immanence
“dwelling within” {Lat.}

Vesna L. Westbrook, MA, AMFT
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, with couples, and with adolescents. My own international background informs my work within different cultural contexts and identities.
I offer sessions in English and in German.
credentials
academic
Integral Counseling Psychology (M.A.) | California Institute of Integral Studies
Philosophy (international Ph.D. exchange) | SUNY 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
clinical
Associateship at the Center for Transformational Therapy
Internship at the Grass Valley Unified High School District
research
Ancestral Psychology of the Balkans, California Institute of Integral Studies
Epistemological Foundations of Cognitive Psychology, University of Tübingen
creative
Published works of poetry, various publishers (Germany)
Literary awards, nominations, scholarships + residency
memberships
member of CAMFT + APPA.
trainings
EMDR + Bilateral Stimulation | Center for Transformational Psychotherapy, Grass Valley, CA
Philosophical Counseling (Certificate) | American Philosophical Practitioners Association, New York, NY
Depth + Jungian-Oriented Psychotherapy (various educational trainings) | C.G. Jung Institute of San Francisco, CA
Ethnopsychology + Shamanic Training | Slavic shamans, South-Slavic (Balkan) + Siberian traditions
Trauma-Informed Practice | Sierra College, Foster + Kinship Care Education, CA
The Highly Sensitive Personality: Adults, Children, Parents, + The Family | SF Bay Area, CA + Switzerland
Kiloby Inquiries (KI) | Scott Kiloby Facilitator Training, California
Intuitive Development (various trainings) | SF Bay Area, CA + Germany
Narrative Therapy | Sierra Family Therapy Center, Grass Valley, CA
Suicide Prevention | Nevada County ASIST workshop + safeTALK training, CA
Working with Resistance | workshop with Ken Bradford, Berkeley, CA
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, Jungian Dreamwork, Sand Tray Therapy | California Institute of Integral Studies, San Francisco, CA
Gestalt Therapy, Internal Family Systems + Parts Work, Family Constellations | California Institute of Integral Studies, San Francisco, CA
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Rational-Emotive Behavioral Therapy, Logic-Based Therapy | California Institute of Integral Studies, National Philosophical Counseling Association
Somatic Experiencing, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, Trauma-Informed Cognitive Behavioral Therapy | California Institute of Integral Studies, San Francisco, CA
Knowledge + Representation: Nonconceptual Representation, Knowledge, and Self-Concepts | University of Tübingen, Germany