Research Interests

Dr. Pearson Trimbach’s research interests include integral relational psychotherapy, Bionian and post Bionian psychoanalysis, integral psychology and psychotherapy, transpersonal psychology and psychotherapy, dreams, music, voice, psychological defenses, sexuality, embodiment, spirituality, nonduality, mysticism, and creativity.  

Biography

Dr. Pearson Trimbach is a licensed clinical psychologist in California and New York. She is also a licensed psychotherapist (LMFT in California and LMHC in Washington) and a nationally board-certified music therapist (MT-BC). In summer 2020, Dr. Pearson Trimbach joined the core faculty in the Clinical Psychology Department at CIIS. Previously, she has taught doctoral students at Alliant International University in San Francisco, undergraduate and graduate students at Naropa University, and graduate students at John F. Kennedy University and Notre Dame de Namur University. 

Dr. Pearson Trimbach's more than 20 years of licensed clinical work includes experience in private practice, as well as at medical centers and hospitals (serving inpatients and outpatient clients), community clinics, and mental health centers. In these settings, she has worked with adults, children, adolescents, couples and groups. Her clinical background includes depth oriented training and practice in psychoanalytic, psychodynamic, integral, relational, humanistic, cognitive behavioral, expressive arts, somatic, existential, contemplative and transpersonal therapy, applied in both brief and long term modalities. 

Across a range of clinical settings, Dr. Pearson Trimbach has provided crisis intervention, assessment, brief therapy, group therapy, music therapy and depth psychotherapy, from an integral relational perspective. Dr. Pearson Trimbach's private practice of Integral Relational Psychotherapy is in Oakland, on the border of Emeryville, in the East Bay, where she provides to residents of California, New York and Washington. Dr. Pearson Trimbach's research interests include relational psychotherapy, Bionian psychoanalysis, integral psychology and psychotherapy, dreams, psychological defenses, music, voice, sexuality, spirituality, nonduality, and creativity. Beyond her formal training, clinical experience, and teaching in psychology, Dr. Pearson Trimbach’s work with patients is informed by dedicated personal practice and study in meditation, music, yoga, and dreaming. She is a singer and songwriter; she has recorded seven albums of music, six of which are composed of original songs, one of which is an acapella recording of Tibetan Buddhist songs of realization. Her music can be heard on most major music distribution services including Apple Music and Spotify as Willow Pearson, The Watermoons, and Willow Pearson Trimbach, and through her music website, Lionessroars. The musicality of being, and listening to, learning from, and being in relationship with our dreams and nightmares of the day and night, are specializations of Dr. Pearson Trimbach’s practice, teaching, writing, and composing.

Education

PsyD, The Wright Institute, Clinical Psychology  
MA, Naropa University, Transpersonal Counseling Psychology, concentration in Music Therapy  
BA, Stanford University, Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies

Awards & Distinctions

White Rose Scholarship recipient, 1999    
Naropa Scholarship, 1997-1999

Courses

The Unconscious as Personal and Social Process         
The Transpersonal        
Professional Seminar         
Dissertation

Publications

Articles

Pearson Trimbach, W. (2024). Listening to psychoanalytic conversations with states of spirit possession. Book review: Psychoanalytic conversations with states of spirit possession: Beauty in brokenness, by Shalini Masih. Fort Da: The Journal of the Northern California Society for Psychoanalytic Psychology, 30(2).

Pearson Trimbach, W. (2024, January 22). Dreaming with Dr. Pearson Trimbach. California Institute of Integral Studies, Faculty Interview. 

Pearson Trimbach, W. (2024). Welcoming dreams. In L. Daws and K. Cohen (Eds.), Primary Process Impacts and Dreaming the Undreamable Object in the Work of Michael Eigen: Becoming the Welcoming Object, Routledge.

Pearson Trimbach, W. (2024). On the way to the altar: An illustration of transpersonal psychoanalytic psychotherapy. International Journal of Transpersonal Studies, 43(1).

Pearson Trimbach, W. (2023, Fall issue). Psychic rhythms. Book review: Commentaries on the work of Michael Eigen: Oblivion and wisdom, madness and music, by Robin Bagai. Fort Da: The Journal of the Northern California Society for Psychoanalytic Psychology. 

Pearson Trimbach, W. (2023, September). Psyche's score: Music of the integral psychodynamic sphere and its orbits. Integral Review, 18(1). 

Pearson Trimbach, W. (2023). Wedding song. Clio’s Psyche: The Psychology of Music, Musicians, and its Impact on the Individual and Society. International Psychohistorical Association, 29(3).

Pearson Trimbach, W. (November 21, 2022). Integral relational practice of dreaming the caesura. Part 1: Opening further through the spiritual psyche. Part 2: Dreaming Charlotte Small Thompson. Jung Journal: Culture & Psyche, 16(4) 

Pearson Trimbach, W. (November 21, 2022). Windows of faith: Collective resistance and creative process in mourning the disappearances in Kashmir. Jung Journal: Culture & Psyche, 16(4). 

Pearson Trimbach, W. & Haq, S. (November 21, 2022). Dreaming, mourning, transformation, and truth: Shifa Haq and Willow Pearson Trimbach in conversation. Jung Journal: Culture & Psyche, 16(4).

Pearson, W. (March, 2021). Elemental contact: From madness to mysticism. Celebrating the work of Michael Eigen. In K. Cohen and K. Fuchsman (Eds.) Healing, Rebirth and the Work of Michael Eigen: Collected Essays on a Pioneer in Psychoanalysis. Routledge. 

Pearson, W. (2019). Opening to the Challenge. Fort Da: The Journal of the Northern California Society for Psychoanalytic Psychology, 25(1), 68-71. 

Grotstein, J.S. & Pearson, W. In Conversation on Caesura and Reversible Perspective Fort Da: The Journal of the Northern California Society for Psychoanalytic Psychology, 22(1), 51-60. 

Pearson, W. (2015). Binocular Vision: Seeing through the Two I's of Privilege and Oppression. Women's Therapy Center, Berkeley, CA

Pearson, W. (2015). Sublimation/Dilation of Desire, Held Separately Together in a Moment of Being O. Integral Relational Therapeutic Arts, Oakland, CA

Pearson, W. (2014). Dreaming Integral. Journal of Integral Theory and Practice, 9(2), 162-168.

Pearson, W. (2013). Seeking Mutual Recognition through the Matrix of Projective Transidentification. Women's Therapy Center, Berkeley, CA

Pearson, W. (2013). Psyche's Lantern: Illuminating the Co-emergence of Idealism and Realism. Integral Relational Therapeutic Arts, Berkeley, CA

Pearson, W. (2007). Integral Counseling and a Three-Factor Model of Defenses. Counseling & Values: Journal of the Association for Spiritual, Ethical and Religious Values in Counseling, 51(3), 209-220.  

Pearson, W. (2006). The Development of Desire. Journal of Integral Theory and Practice, 1(2).

Books

Pearson, W. & H. Marlo (2021). The spiritual psyche in psychotherapy: Mysticism, intersubjectivity, and psychoanalysis. Routledge.