Kate McDonnell
Being human is hard. Sometimes we need extraordinary experiences to shift our perspective and make changes. Kate (she/they) is a licensed Marriage and Family therapist and Global Somatics Practitioner. She studied somatics before psychology, whereby exploring the wisdom of the body led to natural non-ordinary states of consciousness without the use of medicine. So, coming from a primarily embodied perspective, Kate encourages somatic approaches in both preparation and integration of KAP to help ease the process and make it more effective. Like a typical somatically-based therapist, she works with the nervous system, but also works underneath it at a cellular and developmental level.
Kate also uses a transpersonal and strength-based approach, encouraging you to learn to be comfortable in the unknown by finding your own way to be mindful. She encourages the process of contacting your essential self by guiding you through practices of mindfulness, and getting to deep experiences of wellness even in the face of adversity. This is the process of remembering who you are. One of the benefits of non-ordinary states of consciousness is that they potentially get you out of your default-mode network in order to establish an improved way of walking in the world. It doesn’t always work this way, but has a much better chance than talk therapy.
Being intersectional herself, Kate specializes in working with adults in the LGBTQ community, highly sensitive and neurodivergent individuals, and those who have been affected by cultural trauma. This includes class, immigration status, race, disability status, poly and kink, religious status, chemical health history, and unconventional views. Kate is an inclusive therapist who loves to work with people from all walks of life. She also uses tools such as EMDR, narrative therapy, brief therapy, gestalt, and parts work. She takes a personable and engaged approach to work with clients in a more natural, conversational way. Kate enjoys movement meditation such as dancing, yoga, or swimming, community gathering, travel, playing music and writing songs, writing, making art, and she spends a healthy chunk of time every winter in Costa Rica.
Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy is not for everybody. It is important that you have a support system around you, a stable living situation, a stable sense of self, the willingness and readiness to go outside your comfort zone, and a firm grasp of collective reality, no matter what your belief system. Though Kate specializes in holding diverse views, it is important to be able to operate in the collective world. Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy, on the other hand, is for those who need an extra kick in the pants to get unstuck and finally see who they really are. You might have a profound experience, or a challenging one. Ketamine specifically invites a sense of safety while having your experience. Kate is here to assist your own unique process.
