“Once a woman becomes aware of the forces that influence her, she gains the power of that knowledge.”
I BELIEVE IN WOMEN’S WISDOM AND POWER.
I’m Sheryl, a psychotherapist in Madison, Wisconsin. Like you, I've experienced many of life's joys, challenges, and transitions. I've raised kids, changed careers, blended families, lost loved ones, and cared for both aging parents and tiny grandchildren. The supportive professional help I received during some of the roughest times in my life inspired me to become a therapist.
I’m also a feminist, which means that I believe that women’s mental and physical health are harmed by the countless gendered expectations and limitations placed on us. They may be overt, as in the vigilance we must often practice to ensure our physical safety. They may be subtle, as in the unspoken expectation that we perform the majority of the labor and care work in our households. The negative effects of these inequities are real and measurable and they are often ignored by traditional psychotherapy..
I believe that our minds, bodies, emotions, and relationships all exist interdependently.
When one aspect of our life fails to flourish, the whole system can be put off balance. If our relationships feel unsafe or the expectations placed on us feel overwhelming and unfair, we may find ourselves feeling anxious, depressed, dissatisfied, or struggling to connect with our inner wisdom. This is usually a normal, reasonable reaction or our circumstances, not a form of mental illness.
I believe that healing begins when women share the stories of our lived experiences.
When we explore the relationship between our received cultural constructs of womanhood and our most intimate thoughts and beliefs about ourselves, we gain the power to create change in our lives. It involves re-authoring our life stories in a way that creates meaning from our diverse experiences and, in so doing, makes us visible to ourselves and restores our authority to create meaningful lives.
I believe that this is creative, soulful work.
It’s work that reaches its full potential when it is done within the safe space of a trusting and authentic relationship. It is work that all women—regardless of race, religion, age, ability, sexuality, cis or trans—can benefit from. I will listen respectfully to your unique story. I will support you as you explore paradoxes, confront ambivalence, face fears, process traumas, and cultivate personal authority. And I will offer helpful tools, as needed, along the way.
Learn more about how i work:
My Qualifications
I am a licensed professional counselor (LPC) in Wisconsin with an MS degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Level II training in EMDR Trauma-Resolution Therapy. Additionally, I am a lay-ordained practitioner in the Soto Zen Buddhist tradition and a former yoga teacher; I enjoy weaving Eastern philosophy and meditation practices into my work with clients when appropriate.