Getting to Know Me Before beginning treatment, I ask clients for a lot of information. It seems only fair that I also share information with you about myself.

Personal Life Born and raised in Missouri (the “Show Me” state and my own state of mind!), I graduated with a BA and MSW from Washington University in St. Louis in 1981. I have been practicing psychotherapy ever since – over 40 years already.

My husband, the artist Tom Seghi, and I had a 44 year relationship before he died suddenly in 2011, leaving me with three beautiful children, six grandchildren and a heart full of fond memories. To maintain my physical and mental health, I eat a mostly plant-based diet, do yoga regularly, and practice mindfulness meditation in the Zen tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh.

Why I Became a Psychotherapist The pain I witnessed in my family of origin and the Holocaust and immigration experience of the generation before me opened my eyes to suffering. Seeking a way to find and share inner peace, I chose to devote my life to the healing arts. I’m grateful for my choice because it allowed me to experience more joy than I imagined possible and to help others transform their lives as well.

My Beliefs I believe suffering can be transformed. Regardless of our history or circumstances, I believe that each of us is capable of achieving happiness. In my experience, the key to successful therapy is holistic, encompassing all aspects of a person – physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual. I trust the creative process of therapy which draws on established scientific knowledge as well as intuition, honoring the innate wisdom of both the client and therapist working together.

Methods of Treatment My educational training is extensive. I have trained in both traditional and more cutting edge treatment methods. Some have been amply researched while others are still in preliminary phases. My scope includes the latest 21st century scientific findings on health as well as the wisdom of classical Chinese medicine. Over the years, I have found traditional therapy alone to be slower and, at times, to reinforce problems rather than help achieve desired solutions. Accordingly, my mind-body approach goes beyond talk therapy. Every session is designed to find the most appropriate and effective treatment for each individual client, whether with talk alone or using energy testing to identify the priority and method of treatment.

Telehealth – Virtual – Distance/Remote Treatments Since March 2020 and the Covid-19 pandemic, I closed my office permanently. Currently I offer virtual sessions, using an online platform with video. Some clients prefer telephone alone. In certain cases, I offer distance or remote sessions which I do without the client present. I report on the session afterwards by email or audio recording.

EDUCATION:

Washington University (B.A, History(1980); MSW, Social Work 1981)
Inter-Regional Society of Jungian Analysts (1984-1989)
Advanced Clinical Hypnotherapy (1992-1999)
Basic and Advanced EMDR training (1997-2000)
Certified BodyTalk Practitioner; Parama College (2004-2007)
Basic & Advan ced PSYCH-K Training (2006-2008)
Bach Flower Essences (2008)
Certified NET (NeuroEmotional Technique) Training I & II (2010-2014)
BodyIntuitive (2019)
Master Level BodyIntuitive Practitioner Training (2021)

PROFESSIONAL WORK EXPERIENCE:

Hillel Foundation; St. Louis, MO – Director of Student Activities (1981-1988)
Jewish Family Services of Miami Beach – District Office Director (1988-1993)
Miami-Dade AHEC, Inc. (Area Health Education Center) – Social Work Consultant & Supervisor (1995-2000)
Laya F. Seghi, Psychotherapy – Private Practice with Individuals, Couples and Groups (1993-Present)
BodyTalk ACCESS – Trainer (2007-2010)
Continuing Education Provider for the FL Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage And Family Therapy, and Mental Health Counseling (2006-2017)