Nice to meet you...

I have wanted to be a therapist since I was 14 years old when I received life changing support from a therapist in the midst of my parents divorce. My desire to provide that depth of connection and support to others only grew from there. By the time I finished my undergraduate studies I had taken nearly every course that was offered in the psychology department and was qualified for an emphasis in both clinical and developmental psychology.

In 2019, I began my training in Counseling Psychology and was so excited when I finally began working with clients in 2020 as part of my practicum and internship experiences. My enthusiasm endured but there were two glaring problems that made me feel that my training was not sufficient to help people in that ways that I had hoped.

Problem #1: all of my clients had varying degrees of trauma and although the CBT/CPT/ACT methods were "evidence based" and seemingly the easiest path to professional cohesion and insurance coverage, it didn't feel aligned with my perspective and who I wanted to be as a practitioner. I felt that many of the strategies fell flat and didn't really help to move the needle for my clients in the way that I desired.

Problem #2: I was spending an incredible amount of time talking with my clients about their fears and reservations associated with their psychotropic medications. Some of my clients were children and teens. I spoke with mothers who were worried about there children's long term fertility and fathers that were concerned about their child's brain development. I was carefully documenting what they had to say and encouraging them to advocate for themselves with their psychiatrist... But this was the extent to which I was authorized to support them with these concerns. Speaking with them about holistic alternatives I had learned in my psychopharmachology course was simply outside of my scope. I didn't want to open up "pandora's box" and put my licensure, or the credentials of my supervising psychologists at risk.

As a result, I left my practicum experience with a conviction to relentlessly pursue training in the most effective trauma work modalities AND the qualification to be able to work holistically with the biological and physiological contributors to mental and emotional suffering.

What I got out of this pursuit was so much more than trainings and certifications!

Through EMDR and somatic parts work trainings and therapy, I got to identify and work through trauma that was holding me back in ways that were previously unconscious to me. I experienced a complete shift in the way that I experienced and enjoyed life.

Through functional, holistic and regenerative health based approaches, I was able to balance my hormones, reduce inflammation that had caused years of joint pain and skin problems, detoxify my body systems that had been over burdened and undernourished, and reach a level of wellness I had never known!

Ultimately, all of this work on my mind and body culminated in my first pregnancy and the birth of a healthy and happy baby girl.

"My highest desire is to help my clients achieve the transformation that they crave. True transformation requires a multi-systemic approach that addresses all realms of health and wellbeing. I've dedicated my years of study and training to integrating modalities with the most traction, and the most impact so that you can embody you highest self!"

Release

Identifying and releasing old patterns, discharging stored emotions, and removing blocks to progress

Resource

Recognizing and reinforcing sources of strength and resilience in relationships, adaptive coping and lifestyle

Release

Detoxifying the body from chemicals, metals and parasites that prevent whole body wellness

Resource

Supporting the body-- balancing natural rhythms and replacing depleted nutrients, enzymes, vitamins and minerals through supplementation and nutritional support

My Methods

Regenerate

Facilitating revitalization and repair of tissues/organs/glands via peptides, bioregulators, enzymes and nutriceuticles. Employing cutting edge genomic and epigenetic testing to strengthen and optimize the entire system

Psychology

Physiology

Regenerate

Creating new patterns, expanding consciousness, building resilience, and developing new neural pathways

My unique approach to transformation recognizes interconnectedness of our psychology (thoughts, emotions, memories, and intuition) and physiology (nervous system, muscles, fascia, organs, hormones, and neurotransmitters). This approach involves cycling between three phases of work: resourcing, releasing and regenerating. By cycling through these phases, we can bring the body and mind to a whole new level of functioning and create truly holistic transformation.

Background & Training

Certified Regenerative Health Coach

Enlight Academy, In progress

Certified Integrative Health Practitioner

IHPI Institute, 2022

Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology

University of Hawaii, 2021

Bachelor of Science in Clinical & Developmental Psychology

Westminster College 2012

Education...

Experience...

Course Development Lead - The Biology of Trauma

Trauma Healing Accelerated, 2022-2024

Behavioral Health Practicum

Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center, 2020-2021

Graduate Internship

Department of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Division, State of Hawaii, 2020-2021

Specialized Training...

• Brainspotting: A Neuro Experiential Approach to Healing - Trauma Solutions (David Grand) - In progress

• Integrative Medicine and Nutrition for PTSD, Complex Trauma, and Traumatic Brain Injury - Dr. Leslie Korn - In progress

• Somatic EMDR Therapy - Embody Lab (Dr. Arielle Scwartz) - 2024​

• EMDR Certified (Basic Level 1&2, Advanced trainings in Grief and Complex Trauma). EMDRIA 2021-2023

• Integrative Somatic Parts Work - Embody Lab (Fran Booth) - 2022

• Working with Perfectionism - NICMB - 2021

• Somatic Experiencing for Chronic Pain and Syndromes - Trauma Solutions - 2021

• DBT Skills for Adolescents and Families - 2021

-Publications-

Gibson, R., Acosta, V. M., Hiura, A., & Higa, C. (2021, April). Systems involvement of Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander (NHPI) youth at the Hawaii Youth Correctional Facility (HYCF). Poster presented at the 18th IVAT Annual Hawai’i International Virtual Summit

Acosta, V. M., Gibson, R., Hiura, A., & Higa, C. (2021, August). Incarceration trends of Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander (NHPI) youth at the Hawaii Youth Correctional Facility (HYCF). Poster presented at the 129th Annual APA Virtual Convention.

Gibson, R., Whealin, J.M., Dasaro, C.R., Udasin...Pietrzak, R. (2022, June). Prevalence and correlates of suicidal ideation in World Trade Center responders: Results from a population based health monitoring cohort. Journal of Affective Disorders.

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