Dakota Soto

Introduction: One may assume most people think of sensitivity as the opposite of resilience. At resilient souls, we work together to find strength in the sensitivity. Have you ever felt like no one understands how deeply you feel things? From feelings, to the weight of thoughts, to the energy of others, and even within the space of your environment? Does it sometimes get overwhelming, as if you are not sure how to navigate the high's and low's that these sensations bring? Do you sometimes feel ashamed for feeling things so strongly or intensely, as if you are burdening others, or even yourself? At Resilient Souls, your sensitivity is welcomed and honored. We will help you accept and nurture yourself for all that you are. We will dig into your depths together, creating meaning, awareness, and understanding of your rawest and most vulnerable parts. This will not only allow you to move forward, but tackle each day and relational encounter with increased clarity, direction, wisdom, and emotional maturity. Without the knowledge of How to process one's senses, emotions, thoughts and beliefs, one may experience heightened or sporadic levels of anxious or depressive symptoms, in addition to relationship issues or challenges. One may fear, "Is this ever going to get better? Is this how I will always feel/think/believe/be?" This may lead to a shut down and/or an attempt to numb out. However, these behaviors can only last for so long. Some people think of sensitive people as empaths. Others, such as Elaine Aron, have coined the term HSP to indicate a highly sensitive person. Sometimes sensitivities develop through trauma, and other times through genetics. Regardless, I am referring to those individuals that easily pick up on and perceive/experience the moods of others around them, as well as sudden or minute shifts in their environment. If this sounds familiar to you, I have some thought provoking questions to ask you before considering therapy: What do you typically do in these circumstances? How do your actions affect your relationships? How do you navigate your space? What differences does it make to share space with others? How confident are you in your ability to navigate relationships when you perceive others as sensitive and insensitive? How will you know when these traits are fully harnessed within you? About Dakota and her Approach: I chose to become a therapist to provide a new layer of access to mental health care. The journey began as a school based therapist for three years, then switching to group private practice in 2022. Working in this setting inspired me to start my own practice two years later. I strive for each client to feel comfortable and safe, and will never force an individual to share something that they are not ready to talk about. However, I do not shy away from challenging my clients for their own personal growth. I believe we heal through connecting with other humans that can provide a safe space to rebuild attachments, as well as form healthy beliefs and ideas about the self and others. I mainly cater to the individual from a person centered, internal family systems, and acceptance and commitment therapy perspective. I am internal family systems trained and informed. I will also utilize systems and attachment theory to work with other family members, including partners and parents of teenagers. Experience and Identity: Dakota has nearly a decade of experience in the mental health field. She obtained her bachelor's degree in psychology from Eastern Connecticut State University and her master's degree in family therapy from Nova Southeastern University. She has worked in a variety of settings, from an outreach center for the homeless, to alternative and public schools throughout Tennessee and Florida. She identifies as twice exceptional (2e)/neurodivergent, and as an HSP. She is a child of a divorced family and she is a twin-less twin. She has undergone her own battles with trauma, grief, and death. Dakota strives to be inclusive of all populations. In her free time, Dakota enjoys hiking, traveling, aerial arts, rock climbing, gardening, musical endeavors, and spending time with friends, family, her husband and her two cats. Services and Fees - Individual Therapy: Resilient Souls, PLLC currently offers individual sessions that run for 50 minutes. The initial sessions look more like information gathering, while the following sessions expand in depth. Providers accept United Healthcare/Optum, BlueCross and BlueShield, and Aetna Commercial insurance plans, and Lyra. Tenncare, Meritain Health, Medicaid and Medicare plans are NOT accepted. Our private pay rate is $150 per session. Resilient Souls, PLLC also offers a LIMITED sliding scale for individual sessions. Services and Fees - Couples Therapy: Please note we do NOT accept insurance for couples sessions. Couples sessions are ONLY offered IN-PERSON; NOT virtual. Sliding scale does NOT apply for couples counseling.