Felix Pekar

My path into therapy has been shaped by both clinical training and long-standing contemplative practices. Over time I’ve become especially interested in how healing happens when people are able to slow down and listen to their internal experience. Many of the struggles people face—anxiety, trauma responses, and emotional overwhelm—are not only psychological but are also held within the body and nervous system. My approach often integrates mindfulness, somatic awareness, and practical tools that help regulate the body while processing difficult experiences. I specialize in working with adults navigating anxiety, trauma histories, identity exploration, and gender-related care. I also offer EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), an evidence-based therapy that can help the brain process and integrate difficult or traumatic memories. For in-person sessions, I offer a unique darkness-informed therapeutic environment designed to support nervous system regulation and deep internal focus. In these sessions, lighting can be reduced or removed to create a low-sensory space that minimizes visual distractions. Many clients find that reduced sensory input allows them to access internal experiences more directly and can deepen the effectiveness of therapies such as EMDR and other somatic approaches. Some people describe this environment as making it easier to turn inward and notice what is happening in the body without the usual pressure of being seen or performing. Alongside my clinical work, I have spent many years engaged in contemplative practice within the Zen Buddhist tradition and will soon be ordaining as a Zen monk. While therapy with me is not religious in nature, this training informs my appreciation for mindfulness, presence, and the role of nervous system regulation in the healing process. My goal is to create a therapeutic space that feels safe, steady, and collaborative—where you can explore your experiences at a pace that respects your nervous system and your own natural process of healing.