Welcome! My name is Megan Crittenden and I am so happy you are here! This is the right place for you if you are genuinely interested and motivated to heal; whether its from current emotional pain or traumatic memories of your past. Maybe you are struggling with self-doubt or other insecurities or aspects of yourself you don’t like. Maybe you’re unsure of who you are and don’t know where to start. Maybe you are ready to get to know yourself and/or improve yourself in some way. It may feel scary. Maybe you’ve felt like this for a long time, suffering alone, silently. If you’ve reached my site, chances are in your favor of turning your life around, because you found the courage inside yourself to reach out and explore the possibility of change. If you’re willing to put one foot in front of the other, know that change IS possible and things don’t need to remain stagnant and you CAN work towards becoming the person you were born to be; to live the life you were born to live. If you are ready to look in the mirror and reach toward your full potential, challenging as it might seem, I would love to be with you as you move forward in transforming your life and to help guide you in that process.
Life doesn’t always make sense or turn out the way we imagined. If you feel like you have lost connection with your true self, with your innate power – know that you are in good company. We all go through phases of feeling disconnected from ourselves. That is why we often need Another to reflect back to us - a mirror to remember your own map, to see validity of it and to learn to trust yourself again and what you experience internally. I would like to do that for you.
I have studied this field for 20 and it’s what I am most passionate about. I love what I do as a psychotherapist! I’ve been passionate about my area of specialty since I stumbled upon an elective I had never heard of called Transpersonal Psychology as an undergraduate student at the University of MN in Duluth in 1998– I was hooked; and I’ve never looked back. From there I went on to study TP in a counseling program in Boulder, CO at Naropa University, which is a university and master’s program for psychotherapy based in Buddhism and mindfulness. Many people apply to several programs to see where they get in. Much to my parents’ chagrin, this was the only application I sent out. This was THE program for me. Although academically AND personally demanding, I loved every minute of it.
I’ve worked with people ranging in ages from 14 to 65 and everywhere in between. I’ve worked in wilderness therapy with teens and their parents to private practices in large cities. I’m skilled in EMDR, an amazing modality that I’ve found to not only provide immense relief from trauma symptoms, acute and long-term effects of relational abuse and neglect, but also fills in the empty spaces to answer those bigger questions of identity (such as, “who am I”?) and connection to the Divine (and who we are spiritually).
If you’ve been struggling in relationships, or one in particular, my perspective is, that we all need to be learning to take responsibility for our own personal work and growth so we can be more available to the relationships in our lives with those we love most. The consequence to neglecting our own work is that the emotional buildup gets in the way of us ACTING on the love that we feel for each other. The benefit to attending to ourselves and our own emotional/psychological needs, is how much freedom and relief that comes from clearing that out and really being able to enjoy the time we spend with each other. There is nothing more important that building on those positive attachments with loved ones. As challenging or daunting as it may seem at times, especially at the beginning, being on that path brings the greatest rewards.
Psychotherapy as a whole has also had profound impact in my own life and I believe that this work has the potential to truly transform. My service of healing is a process that works because it taps into our natural ability to heal; on a mind-body-spirit level (integral and holistic-whole person). Just as our bodies innately know how to heal wounds on a cellular level, so do our psyches. But, just as cells communicate and depend on each other, so do we as human beings. We are all human, and sometimes our parents are unavailable to meet certain needs. Sometimes there are holes in the attachments we need to survive and to thrive. My service patches up those holes so that you can feel whole again. You will remember your whole-ness that was always there, just forgotten due to the trauma.
This work never ceases to amaze me and it fills me with joy, purpose and meaning. There is something so sacred about having this kind of relationship: I find the client begins to experience coincidences, connections, signs, answers to questions that come in dreams or chance encounters, etc. I find these type of transpersonal experiences begin to show up when one begins a personal inquiry of their life and healing process.
What you need to know when working with me:
I see very clearly on an integral/holistic level who a person is and what they struggle with; I’m not afraid to call a spade a spade because I’ve faced my own self, done my own healing work which is a life-long path I am committed to walking. I have an open heart and accept myself for my strengths and vulnerabilities that I consider as ultimate power; a true human being. I’m both gentle and strong...and flawed and imperfect. I’m human. I’ve found the more we relax into the truths of who we are, the more we find peace and joy and fulfillment.
And if you are unsure about this journey, here’s what I want you to know: you are going to be ok. They are people who can help, who will understand. You are not alone and although getting help may feel scary it doesn’t need to stop you from where you want to be in life. If you are ready to find “your person” who will lovingly guide you through this process, send a note and let’s connect. I look forward to it!
Additional areas of focus: Addictions, Grief, Intimacy-related issues, Parenting issues, Anger management, Self esteem, Career difficulties
CA LMFT 48956