Meet Megan Johnson
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Certified Addictions Counselor
Welcome! Here is a little about me, my values, and the qualities of therapy I provide.
I graduated in 2005 with a Master’s degree in Social Work from Colorado State University, and have lived in Colorado for 21 years. I spent years working within local community systems to foster change at different levels, collaborating with children and families within the juvenile court system, individuals within the medical system, and finally arriving in the role of therapist in private practice. I have been a therapist in Fort Collins for the past eight years. I have advanced training in EMDR, Somatic Trauma Therapy, mindfulness, nature based therapy, yoga, trauma sensitive yoga, chronic pain, and addictions. I support my clients in building awareness of nervous system responses to stress, developing both maintenance practices and on the spot interventions to shift the body back to a place of felt safety and regulation. Experientially I guide clients through relating to emotions and felt sense in the body with curiosity and acceptance. Root causes of patterns, behaviors, and internal states are identified and addressed using the modalities described below. Principles of resilience are cultivated through exploration of tools to restore hope, connect to creativity, foster connections, and build upon self efficacy.
In my own healing and self discovery I have relied upon a daily meditation practice, spiritual retreat, principles of Buddhist psychology, EMDR and Internal Family Systems therapy, shamanic journeying and breath
work practices, and nature based depth work such as vision quests and solo excursions.
In my free time I enjoy time with family and friends, gardening, yoga, running or hiking with my australian shepherd, reading, traveling, and creating.
Therapy Modalities
EMDR
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a structured therapy consisting of eight phases that can be used to reprocess traumatic events, as well as relate to addictions, changing habits, anxiety, panic, and events from the past that are impacting present emotional, physiological, or behavior reactions. EMDR is an evidenced based treatment that uses bilateral stimulation to target memories or patterns, reduce distress (desensitization) and connect distressing material to adaptive processing systems of the mind (reprocessing). Negative beliefs about oneself and the world are also reduced through the process, and new information, positive beliefs, and adaptive perspectives are installed. EMDR utilizes the body, mind, and inner/outer resources to achieve its aims.
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Nature based Therapy
At it's simplest, nature based therapy (or ecotherapy) includes conducting therapy in a natural setting or evoking nature in an indoor session through imagery, prose, memories, or stories. It can include increasing connection to place, elements, or plants, and using the natural world to facilitate grounding, mindfulness, and inner/outer resources. This modality can use metaphor and communication with the natural world to further inner awareness and transformation. The natural world has an innate wisdom, presence and richness that is soothing to our nervous system, opens up the senses, and simultaneously broadens our perspective while taking us deeper within. It can also evoke states of awe, play, and "soft fascination", restoring energy to our mind, body, and soul.
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Nature based mental health interventions are correlated with improved focus, better memory, reduced stress levels, and less anxiety.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8125471/
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Somatic Therapy
In somatic therapy, we open our consciousness to listen to what is held in the body, whether that be needs, stories, wounds, or a combination thereof. Soma is the greek word for “the living body known from within”, and this somatic knowing can support in reconnecting to our innate wholeness and integration of body, mind, and spirit. This can reduce physical and emotional pain, prevent overwhelm, and provide freedom from ways that we cope that no longer serve our highest good. We learn to return to the self, again and again, acknowledging our needs and values, and taking actions that align with those needs and values. Through the body we can also connect to deeper stories of our ancestors, roles we’ve taken within our family of origin, and things we’ve absorbed within ourselves that may not belong to us.
Mindfulness
Mindfulness techniques may be interwoven into the therapy process and specific practices taught in session for daily life. Meditation practices build upon one’s concentration and awareness. This helps us to know what we are doing, thinking, and feeling. We then have the choice of what to attend to and when and how to shift our focus. It builds upon our capacity to remain with challenging internal or external experiences, rather than always needing to shift towards “fixing” our experience in order to feel or behave in a certain way. When we are more open and friendly towards aspects of our experience that we may not like, it allows the opposite end of the spectrum (joy, connection, happiness) to open more fully. We learn not to grasp onto certain elements of our experience, or turn away from others. This helps us to feel more wholly ourselves and to be curious about the totality of our experience. When mindfulness is combined with compassion practices, this supports us in being gentle and accepting as our self-awareness grows. It also encourages our grace and understanding to expand towards other beings and to remind us of the ways we are similar in our experience and all deserving of the same things.
Yoga and Breathwork
Asanas (postures of yoga) and pranayama (regulation of breath) can be a helpful supplement to the therapy process. They can engage the parasympathetic nervous system, resulting in a reduction of stress in the body and increase in heart rate variability. Pairing breath and movement can also increase a sense of grounding within the body and environment, as well as move stuck, stagnant, or awakened energy through the body to create balance and a sense of well being.
"Stress reduction through yoga also provides myriad psychological benefits that may reduce mental health symptoms, including increased emotion regulation capability, improved health behaviors, better social connections and support, and deeper spirituality"
Ego State Therapy
Ego state therapy is a parts-based psychodynamic approach to identifying, understanding, and partnering with internal aspects of the psyche that may drive behaviors, hold aspects of trauma, relate to the world with distinct beliefs about self and others, provide protection, or manage aspects of life. This type of therapy can foster deeper internal understanding, appreciation and acceptance, reduce inner conflict and division, and create observable changes in responses and challenging inner states.
Services
Individual therapy sessions can be conducted in the office, through telehealth, or at a local natural area. Yoga therapy groups are small, closed groups with a maximum of five participants held at the office. Each 3-series group is 90 minutes long. Please reach out for current availability for new clients, or to be placed on a wait list for future yoga therapy groups.
Contact
2629 Redwing Rd.
Suite 260
Fort Collins, CO 80526
970-988-4131