immanence “dwelling within” {Lat.}

Vesna L. Westbrook, MA, LMFT

Psychotherapy is an inquiry into how to live, and how to be with difficulty. My approach is depth-oriented, transpersonal, relational, and existential-humanistic. My focus lies on the integration of complex, cumulative, and collective trauma.

I hold a Master’s degree in Integral Counseling Psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies. I also earned a Dual Master’s in Philosophy and Religious Studies, and an additional three-year Certificate in Creative Writing from the University of Tübingen in Germany. I am certified as a Philosophical Counselor through the American Philosophical Practitioners Association. My lifelong spiritual practice has been essential in my understanding of healing and wellbeing.

I work with adults and couples. My own international background informs my work within different cultural contexts and identities.

I offer sessions in English and in German.

credentials

clinical

Associateship at the Center for Transformational Therapy

Internship at the Grass Valley Unified High School District

academic

Integral Counseling Psychology (M.A.) | California Institute of Integral Studies, San Francisco

Philosophy (international Ph.D. exchange) | State University of New York at Stony Brook

Philosophy (M.A., ABD) | University of Tübingen (Germany)

Religious Studies (M.A., ABD) | University of Tübingen

Literary Writing (3-year Certificate) | University of Tübingen

Philosophical Counseling (Certificate) | American Philosophical Practitioners Association

 

research

Ancestral Psychology of the Balkans, California Institute of Integral Studies (2018) 

Epistemological Foundations of Cognitive Psychology, University of Tübingen (2009)

creative

Published works of poetry, various publishers (Germany)

Literary awards, nominations, scholarships + residency

memberships

member of CAMFT + APPA.

 

core trainings

Trauma: EMDR + Bilateral Stimulation, Somatic Experiencing | Center for Transformational Therapy, Grass Valley + CIIS, San Francisco

Philosophical Counseling (Certificate) | American Philosophical Practitioners Association, New York, NY

Depth Psychotherapy: Psychodynamic and Jungian-Oriented Psychotherapy + Dreamwork | C.G. Jung Institute of San Francisco and CIIS, SF

Shamanism, Animism, Ethnopsychology Training | Slavic shamans (South-Slavic + Siberian traditions), California, Altai, Croatia + Slovenia

The Highly Sensitive Personality: Adults, Children, Parents, + The Family | SF Bay Area, CA + Switzerland

Kiloby Inquiries (KI) | Scott Kiloby Facilitator Training, California

Narrative Therapy | Sierra Family Therapy Center, Grass Valley, CA

Gestalt Therapy + Parts Work | California Institute of Integral Studies, San Francisco, CA

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Rational-Emotive Behavioral Therapy | California Institute of Integral Studies, San Francisco, CA