About Ka Shin
Ka Shin, written in Japanese kanji, speaks to the transformation of heart and mind. It is a name that carries deep personal and spiritual significance.
My connection to Ka Shin began long before this psychotherapy practice existed. My parents met in a Zen monastery, where I, too, lived briefly and trained intensively in Zen practice. During my parents’ time at the monastery, my father helped establish a zendo in Washington, DC. This space was named Ka Shin by the Roshi—a place for quiet reflection, disciplined practice, and awakening.
When my father passed a few years ago, I was called to deepen my own Zen path, honoring both him and the dharma lineage that has shaped my life. The name Ka Shin is a bridge—between past and present, between heart and mind, between the wisdom of lineage and the unfolding of the Dharma in the present moment.
Today, Ka Shin Psychotherapy & Wellness reflects that same spirit. It is a space rooted in care, presence, and integrity, where clinical skill and contemplative practice come together in service of healing. It is about transforming our relationship to our suffering, and letting that be a gateway to deeper understanding and freedom. Ka Shin is not about striving to become someone different, but about meeting what is already here with curiosity, steadiness, and compassion—allowing healing to unfold in its own time, with wise effort.
The Story of the Name
About The Therapist Guiding This Work
Hello, I’m Natalie, though in my Zen sangha I’m known as Nyoren. In Zen, when a student receives the precepts, a teacher bestows a dharma name that reflects a person’s true nature and commitment to practice. My name—Nyo (Suchness) and Ren (Lotus)—speaks to my dedication to upholding the precepts, honoring my dharma lineage, and embodying the bodhisattva path in my own way.
There is a Zen expression I love, “no mud, no lotus.” It points to the truth that within difficulty and suffering, there is also the potential for transformation—toward greater understanding, peace, compassion, and freedom.
I share this because this deeply shapes how I am as a therapist. I believe there is a wise and wondrous part of you seeking fuller expression. Even in the midst of suffering, something within you is reaching toward what is true—from the bottom of the pond, toward that bright, iridescent light glinting across the water. Perhaps that is what has brought you here. Both of these are valuable components that deserve to be acknowledged and honored. Together, we work to contact that inner wisdom and allow it to guide the process, gently loosening and transforming patterns that perpetuate suffering while cultivating greater clarity, compassion, and ease.
While Buddhist teachings inform my approach, my work is also grounded in extensive clinical training and experience. I am trained in evidence-based modalities including DBT, exposure-based protocols, and ACT. I am also a registered yoga teacher and have developed and led trauma-informed yoga programming within outpatient treatment settings.
I am especially dedicated to supporting individuals navigating PTSD and trauma related challenges, as well as neurodivergent clients who often benefit from careful, tailored, and attuned care. Please feel free to read more about my approach and who I work well with.
If you’ve read this far, part of you may already sense that a freer, more peaceful, and more connected way of being is possible. I honor that wisdom. If you’re wondering whether I might be someone who could support you on this path, I invite you to reach out—explore the services I offer or make use of the free resources available. Wishing you safety, joy, and freedom on your journey.
NyoRen Natalie Collins, LCSW-C
Reach Out
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