Depth and somatic psychotherapy with Maura Tousignant, L.M.F.T.
How I work
I am a psychodynamic and somatic therapist, integrating both insight-oriented and body-centered modalities to lead you to growth and change. My training in depth psychology, attachment theory, mindfulness, and trauma treatment guides the therapeutic process to support you in moving through stagnation and emotional pain. Therapy sessions will offer a way to explore and resolve unconscious patterns, through developing awareness of the influence of formative relationships, processing unresolved emotional issues, tending to the mind-body connection, and developing skills to support you in being more present. My work has a focus on trauma and provides a way to move beyond the limits of traditional talk therapy by inviting in the somatic experience.
A little about me…
I attained my master’s degree from Pacifica Graduate Institute in Counseling Psychology: Emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy, Professional Clinical Counseling, and Depth Psychology. I began my clinical training at the Women’s Clinic Counseling Center in West Los Angeles, where I provided therapy to women and men for anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, and relationship issues. Following graduate school, I continued my clinical training as a school based therapist with the William S. Hart Union High School District, working with high school and elementary school students. I provided intensive counseling services, parent counseling sessions, and crisis counseling, for a wide range of mental health and educationally related issues. As an associate therapist, I honed my depth psychotherapy skills in the private practice setting under supervision at Sessions Counseling Group. While there, I worked with individual adults, focusing on trauma, codependency, anxiety, grief, and phase of life transitions, and I received supervision focused on Jungian/depth psychological theory in practice.
I trained in Hakomi mindful somatic psychotherapy, a body-centered therapy modality that incorporates mindfulness, somatic experiences, inner child work, meditative states, and trauma-informed theory. I am currently training in Somatic Experiencing, a transformational approach to healing from trauma. I have also completed training in Phase 1 and Phase 2 of Brainspotting, an effective brain-body based trauma processing modality.
In addition to my work in private practice, I also serve as adjunct faculty at Pacifica Graduate Institute, where I teach courses in research psychology and provide thesis advising.
My background as a dancer and yoga teacher also informs my therapeutic approach. I incorporate somatic inquiry, mindfulness, and embodiment in therapy. As a lover of academia, reading, and writing, I am always happy to engage in intellectual exploration with clients, alongside emotional and somatic work. I am happy to provide suggested reading recommendations (bibliotherapy) to my clients, though I never require homework.
I grew up living in several countries, and I embrace multiculturalism in my personal life and uphold cultural humility as a foundation in therapy. Before entering this field, I studied as an Echols Scholar at the University of Virginia, where I received my B.A. with High Distinction in Comparative Literature, Middle Eastern Studies, and Dance. Movement, mindfulness, and nature greatly contributed to my journey into wellbeing, and continue to inspire my work with clients.
I am oriented toward holistic approaches, and I offer the integration of spiritual and psychological perspectives to those who are interested. I am comfortable delving into the world of dreams and exploring the significance of symbols. I look forward to meeting you and tending to psyche together.
