As Antonio Machado writes, "The way becomes manifest upon walking."

Years and miles of backpacking have instilled in me an embodied understanding of this quote. I love how it speaks to experience as a primary way of learning.

I hold a few things as foundational to this work: that personal growth is inseparable from social change; that nature teaches and restores in ways a room alone cannot; that horses, in their sentience and honesty, are extraordinary teachers of presence; and that the body carries its own intelligence, often ahead of the conscious mind. I try to hold space that trusts all of this — including your own capacity to direct your healing.

In my practice, I draw upon my foundation as an experienced educator. Clients note: "her trademark preparedness allows her to be nimble and insightful in meeting what arises in the ecology of a session. Elizabeth's warmth, her compassionate listening, her acute intuition in drawing connections, and her meticulous attention all make me feel I am in extremely good hands."

teaching, leadership, and Therapeutic Training

Academic Institutions:

• Santa Clara University: Final Nominee, Louis and Dorina Brutocao Award for Teaching Excellence — the university's highest teaching honor, awarded for career-long impact on undergraduate students. (Eligibility requires 15+ years of continuing faculty service.)

• University of Wisconsin-Madison (recipient two teaching awards)

• University of Colorado-Boulder

• Stanford d.school

Leadership Development:

• Harvard Kennedy School Executive Education

• Strozzi Institute for Embodied Leadership

• Rockwood Leadership Institute

• Awareness to Action International Enneagram

• iEQ9 Integrative Enneagram

• The Narrative Enneagram

Mindfulness and Spiritual Practices:

• Sacred Stream Foundation

• Spirit Rock Meditation Center

• Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction

• Animus Valley Institute: Nature-Based Soul Initiation

• Vallecitos Mountain Retreat Center

• Mountain Cloud Zen Center

• New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care

• San Francisco Zen Center

Nature-Based Learning:

• National Outdoor Leadership School

• Outward Bound

Equine-Assisted Work:

• SkyHorse Ranch Equine Guided Education

• EAGALA (Equine Assisted Growth and Learning)

• For many years, I worked with horses as partners through Equine Guided Education — training that still shapes how closely I track what's unspoken between us.

And additional specialized trainings

I arise today through the strength of heaven,

light of sun,

radiance of moon,
splendor of fire,
speed of lightning,
swiftness of wind,

depth of sea,
stability of earth,
firmness of rock.

~Celtic prayer- John O'Donohue

I DON’T KNOW the word for it, that space between seconds, but I’ve come to understand for myself that it’s the punctuation of my life. Between each word, each thought, each moment is where the truth of things lies. The more intent I am on hearing it, seeing it, feeling it, incorporating it, the more precise the degree to which I’m focused on my life and the act of living. I want to dive into those bits of silence. They contain the ocean of my being and our togetherness. So if I don’t respond quickly, excuse me. I’m busy allowing the surf of consciousness to break over me so that I can stand on the coast of our unity and be more.

~Richard Wagamese in Embers: One Ojibway's Meditations

Disclaimer: The services offered are based on Elizabeth's training and certification as a practitioner of Depth Hypnosis, Applied Shamanism, and Energy Medicine (Sacred Stream Foundation, Berkeley, CA), Somatic Leadership (Strozzi Institute), Equine Guided Education (SkyHorse Ranch/EAGALA), and the ATA (Awareness to Action) and iEQ9 Enneagram systems. She has also completed training and ordination as an Interfaith Spiritual Healer/Counselor through the Sacred Stream Foundation. She is not a licensed physician or mental health professional, and none of the services offered are licensed in the state of California. The modalities used are complementary to licensed healing arts services and are not a substitute for medical or psychological treatment.