Why Psychotherapy?

There are many ways to work with our emotional, relational & psychological struggles. Psychotherapy, when done well, strives to look honestly at our pain & suffering with the intention of easing it.

Everyone is unique, so finding an approach that achieves that ease is not always obvious…that does not mean it’s not worth the effort.

I offer Psychotherapy that integrates body & mind.

I’m Jodi Alieksaites…

Contemplative & Somatic Psychotherapist, MA, LPC

I have a Master’s Degree in Contemplative Psychotherapy & Buddhist Psychology & am a licensed counselor in Missouri & Colorado.

I confess to being a bit of a “mad-scientist,” a highly-sensitive person, AuDHD-er with an endlessly-curious mind. It took me some time to discover what worked for me in the realm of channeling my non-stop inspiration & empathic vulnerabilities, I am proof that it can be done!

I didn’t do it alone (although it was NOT from a lack of trying). I’ve had amazing teachers, mentors & healing professionals who have helped me over the years. I want to bring what I’ve learned to benefit you on your path to self-awareness.

Jodi Alieksaites

Psychotherapy Modalities:

arm in the air with green leaves drapped around

  • My style of Psychotherapy emphasizes the mind-body relationship, integrating mindfulness practice & working to interrupt problematic patterns in the mind, body & emotions. We’ll work with how your mind might be struggling with anxiety/panic, boundaries & limiting beliefs. Awareness in the present moment provides the essential framework for curiosity & gentleness in the process of change.

  • In sessions I direct you, experientially, in tracking body sensation, the movement of emotion, thoughts, breath & posture to attune to & integrate what is needing attention. At the same time, there is the potential to release blockages & an opportunity to reset the nervous system.

    Assignments between sessions further integrate practices into your daily lifestyle.


  • I first learned “parts work” through mentorship with a Shamanic Journey-work teacher who taught me Soul Parts Retrieval & since have added & adapted Internal Family Systems & Somatic Psychotherapy to create a primary focus on parts-mapping & body-mapping.

    Parts-mapping helps cultivate self-compassion as well as disengaging denial of difficult emotions. Please note: I do not offer “formal” IFS work as it does not suit my approach.

  • I began my career in end-of-life care & have over a decade of experience in hospice, dementia care & grief counseling. I strive to help people understand that grief is a natural human process & is not simply sadness, but includes an array of emotions as well as body responses.

    Loss is inevitable, but the extent to which you suffer with loss is not pre-determined. Grief left unattended can devolve into despair & endless sorrow.

Why Work with Me?

Choosing a therapist can be a challenge, but I think the most important element in “good fit” is feeling you can show up as you are. No one wants to feel judged. I strive to create an atmosphere of curiosity & acceptance. I help clients to not judge themselves, let go of self-aggression & fear.

If you value self-awareness & cultivating a peaceful mind & body, we might be a good fit.

My style as a psychotherapist is not to follow strict protocols, but to customize my therapy modalities to you & your needs…collaboration is key!

EDUCATION & LICENSING

  • Master's Degree Naropa University
    Contemplative Psychotherapy & Buddhist Psychology (3-year degree program)

  • Bachelor’s Degree Creative Writing University of Missouri

  • LPC in the state of Colorado
    (FYI…A Licensed Professional Counselor in CO must hold a Masters’ degree in their profession & be supervised for two years post-Masters’ degree
    plus 2,000 hours clinical experience as well as pass the National Licensing Exam)

  • LPC in the state of Missouri

FURTHER TRAINING & EXPERIENCE

  • Integrative Somatic Parts Work w/ Fran Booth

  • Safe & Sound Protocol Certification

  • Level 1 Training Sensorimotor Psychotherapy

  • Year-long Internship in Play Therapy

  • Year-long Internship in Hospice Care & Grief Counseling

  • 10 years of Professional work in end-of-life contemplative elder & dementia care, Supervisor

  • 2 year study in shamanic arts w/ Ancient Ways Center in Colorado

  • Levels 1 & 2 Reiki Training

Guiding Elements

  • ‍ “Nothing in the world is as soft & yielding as water. Yet for dissolving the hard & inflexible, nothing can surpass it. The soft overcomes the hard; the gentle overcomes the rigid.”

    — Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching

  • LOVING KINDNESS

    Sometimes we are not very skilled at being gentle & kind to ourselves. Often the opposite is the norm, which results in a barrage of self-aggressive thoughts riddled with "shoulds."

    It's impossible to experience joy from this place of self-judgement. We can't fake it. Loving ourselves is not fluffy, unimportant stuff. It is the most essential ingredient to living a life of purpose & connection.

  • EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE

    If emotional intelligence is not modeled for us as we develop & grow we simply do not learn how to clearly name how we feel.

    We may assume that some emotions are unacceptable to others around us & begin to suppress our feelings.

    Emotional intelligence begins with knowing how to identify feelings & to learn to attune to yourself.

  • MINDFULNESS & EMBODIMENT

    Mindfulness has become a commonly used term that in some ways has become watered-down due to overly broad use. Mindfulness is our effort to turn our attention & awareness to the present moment in an intentional way.

    This includes mindfulness of what our thoughts & mind are doing, as well as mindfulness of body, breath, movement & posture.

    Combining mindfulness of body & mind can create what we call an "embodied" way of being…feeling “whole.”

  • CURIOSITY

    Curiosity creates the space for exploration & disarms judgement & assumptions. As such, it is very effective for exploring fear & problematic beliefs.

    Curiosity is often a gateway to playfulness, light-heartedness & creative expression, which is beneficial in therapy & life.

  • NON-PATHOLOGIZING APPROACH

    Mental Health diagnosis has many flaws. Diagnostics can be helpful & sometimes harmful. While some folks benefit from a diagnosis, others do not or are mis-diagnosed.

    Whatever your situation, it’s important to me that I do not pathologize you, but rather help to offer effective guidance & frameworks to support psychological, emotional & relational well-being. You are not “broken.”

  • Neurodivergent-Affirming

    Neurodivergent-affirming therapy acknowledges the challenges neurodivergent people experience. Strategies are customized to meet an individual’s unique circumstances, respecting inherent neurodivergent attributes.

    This is not about making neurodivergent individuals conform to neurotypical standards. That practice has caused a lot of harm, historically & is inappropriate in neurodivergent-affirming psychotherapy.

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