I’m Amie Koontz, a licensed integrative psychotherapist, educator, musician, myofascial release & neuromuscular therapist, movement & mindfulness instructor, communication coach and sexologist in training working with humans of all stripes, relationships of all structures and organizations in Vermont (and beyond).
I know what it’s like to try to control yourself and your world with endless schedules and to-do lists. To power through, numb out, pretend you have it together. To put everyone and everything else first.
To try so hard.
To feel overwhelmed and alone and not know if you can really do this. To live on auto-pilot until you react in ways you aren’t proud of. To believe no one really knows you (including YOU). To have days where you feel like an exposed nerve. To question long-held family, cultural and societal stories that influence how you show up in the world. To love so deeply but feel like you are messing everything up. To criticize yourself – harshly. To feel like a failure. To feel stuck.
It doesn’t have to be that way.
There is wisdom in your story, bravery in your body and Shine in your Soul.
I’ll help you slow down and reconnect with your body, your breath, your mind, and your relationships (with yourself and others) in meaningful and creative ways.
Play, mindful self-reflection, movement, telling your story and vulnerable, deep discussion can connect you directly to your truest self – cutting through stuckness and stress straight to authenticity and hope.
I’m not a nod-and-smile, vanilla sort of therapist (at least not most of the time) — you’ll find that I am a laugh out loud, playful, sit on the floor, tattooed, unruly hair, swear a little, comfortable with uncomfortable topics, and roll with all the feels kind of human.
I believe that if I’m not real, I can’t expect you to be either.
And when you feel safe to be real with me, we can work on how that carries over into the rest of your life.
If you’re looking for therapy that allows you to stay in your current patterns and not challenge you to develop new strategies and ways of engaging with yourself and the world, I’m probably not the right therapist for you.
I’ll invite you to move out of your head (where you likely spend too much time anyway) and into your body, using conversation, mindfulness, movement, breathing, playfulness and story telling to help you slow down and reconnect with your inner world. And then, when you are ready, to connect with the world around you in new and wonderful ways.
We all deserve to be messy, sensitive, angry, shy, scared, confused and loved for exactly who we are.
If you’re waiting for the world to change or slow down or for things to magically fix themselves you may be waiting awhile.
You can show up as a more confident, bold, bad-ass, kind, and loving version of yourself than ever before. You can have quirks and needs and boundaries and faults and still develop strong, meaningful connections with others.
You. Can. Do. This.
It starts with slowing down. And getting curious about what’s working and what’s not. When you get curious about how you show up in the world – in your work, your relationships, the stories you tell yourself about yourself – that’s where change begins.
Feeling calm, confident and connected with others is your birthright. I am here to hold a safe space and help you find your way.
You’ve got this (and I’m here with you.)
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SoulShine Integrative Wellness VT 