Joya DCruz
MA, LMFT
I help people to align with their own Life Rhythms through Focusing Guidance and Group Trainings.
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Focusing Guidance
I offer Focusing Guidance for people familiar with Focusing or for those who willing to learn it to deal with their life issues.
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In our initial consultation, I’ll assess the possibility of us working together effectively. I may encourage or teach self reflective or somatic regulatory exercises to support our work. Sometimes, it will be important for people to have the support of other professionals as well.
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Curiosity, gentleness and self-acceptance permeates our work-space. There’s room for silence and for words; for tears and laughter, for movement and rest.
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My deep desire is to do my part in building a gentle, joyful, and authentic community where people feel safe, accepted and comfortable to be themselves. witness powerful shifts in my clients as they open up to joy and greater possibilities.​​​​​
Training
I offer group training upon request. Some of the past themes include Cultivating Emotional Wisdom, Understanding and Transforming Trauma, Applied Mindfulness Practice, and Focusing*.
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*Focusing is Eugene Gendlin's term for a conscious process to pay attention to one's inner experiences, with a purpose of receiving its wisdom and guidance for our life's movement forward. In Focusing, Body includes the physical, emotional, mental, spiritual and energetic body,
Welcome To My Website
Meet Joya
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I was born and raised in India. British, Portuguese and Spanish colonization colored my early life experiences, as did growing up in a religiously diverse community. This has made me sensitive to the influences that systems have upon us. I'm passionate about working towards freedom from their destructive effects. I've lived in Singapore, Canada, and I currently live in Ypsilanti, Michigan.
I honor my blood ancestors who feel present to me in the core of my being. I’m also grateful to the ancestors of this land whose wisdom and love lies in its very soil, and whose efforts and struggles have paved the way for me to make this country my home.
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I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in Michigan and a Certified Focusing Oriented Therapist (International Focusing Institute), with Masters degrees in Social Psychology (University of Mumbai, India) and Counseling (Loyola University, Chicago).
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I trained in the Treatment of Trauma Level I (Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute) and in The Gottman method of Couples Therapy (The Gottman Institute). I am Certified in Indigenous Focusing Oriented Therapy for Complex Trauma (Justice Institute of British Columbia), as well as Indigenous Tools for Living with Shirley Turcotte and her team.
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I am so grateful for the work I do with the beautiful people who come my way; strong enough to be vulnerable, and open to doing their inner work. Each day is an adventure, and each day we move closer to creating a world that is more aware, more understanding and more compassionate.