does this sound familiar?
old patterned stories
You feel guilt for pursuing your own wellness; you feel pressure to perform under expectations and judgments as imposed by your parents/family, your culture’s standards and your peers.
imposter syndrome
You have achieved success but you don't believe you deserve it.
inconsistency
You create wonderful ideas and goals, but you hesitate implementing them.
feeling unseen and alone
Following your unique path can feel lonely and unsupported. You may not know
how to ask for help.
self sabotage
You do not prioritize self-care and self compassion; you may stay in an oppressive job or relationship.
unhealthy relationships
Due to past attachments and co-dependent relationships, you continue to initiate and stay in relationships with 'partners' who keep you playing small.
lacking confidence
Your low level of self compassion prevents you from asking for support, and
activating the healing you need to find your voice and share your story.
I see you, and i hear you.
ENTER
In case we haven’t run into each other on a windswept San Francisco Beach or gnoshing at Oakland’s Mac + Cheese shop Homeroom , my name is Kimberly, but I invite you to call me KJ. I’m a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (which means I study and counsel on relationships), a [no longer undercover] musician, and a writer/collector of stories. I also am a Psychological First Aid Responder with extensive experience providing mental health
support to families impacted by disasters, both natural and man-made.
Growing up, I was always aware that my unique background drew unwanted attention to me which caused me to feel self conscious, adrift and without a tribe. I am a biracial, female, transracial adoptee raised by a single mother in a fairly homogenous city- which is a fancy way of saying I didn’t look like anyone else in my neighborhood including my own family.
I became attuned to others who also felt like they were outsiders, unwelcome because of differences or challenges. I led a life where I downplayed my appearance, muted my voice, not speaking up to share my ideas aloud with teachers or peers, even sometimes avoiding social gatherings. This hiding caused bouts of depression and anxiety as well as self shaming, especially in my late high school years.
Solace and sanctuary showed up in forms of creative practice like playing piano, creating song lyrics and poetry, dance and movement, authoring short stories and art journaling. I also discovered the power of active listening and the bond that grew in having honest and kind conversations with others.
I'M KJ
hello,
As I began sharing the lessons I learned with other women who suffered from feelings of shame, I created methods for shifting embarrassment about my differences into celebrations of strength. The discovery of resilience is rooted in deep compassion, which comes from active listening to the stories we have internalized and applied to ourselves and others. As the women I worked with began noticing results, their friends and family members began to request my advice on accessing their own inner resources.
Over the past couple of years, I began to feel a deeper calling – to help those in the health service and education industries who focus all their energy into healing others. I teach these healers how to replenish their inner resilience stories so that they can continue healing their communities on the front lines.
Masters of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy
Bachelors of Science in Health and Human Services, Counseling Psychology
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist since 2007
Certified Disaster MH Responder
Red Cross Approved Instructor - Foundations of Disaster Mental Health Psychological First Aid
professional qualifications
Imagine if you could...
01
Rewrite new patterns and stories
You actively, freely build your own healing regime (body, mind, spiritual practices) into your daily routine. You understand and accept that you can actively choose to write and enact new narratives in your life, that your family’s storylines are not your storylines.
02
Show your unique gifts
Build your goals and dreams in your professional and personal life. You accept that your unique experience, your background and your cultivated skills
and talents compose your ability to serve your clients and communities effectively.
03
Feel Seen/Heard/Supported
You accept the support available to you, to achieve success- in friends, colleagues, a team, spirituality, like minded community, counselors with your goals.
04
Cultivate loving, positive relationships
You verbalize your boundaries by saying yes or no instead of overwhelming yourself in attempts to please others. You can identify and accept the qualities of a positive relationship: kind, collaborative conversations and interactions, feeling safe, valued and worthy of loving bonds with partners, friends, parents, children, colleagues.
05
Exude confidence, self compassion, increased energy
You feel unlimited, kinder, more assured to ask for what you want, as you accept and understand you are worthy of love, support and success. Your productivity at work increases, and you speak up to ask for the tools you need to thrive. You speak about your story of resilience proudly. You accept the help from your friends, family and communities. You engage in the activities that bring you health and joy.
IMAGINE IF YOU COULD...
Rewrite new patterns and stories
01
Display tangible skills, knowledge and abilities
You actively, freely builds your own healing regime (body, mind, spiritual practices) into your daily routine. You understand and accept that you can actively choose to write and enact new narratives in your life, that your family’s storylines are not your storylines.
02
Build your goals and dreams in your professional and personal life. You accept that your unique experience, your background, environment, cultivated skills and talents compose your ability to serve your clients and communities effectively.
Feel aligned and supported
03
Cultivate healthy, positive relationships
You accept the support available to you to achieve success--in friends, colleagues, in spirituality, a like-minded community, your wellness team-- with your goals.
04
You verbalize your boundaries by saying yes or no instead of overwhelming yourself in attempts to please others. You can identify and accept the qualities of a positive relationship: kind, collaborative conversations and interactions, feeling safe, valued and worthy of loving bonds with partners, friends, parents, children, and colleagues.
Feel Seen and Heard
05
You feel unlimited, kinder, more assured to ask for what you want, as you accept and understand you are worthy of love, support and success. Your productivity at work increases, and you speak up to ask for the tools you need to thrive. You share your story of resilience proudly. You accept the help from your friends, family and communities. You engage in the activities that bring you health and joy.
- Uncover, repair and express your Resilience Story through cognitive behavioral, narrative and expressive arts therapy techniques
- Identifying Resilience/Coping practices
- Trauma Recovery
- Reframe Method With Language and Art
- Question, revise, reframe childhood behavioral patterns and shame narratives
- Implement daily practices to release toxic self-sabotage and train your mind to eliminate negative blocks
SERVICES OFFERED
Psychotherapy + Coaching Session
INVESTMENT: $95 for 35min, or $155 for 60min
- Four (4) 60-minute sessions through confidential Telehealth platform Simple Practice
- Customize a sustainable success plan for daily practices to increase mental health wellness and recovery
- Discover how to listen to your inner voice to encourage more happiness in your daily life
- Create new scripts for compassionate communication
- KJ's availability through Voxer and Email
Psychotherapy Coaching Package
INVESTMENT: $550
- Live meetings (Telehealth or Zoom) with me and small group for two, one hour sessions each week
- Join and connect to a community of like-minded healers for accountability and encouragement
- Implement daily practices to release toxic self-sabotage and reframe shaming self-messaging
- Weekly discussions on self compassion and trauma healing including:
- Overcoming Shame (Self Worth and "Should" Patterns)
- Recovery and Revising Your Story
- Connecting to Your Calm (Anxiety Management)
- Self Compassion and Self Care
- Resilience and Revelation
- Demonstrations and experiential exercises in-session including:
- Meditation and Visualization
- Sound Bath Healing
- Music and Sound Mandalas
- Drawing, Painting, Collaging
- Journaling and Story writing/Storytelling
Healing Our Healers Program
BOOK NOW
INQUIRE NOW
SIGN UP NOW
Services
1:1 Psychotherapy + Coaching Session
- Uncover, repair and express your Resilience Story through cognitive behavioral, narrative and expressive arts therapy techniques
- Identify Resilience/Coping practices
- Actively recover and reintegrate after traumatic experiences
- Reframe Method With Language and Expressive Arts
- Question, revise, reframe childhood behavioral patterns and shame narratives
- Implement daily practices to release toxic self-sabotage and train your mind to eliminate negative blocks
- KJ's availability through Email
INVESTMENT: $95 FOR 35MIN, OR $155 FOR 60MIN
BOOK NOW
1:1 Psychotherapy Coaching Package
- Meet for four (4) 60-minute sessions in person or through confidential Telehealth platform Simple Practice
- All of the same elements of the traditional 1:1 Psychotherapy + Coaching Session,
Plus:
- Customize a sustainable success plan for daily practices to increase mental health wellness and recovery
- Create new scripts for compassionate communication with the Reframe Method
- KJ's availability through Voxer and + Email
INVESTMENT: $550
BOOK NOW
Heal the Healer Program
- Live meetings (Telehealth or Zoom) with KJ and in a small group setting for two, hour-long sessions each week
- Join and connect to a community of like-minded healers for accountability and encouragement
- Implement daily practices to release toxic self-sabotage and reframe shaming self-messaging
- Weekly discussions on radical compassion and trauma-informed healing including:
Overcoming Shame (Self Worth and "Should" Patterns)
Recovering, Identifying and Revising your Story
Connecting to Your Calm (Anxiety Management)
Self Compassion and Self Care
Resilience and Revelations
- Demonstrations and experiential exercises in-session include
Meditation & Visualizations
Sound Healing
Music Mandalas
Drawing, Painting, Collaging
Movement and Somatic motions
Art-Journaling and Story Writing/Storytelling
BOOK NOW
WORKSHOPS
Two hour gatherings for uncovering your story, embracing resilience, strengthening your bonds with self, family and community. Experiential, expressive arts healing - music, journaling, story telling, collage, meditations, visualizations.
Self Compassion Academy
Workshops for Adults
SIGN UP NOW
Approximately 30 minute sessions for children to uncover their origin stories, pursue identity and embrace their superhero strengths. Discovery of story and voice as well as finding pride and tribe through play, music and crafts.
Creativity & Culture Classes
for Children/Students
Creativity & Compassion
Gatherings for Adults
Two hour gatherings for uncovering your story, embracing resilience, strengthening your bonds with self, family and community. Experiential, expressive arts healing: drawing/painting, music, journaling, movement, story telling, collage, meditations, visualizations.
SIGN UP NOW
WORKSHOPS
Creativity & Culture Classes for Children/Students
Approximately 30 minute sessions for children to uncover their origin stories, pursue identity and embrace their superhero strengths. Discovery of story and voice as well as finding pride and tribe through play, music and crafts.
SIGN UP NOW
SIGN UP NOW
KJ has helped me immensely with getting myself out of my bubble. We began working together with the goals of managing my chronic anxiety and depression. She helped me get back on my feet after losing my job, and in fact, she supported me in finding a new career I love! Her energy is very calm and soothing, and she is very attentive and listens to every detail. She helps me explore new ways to leave my negative thoughts behind and build new skills for effective communication. Since working with KJ, I’ve become more comfortable with identifying my boundaries to maintain balance and wellness. Also, I’m learning to listen to others’ feelings as well as my own.
- KB, Psychotherapy Client
KIND WORDS
KJ created a safe space for me to talk about a very dark time in my life. In her quiet and attentive way she listened and held space for me. Her words when I was done were warm and supportive and reflected back to me in a way I could heal myself with her guidance. KJ is open and loving and willing to share her own vulnerability. This new found relief gave me clarity to pursue the life of my dreams. I know who I am and what I want and my self acceptance is a direct result of my work with KJ.
- FMQ, Coaching Client
KJ has walked me through some of my most difficult times. Shortly after my mom passed away, I could not sleep; I could barely function. I was paralyzed with grief and anxiety. She provided tools (often expressive activities creative outlets like music, journaling and meditative drawing) that I could implement and practice daily. With KJ’s help, I was able to minimize my panic attacks and begin to sort through my pain. KJ provides a safe place of comfort and tranquility as she gracefully guides me through even the darkest moments. Her kindness and warmth make me feel so uplifted and supportive. I feel like I can accomplish anything with her encouragement!
- MF, Coaching Client
PODCAST
Stories of Astonishing Light
Conversations about compassion, mental health, resiliency and the words we use to connect
and impact each other.
Weekly Wednesday episodes feature recorded interviews and live sessions with musicians, creatives, visionaries and healers.
Each episode outlines the steps you can take to find and express your unique, and beautiful story of astonishing light.
SPOTIFY
STITCHER
GOOGLE PODCASTS
ITUNES
STAY IN TOUCH
Be the first to know about new services, blog posts, podcast episodes, and special events.
