About Andrea
Professional Education:
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT)
University of Denver, Graduate School of Social Work, Masters Degree (MSW)
Colorado College, Masters Degree In the Art of Teaching (MAT)
Cornell University, Bachelor’s Degree in Human Development
Certifications and Links:
Mindfulness Practice
Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFT)
NET (Neuro-Emotional Technique)
EMDR (Eye Movement & Desensitization Reprocessing)
The Enneagram
Imago Relationship Therapy
Book:
Eating My Way to God, A Food Addict’s Journey to Freedom
Self-published by Andrea Silver, email me for details
More about Me
Since I was a child I always had the sense of something more to life than what meets the eye. I spent my time reading and being in nature. My first teachers were my grandparents. My grandmother was fun-loving and very emotional and my grandfather had a daily spiritual practice. I carry them both with me now. When I was 11 I read my first book about personal and spiritual growth and that began a life-long passion.
I was overweight until my early thirties. After many years of trying everything else, learning to accept my emotions and love myself as I was, allowed me to lose weight. I wrote a book called Eating my Way to God, A Food Addicts Journey to Freedom.
This book is the book I wish I had when I was struggling with eating issues. My suffering with food and weight has taught me to understand other peoples suffering. I bring this sense of accepting people as they are to my work.
I discovered yoga and meditation at 26. I was very anxious and self-critical and found it difficult to relax. I couldn’t even sit still long enough to take a bath. As I continued my practices I began to experience an inner stillness and more joy. At the same time I started counseling and began to learn that my ruthless inner critic had an opinion of me that I didn’t always have to share. The cloud of self-doubt I lived in was lifting and I began to feel more vibrant and effective. Sharing this experience of growth with others became a strong force within me. I decided I wanted to do counseling professionally and returned to school. In thirty years of practice I always have loved learning new techniques and tools to grow. It makes my work fresh and new as well as richly rewarding.
My daughter has been a powerful teacher. Loving Monnya and being loved by her has stretched open my heart in a way I never thought possible. A single parent, I taught my daughter to trust in her own judgment as I learned to trust in mine. I also learned to ask for help. Monnya has inspired me in my writing and sculpting because of her dedication to creativity. Raising a true artist has helped me to learn to encourage others in the fullest expression of all that they are.
Practicing hatha yoga as a student and now as a teacher gives me a chance to feel more flexible and powerful in my body and to share that with others . Laughter Yoga has given me an outlet for my silly playfulness and provides a good balance for my serious side. It is so much fun to bring laughter to others and to watch people melt their masks of self-protection and enjoy themselves.
Three of my favorite things to do are connecting with people in a meaningful way, being in nature and moving my body around. I love hiking, walking and biking, alone and with friends. I also enjoy reading and meditating.
Integrating mind, body and spirit and stretching into all that I am beyond my ideas of smallness have been a life-long journey. In it I embrace a deeper connection with myself, others and the universe. It is a great privilege to share this journey of growth with you.