Only by learning to live in harmony with your contradictions can you keep it all afloat.
— Audre Lorde
Hi there, I’m Gavrila.
As a daughter, sister, grief walker, mindfulness practitioner, singer, teacher, and contemplative dreamer, I see awareness and embodiment as essential seeds to cultivate vitality, connection, and aliveness.
As a queer, ashkenazi jewish woman, I know the importance of making room for identity, ancestry, and reclaiming one’s inherent power. As a relational somatic psychotherapist, mindfulness, embodiment, and an intergenerational lens are foundations in our work together. Developing a trusting and safe relationship is a vital support to our collaborative and transformational therapeutic relationship.
All that I do is founded in presence, led by intuition, and deeply reverent to our ancestral and lived history that molds who we are, how we walk in this world, and what we are here to do.
Evolving Therapy
The movement of psychotherapy is only about a century old! Which means that it is still malleable and changeable to meet the needs of those who participate in it. In this video, I speak about ways that I am devoted to exploring the dynamics of the therapeutic container to make it more inclusive for those looking for support.
I am a life-long learner.
There are many lineages of wisdom that have informed the way I support and facilitate.
Master’s degree in Somatic Psychology, California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS)
Bachelor’s in Industrial Engineering, University of Michigan
Advanced Training in Relational Somatic Therapy
Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy apprenticeship with True Yang Therapy
End of Life Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy Training with Psychedelic Research and Training Institute
Dedicated practitioners program in Trauma-sensitive Mindfulness
Co-founder of Trauma-aware Mindfulness Collective
230-hour yoga teacher training and yoga nidra
Meditation facilitator for Dharma Gates; guest facilitator at various Insight meditation groups
Mindfulness teacher and mentor for Spirit Rock Insight Meditation Center and Inward Bound Mindfulness Education
Ongoing participation in extended, silent meditation retreats
A little bit more about my unfolding path
I’m in this work because of my own journey through the profound complexity of being human. I am no stranger to the intangible emptiness that begs for life’s meaning or to the waves of grief that leave us on our knees. Wisdom, compassion, and spirituality are pillars of my survival. Meditation and the earthly feminine rituals of my jewish ancestors saved my life. I am devoted to the human potential for growth and aliveness, and devoted to uncovering and reclaiming innate wholeness.
Deep bow
As ancient wisdom continues to meet the mainstream, native bodies of these philosophies often go unacknowledged. Just as the trauma of assimilation undresses folks of tradition due to the need to survive as they walk across the borders of the United States, ancient technologies lose their heritage bodies when translated for modern, western consumption.
A deep bow to the Buddha’s teachings that have been protected, conserved, and freely offered for over 2600 years.
A deep bow to my own Ashkenazi Jewish ancestors who somehow, through a history of survival, have protected our Hebrew shamanic traditions, rituals, and teachings.
A deep bow to those who stretch, reform, or break systems of oppression
May we remember, respect, and acknowledge.