Services
About My Clients
If you're like most of my clients, you manage it all - work, the kids, the house, the office party, the neighborhood meet up, the snacks- you get it. Everything is in place and everything is fine. It's fine. You're fine. But you're doing it alone (or it feels like that) and it feels more scattered or stressful than it should be. Then there's the dinner parties- you know the ones- where everyone shares a story from their childhood and you just try to excuse yourself? Yeah, let's talk.
My Background and Approach
I started my career in social work a million years ago at a domestic violence shelter in Bend, OR. From there, I worked at Child Welfare, then OHSU and volunteered at various humanitarian organizations. One quieter day at the ER, I spent about 45 minutes talking to someone who said "Great, when can I reschedule? that was the best therapy session I've had" and while I couldn't reschedule with her (ma'm, this is an emergency department), I did open my private practice and have been doing this for the past ten+ years. I take a relational view to therapy- meaning that I show up as a real person, you'll hear me cuss, you can ask me questions, we can talk about my world view and I'm okay with you challenging it. I'm also a natural teacher- I love teaching folks about their brains, their biology, about history and philosophy and try to make sure you leave more informed than you came in.
My Personal Beliefs and Interests
My work stems from a place of seeing strengths first and offering grace. I believe that people have the capacity to heal and - while therapy is no guarantee of happiness- my clients tell me they feel lighter after we meet. Clinical social work challenges me to question my own assumptions about privilege, identity and norms- as a straight-presenting, totally together seeming queer person with raging ADHD and trauma history, I am familiar with the clash of the internal not matching the external. I really love this work and I take good care of myself to ensure that I can show up fully for you. I participate in peer support, continuing education and, yes, have my own kickass therapist. In my off time, I volunteer with environmental causes (because it's all tied up together and sometimes just cleaning up trash or planting a tree can re-invigorate my drive to help humans) and regularly teach kids about emotional regulation and their brains.