Kimmie (Kimberley) Cook

When I first learned how influential childhood experiences are on our brains and bodies, I was elated and then devastated. I was a preschool teacher at the time and it felt empowering to know something as simple as my consistent and warm attention could turn into lifelong positive impacts for the kids. Yet, I couldn’t help but wonder what hope there was for us who had experienced hardship - trauma, abuse, poverty, discrimination…So, I went to graduate school to research human development and family sciences and learned the saying, “the past is in the past”, couldn’t be further from the truth. Instead, the past is living in us. Like a blueprint, the love we did and did not receive from our caregivers, the safety we did and did not experience in our communities, continues to shape the relationships we have with ourselves, our loved ones, and our communities today.

But, we are not fated. From the same body of research, I learned relationships, those in which we are fully seen, heard, witnessed with compassion, have the ability to heal and at any point in the life course. This is the foundation I work from in my therapeutic approach, emotionally and relationally focused work. In therapy, I believe we risk feeling the same pains we did in the past for the chance of experiencing ourselves and another in a new way, a more authentic, empowered, and connected way. When we risk revealing our shame, we give ourselves the chance to instead be gently received by another. When we express our true hopes and desires, we open ourselves to be fully seen.

This type of work requires trust, respect, and time, none of which I am owed or expect. Instead it is my responsibility (and pleasure) as a therapist to honor your experiences, your timeline, and your goals - to consistently meet you with curiosity, compassion, and humility. Some of us come into therapy wanting to explore childhood trauma (kinda my jam), some of us are still getting used to the whole “having feelings in front of another person” thing (me at the beginning of my therapy journey), and others of us are both at the same time. My commitment to you is my compassionate presence for however you show up and wherever you want to go in session.

I’m the unashamedly indulgent mom to two cats, Ming and Song, named after Chinese dynasties (and yes the plan is to continue the naming theme)! My hobby is chatting with my friends and myself (sometimes out loud).