Approach & Philosophy
Life can be painful and difficult. You might be feeling stuck , exhausted, or hopeless. It takes immense courage to reach out and I consider it an honor to accompany you on your journey, no matter where you are in that process. I hope to help you feel not so alone and better able to navigate the challenges you are facing.
My hope is that you will experience therapy to be a positive, collaborative, and transformative process where you will find greater relief and fulfillment. I strive to create an environment where clients feel deeply heard, understood, and cared for. Through our work together, you will develop awareness, insights, and tools that can move you towards your goals and improved wellbeing.
My clients would describe me as compassionate and validating, but on the more direct and confrontational side. I work to balance providing support that is warm and empathetic with challenge and feedback and believe these are essential in facilitating meaningful change.
I approach this work from a psychodynamic, attachment focused lens. Our early experiences with caregivers and family of origin impact our understanding of ourselves and the world and can affect our current ways of interacting and being. I will help you explore the intersection of where the past meets the present. I also believe it is important to address the different areas of your life (i.e. cultural/social pressure, work, relationships) that can add to stress and how you might be affected by greater systems of oppression. My work is heavily influenced by trauma informed, social justice, and anti-oppression perspectives. I utilize skills and concepts from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in addition to CBT, DBT, EMDR, Polyvagal Theory, somatic approaches, and mindfulness.
Author Martha Beck states “You hold the keys to your own healing.” I truly believe that each individual is the expert in their life and I hope to partner with them to help them uncover and reclaim their innate strengths.
Education & Training
I received my bachelors degree in Psychology and Women’s and Gender Studies from University of Oregon in 2007. I received my masters degree in counseling psychology from Lewis & Clark College in 2015 with a concentration in children and adolescents. For the first three years of my career, I worked exclusively with children and adolescents, but since then have worked with ages 14+ and throughout the lifespan. I have many years experience working in the mental health field in outpatient and residential settings. The bulk of my work has focused on addressing the impact of trauma.
My main areas of interest and experience are working with children and teens, survivors of trauma, adoptees, and LGBTQIA+ individuals. I am a certified clinical trauma professional with an additional certification in complex trauma, somatic interventions for trauma, and the Safe and Sound Protocol. I am formally trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and ACT and have extensive training in Polyvagal Theory. For more information about EMDR, please click here. I am a graduate of the Training for Adoption Competency (TAC) and have earned the C.A.S.E Training for Adoption Competency certificate. Although I work primarily with adoptees, I am able to work with all members of the adoption constellation. Additionally, I have completed the advanced training through Neuroptimal (c) and can provide neurofeedback sessions.
I am also a board approved supervisor candidate and am able to provide supervision for LPC interns working towards licensure. Karen Hixson provides supervision of my supervision.
Who I am
she/her/herself
Although, I spent the first seven years of my life in Atlanta, GA, I consider Oregon my homebase and have spent the majority of my life in Portland and Eugene. I am an intercountry transracial adoptee and identify within the LGBTQIA+ community. I am deeply committed to working with those within those communities in addition to other marginalized groups. I am happily married, consider myself a foodie and an animal lover, and enjoy long distance running, trips to the coast, and reality television.
I feel very fortunate to have a career that I love. It is a true honor to work so deeply with others, to be a part of their journey, and to witness their healing. I find this work immensely rewarding and consistently find myself moved by the courage and strength of my clients.
