Welcome

Lilac Wellness is a space for Utah teens and adults to soften into healing through an embodied approach to psychotherapy. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker trained in the Trauma Conscious Yoga Method, Internal Family Systems (IFS), EMDR, and more, Paulina Dryden’s therapeutic framework is rooted in compassion, mind-body connection, and person- centered values. Together, you will explore your story, values, beliefs, strengths, and barriers in a nonjudgmental space, cultivate trust in yourself, and develop skills to help you deal with the hardships of life. Come as you are.

An Embodied Approach

“Embodiment” is the awareness of and connection between the body and mind. This is an important consideration in therapy because the body holds onto conscious and unconscious memories. While assigning language to our past and present feelings is incredibly healing, a sole focus on talking about wounds and traumas can sometimes reinforce negative beliefs, and may leave you feeling stuck in therapy. Contemporary research and ancient wisdom from people of the global majority (Indigenous, African, Asian and Latin American cultures) posit that healing can be facilitated through a loving blend of vulnerable, reflective conversation and body-based work, including breathwork, meditation, and gentle movement.

Practice Offerings and Specializations

Paulina specializes in working with teens (13+) and adults with issues related to:

  • OCD
  • Trauma, PTSD, and/ or symptoms that might be commonly associated with “personality disorders”
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Attachment wounds
  • Self Esteem
  • Faith and life transitions

You deserve to be treated with the utmost dignity and care as you navigate your healing journey, which is why Lilac Wellness offers a non-pathologizing approach to therapy. While diagnostic labels can sometimes provide understanding and even empowerment, you are not a disorder or diagnosis; rather, a soul with many beautifully complex parts, all worthy of love and understanding. Let’s explore them and their stories together.

At Lilac Wellness, it is important to uphold values that reflect the mission to cultivate connection, compassion, and trust in the self. Paulina is deeply devoted to upholding LGBTQIA+ safe, anti-racist, and body inclusive values.

Meet Paulina

Outside of being a therapist, I am a sister, daughter, auntie, friend, and bunny mom. I grew up in various places (Oregon, Arizona, Pennsylvania, Nevada, Pennsylvania again) but moved to Utah in 2017, where I began my studies at Utah State University and graduated in 2022 with my Master’s in Social Work. I love to write, read, draw, wander around, and be with loved ones.

Thanks to the wisdom of mentors, clients, colleagues, researchers, activists, kids, parents, artists, yogis, friends, and many, many other healers… everything I have learned has become and will continue to become Lilac Wellness.

Rates and Coverage

Individual sessions are $125 per session. Paulina is currently accepting SelectHealth insurance and self pay clients.

If you are interested in working with Paulina but are out of network, many insured individuals are able to contact their insurance company and access an out of network benefit coverage (submitting a super-bill and receiving reimbursement). Contact your insurance provider to see if this is an option. If so, ask if there are specific diagnoses required for coverage, how much the insurance will cover, as well as the process for filing an out of network claim.

Resources

  • Click here to access a Salt Lake County General Resource List

    Resources and support specific to immigrants and loved ones

    Making a Family Preparedness Plan (via Informed Immigrant, Utah Immigrant Advocacy Coalition)
    It is important to find, make copies, and organize into a binder all important personal documents: IDs, birth certificates, marriage, medical, financial and school records, and immigration records, etc.
    Identifying guardians and establishing power of attorney
    Saving/ setting aside money for potential legal expenses
    Securing passports (Acquiring passports for your child is helpful because if you or another family member has to leave the U.S. and is unable to return to the country for an extended period of time, your child can travel with you or visit you regularly)
    Protecting your financial assets (house, car, bank account, etc.)
    Click here to access free, fillable Family Preparedness Plans in English and Spanish

    Click here to locate someone who has been detained by ICE

    What to do when stopped by ICE or asked for citizenship status
    Healthcare providers are not required to ask you for citizenship status. This may be asked for Medicaid purposes, but in most cases is completely unnecessary.
    If approached by ICE:
    Do not open the door
    You have the right to remain silent
    They must have an official JUDICIAL warrant
    Do not sign anything

    Getting legal help/ renewing DACA
    Click here to access the National Immigration Law Center

    Safe ways to find joy
    Identify safe people and spaces
    Participate in community events (your local library is a great place to start!)
    Take breaks from social media and the news
    Connect with nature
    How does your body feel most liberated? Swimming? Dancing? Spoken poetry? Do that!
    Coping with DACA related stress

    Affirmations
    I am allowed to be here.
    I have just as much right to exist here as anyone else.
    No one is “illegal” on stolen land.
    There are activists and allies that are fighting with and for me.
    I give myself permission to take breaks and to be so gentle with myself.
    There are people who love and support me.
    It is safe to experience all of my feelings, including joy, grief, rage, and love.

    Mental Health Help
    Find no to low cost services via UndocuHealth (unitedwedream.org)
    National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Call or Text 988. Also available in Spanish.
    National Alliance on Mental Health: Call 1-800-950-6264 or Text NAMI to 741741
    Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
    LGBT National Hotline: 1-888-843-4564
    The Trevor Lifeline: 1-800-565-8860. Also available in Spanish.
    Trans Lifeline: 1-888-843-4564
    BIPOC Blackline: Call or Text 1-800-604-5841
    National DV Hotline: Call 1-800-799-7233 or Text LOVEIS to 22522
    National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-4673
    National Child Abuse Hotline: Call or Text 1-800-422-4453
    The Eldercare Locator: 1-800-677-1116

    Local resources
    Visit Utah Immigrant Advocacy Coalition

    Websites
    unitedwedream.org
    National Immigration Law Center (www.nilc.org)
    Informed Immigrant (informedimmigrant.com)
    Immigrants Rising (immigrantsrising.org)

    Recommended Reads

    Attached by Amir Levine and Rachel Heller: Learn the science behind relationship attachment, how to identify your own attachment style as well as your (prospective) partner’s, and how to work toward secure attachment and achieve harmony in yourself and in your relationships. Whether you are single, dating, or married, this is a must read!

    Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer: A must read from a Native American ecologist that works to help readers form a meaningful connection to the land. With belonging and connection being vital to the healing process, we must consider and explore our belonging and connection, not only to the people in our lives, but to our environment.

    No Bad Parts by Richard Schwartz: From the creator of IFS (parts work), this book provides a compassionate, foundational approach to discovering how our parts- especially the parts of us we dislike- are trying to protect us and what we can do to heal the wounds.

    You Are the One You’ve Been Waiting For by Richard Schwartz: Also from the creator of IFS, this book is relationship-focused and helps readers learn how to nourish and sustain healthy relationships by cultivating trust and awareness in your Self first.

    When Panic Attacks by David Burns: This book provides information on how to overcome panic and anxiety without medication, as well as explores the dangers of an overly medicated society.

    Intuitive Eating by Elyse Resch and Evelyn Tribole: How to make peace with food and break free from the shackles of diet culture, from a body-neutral perspective.

    DBT for Highly Sensitive People by Emma Lauer: A very compassionate guide to dealing with life as a highly sensitive person.

    Set Boundaries, Find Peace by Nedra Glover Tawwab: If you struggle to set boundaries in your life, this book might be for you! A gentle step-by-step guide to communicating your needs and boundaries more effectively.

    Waking the Tiger by Peter Levine and Ann Frederick: This is a body-based approach to healing that focuses on releasing unmetabolized trauma through movement.

    Definitions Relevant to Lilac Wellness

    Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): A therapeutic framework that helps people develop psychological flexibility to manage difficult thoughts and emotions. Rather than eliminating unpleasant or “negative” thoughts and feelings, this approach is about accepting them as part of life while committing to actions aligned with personal values. 

    Embodiment: The practice of being aware of and attending to your body’s sensations and bridging the gap between mind and body. Read more here

    Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP): As the gold standard approach to OCD and anxiety, this framework is broken up into two parts: the exposure and the response prevention. From the International OCD Foundation’s website, “The exposure component of ERP refers to practicing confronting the thoughts, images, objects, and situations that make you anxious and/or provoke your obsessions. The response prevention part of ERP refers to making a choice not to do a compulsive behavior once the anxiety or obsessions have been triggered.”

    Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy: An approach to processing and reducing emotional intensity of traumatic events and negative believes through bilateral stimulation (eye movements, tapping, buzzers, etc.).

    Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT): A skills-based approach designed to help people regulate their emotions, learn mindfulness, improve relationships, and increase distress tolerance. “Dialectical” is acknowledging that two seemingly opposing things can be true at the same time.

    Internal Family Systems (IFS): Through IFS, we look at each human as having a complex system of inner parts- some that hold the wounds of life and others that protect us from feeling that pain again. Even though we all have parts, we also all have a Self- the essence of our being that holds inner wisdom and healing; it is the core of who we are and not a part.

    Person Centered Therapy (PCT): A non-directive approach that encourages compassionate exploration of the client’s beliefs and values (rather than what the therapist thinks the client should do), empowering clients to make values-based decisions.

    Somatic Experiencing (SE): A body-oriented therapy model that aims to resolve symptoms of stress, shock, and trauma that accumulate in our bodies and nervous systems. Read more here.

Connect with Paulina

Email: paulina@lilacwellnesstherapy.com

Instagram: @lilacwellnesstherapy