole and complete and has an
intact SELF inside themselves. I thrive in leading you to find your own answers
that are already there, waiting for you to discover them. My passion
is to help you unlock your potential and overcome creative obstacles.
My work provides a safe framework so that you can venture forth and
create the life you are called to lead.
I use what I have learned over many decades, focusing especially on Parts Work, to guide my clients towards their own answers. The transformations that come from doing Parts Work are nothing short of astounding. All I want for my clients is that they are exploring their creative natures and living the creative lives they feel called to live. I can think of no more rewarding work to be doing...other than honing those darned lyrics.
*Corporate careers are fine for some - they were just never going to be a fit for me.
**If you're interested in seeing my jewelry, please visit www.indigokatedesigns.com.
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