Experienced in working with trauma survivors, Sylvia brings a trauma-informed lens to all her work. Sylvia has counseled adult and child victims of sexual violence and co-victims of homicide as well as provided crisis intervention. She is trained in somatic attachment therapy and integrative somatic parts work.
Sylvia is also a licensed Ashaya yoga teacher, certified meditation teacher, certified mindfulness coach, certified pranayama (breathwork) facilitator, certified yoga life coach, a spiritual director with advanced training to lead the Ignatius Exercises, a Reiki master, and is currently completing the requirements as a certified yoga therapist and certified mind-body coach.
She has extensive education, training, and experience in the field of traumatology, counseling, crisis intervention, somatic therapy and energy healing. These modalities enable Sylvia to assist people in utilizing the wisdom of their bodies in connection with their minds to uncover their most authentic self, heal emotional wounds, identify purpose and find more peace and joy in their daily life.
She presented at the Association of Traumatic Stress Specialists national conference and co-authored Healing: A Guide for Parents of Child Sexual Assault Victims. She is a member of the Yoga Alliance and Spiritual Directors International. Sylvia is the co-founder of Divine Possibility http://www.divinepossibility.com
Credentials
Higher Education:
- Bachelor’s degree in psychology from Muhlenberg College.
- Master’s degree in public administration from Kutztown University.
- Graduate certificates in Spiritual Formation, Spiritual Direction, and Leading the Ignatius Exercises from Moravian Theological Seminary at Moravian University.
- Master’s studies in clinical counseling and theology at Moravian Theological Seminary at Moravian University.
Yoga, meditation, and Reiki:
- 200 hour training, licensed yoga teacher through Ashaya Yoga.
- 300 hour yoga teacher training through My Vinyasa Yoga.
- 200 hour meditation teacher training with the Radiance Sutras School of Meditation.
- Certification as a pranayama facilitator through My Vinyasa Yoga.
- Certificate in trauma informed yoga from the Shanti Project.
- Master Reiki training at Andrea Brock Healing and through Lisa Powers.
- Certification in yoga psychology through YogaMu.
- Certification as a yoga life coach through the International Academy of Life Coaching & Entrepreneurship.
- Completing the requirements as a certified yoga therapist with Breathing Deeply Yoga Therapy School.
- Earning certification as a mindfulness coach through My Vinyasa Yoga.
Somatics and Counseling:
- Received certification as a Trauma Responder by the International Association of Trauma Counselors.
- Certificate in Somatic Attachment Therapy which is a holistic, body-centered method to heal trauma and relational wounds and honing the skill of inner relationship focusing as a tool for somatic work.
- Completed the Crisis Response Team Training through the National Office of Victims’ Assistance.
- Enrolled in the somatic Mind-Body Coaching certification program with the Embody Lab.
- Earning a certificate in Integrative Somatic Parts Work which assists clients in creating a felt connection to their authentic self in order to heal and integrate mind and body.
Sylvia studies at the Embody Lab with leading scholars and practitioners like Peter Levine, Stephen Porges, Richard Miller, Dan Siegel, Frances Booth, and others. She has successfully completed many other trainings in traumatology and counseling.
She has also studied under Iyanla Van Zandt, Tara Brach, Martha Beck, Jeffrey Allen, Maryanne Williamson, Justin Michael Williams, and many others.
Sylvia is a member of the Bethlehem Rotary, serves on the board for Turning Point of the Lehigh Valley, the Advancement Committee for the Shanti Project, and is a member of the planning committee for the Lehigh Valley Chamber’s Women’s Summit.