Welcome

Dr. Schafer holds a bachelor's degree in religion from the University of Mount Olive. She earned a master's degree in Spiritual Formation & Christian leadership from Spring Arbor University. She completed her doctoral work in Formational Counseling at Ashland Theological Seminary. Dr. Schafer has completed a number of postgraduate trainings focused upon the treatment of complex trauma and attachment theory based models of care. 

Dr. Schafer identifies as a Christian. This impacts how she approaches soul care in that she believes all people are created in the image and likeness of a beautiful and loving Creator. She believes that each person is of infinite value and worth. She approaches soul care companionship with the idea that every soul is Holy ground. This knowledge requires those caring for the hurting to approach each soul in gentleness, humility and open curiosity. Ultimately, Dr. Schafer understands soul care to be the process of coming home to oneself and believes this to be important work for all people. 

Traumatic events are overwhelming and can upend a person's life. Relationships with others and with oneself can become difficult and strained. Just living can feel like a fulltime job. Dr. Schafer's passion is to journey with those who have endured life altering trauma and to work with the Divine Presence of Love to bring healing and stability to such persons in order that they can reconnect with and experience themselves as loved by the Divine, themselves, and others. 

Dr. Schafer prioritize safety. This means the client is in control. All sessions are treated as confidential. Your story is sacred and as such is yours alone to tell. Confidentiality will be ensured except in the instance that the abuse of children or the elderly or disabled is disclosed, or if the intent to end your life or the life of another person is shared. This information will be disclosed to the proper authorities to ensure the safety and sanctity of all life. 

Dr. Schafer operates out of an attachment theory lens. This means she is non pathologizing in her approach to treatment. Dr. Schafer believes that humans were created as relational being that live interdependently. As such, individuals adapt and mold their inner landscapes in order to maintain the important attachment relationships in childhood. 

Jesus described and lived a model of spirituality which I have found to be healing and transformative in how human being relate to themselves and to the Divine presence at work in the world. He described the human soul as the "home" of God in the gospel of John. He lived in a way that demonstrated that a human being living at home, fully embodied in themselves possesses a level of compassion and generosity that is transformative to the world. His life informs soul care to this end, we are invited to be fully alive here and now.   

Dr. Wardle directed the Formational Counseling program at Ashland Theological Seminary where Dr. Schafer completed her doctoral studies. Dr. Wardle is a prolific writer and an advocate for those who experienced adverse childhood experiences leading to difficulty in adulthood.    

Ignatian practice is highly experiential and makes room for spiritual practices to be sensory practices that impact our neural pathways and promote a felt sense of being in loving relationship with the Divine presence and with oneself. 

Dr. Siegel' s work on the plasticity of the brain and its potential for healing through integration provides a framework for hope in the process of soul care that is based in the science of neurobiology. He provides insight into both the brains capacity and propensity to move towards wholeness in the proper environment. 

Dr. Grand discovered the phenomenon of Brainspotting during his work as an EMDR therapist and trainer. Brainspotting provides a model in which the brains innate ability to heal is recognized and optimized through eye placement and attuned presence in a client centered relationship. 

Dr. Van der Kolk is best known for is work The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind and Body in the Healing of Trauma. Van der Kolk has become a powerful advocate for all trauma survivors and continues to use his influence to raise awareness. 

The Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT) model developed and taught by Johnson and Campell is a compassionate, gentle, client centered approach to bringing healing and transformation to areas of attachment trauma. 

Fisher developed a parts model that is integrated with the attachment and survival mechanisms or fight, flight, freeze present in all human beings. Her simple approach normalizes and empowers those who have had to use creative measures to sculpt their inner landscapes in order to survive intolerable life events. 

Dr. Peter Levine's somatic approach that incorporates body movements or expansion and contraction. Dr. Judith Herman's approach and understanding of survivors of complex trauma. Babette Rothschild's window of affect tolerance & integration. Theresa of Avila's work on the human soul as the interior castle. Julian of Norwich's work on God as mother and the wellness of all things. Michelle Hurbert, founder and operator of Mosaic Integrative Counseling through modeling and mentoring an empathic approach to working therapeutically with complex trauma survivors.