Services
About My Clients
I have worked in a number of areas of mental health including youth, teens, adults, severe mental illness, substance use, LGBT+, and BIPOC. I enjoy working with anyone who is willing to do work to improve their lives through skill building, personal development, introspection, and integration. For many years I wanted to work with the kink, LGBT+, sex positive, young adult population. As I have gained more experience, I have also come to appreciate working with parents and substance use issues.
My Background and Approach
I am licensed in Oregon and Washington to provide mental health and substance use therapy. My graduate program focused extensively on group therapy, psychodynamic, and Buddhist psychology. I am passionate about Jungian psychodynamic work. I was introduced to dialectical and cognitive behavior therapies in the early 2000s and continue to use them. I recently have been exploring and integrating acceptance commitment therapy into my work. I am trauma-centered and believe a lot of mental health issues stem from trauma. I use introspection and skills training to work with anxiety, mood issues, and motivation. I do not use a lot of homework apart from practicing the skills and bringing in areas of focus in therapy. Occasionally, I will provide family and couples therapy. I am system-oriented and provide supportive and structured work with families and couples. I will also provide parenting skills to parents when working with their children. I also practice integrated care with providers.
My Personal Beliefs and Interests
I am an active member in the kink and LGBT+ communities. I am a single parent, divorced, with my child surviving the death of another parent. I identify as biracial and long to reconnect to my Native American ancestry. I recognize having White Privilege and many of the "hardships" in my life are minimal in comparison to many BIPOC individuals. I was raised Catholic and for many years sought different connections through Christianity. I eventually found solace in Paganism and Buddhism, though continue to explore other faiths and value systems. I love science fiction, fantasy, role-playing, story telling, and other aspects of life where we can creatively express ourselves.