Shay Larken

I received my Masters in Professional Mental Health Counseling from Lewis & Clark College. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), and a National Certified Counselor (NCC). I work with trauma and the ways it manifests in our mind and body, and through our coping strategies and relationship patterns. My work draws from multiple mind-body therapies and theory, including: polyvagal therapy, somatic therapies, Internal Family Systems (IFS) parts work, AEDP, Interpersonal Neurobiology, and mindfulness. I incorporate a bottom-up (somatic) and a top-down (cognitive) approach, where you learn to move into the felt experience of deep emotions and sensations, but also engage your ability to challenge trauma shaped beliefs about yourself and others. I offer a warm and authentic presence, combined with a commitment to staying current on leading research and practices in complex trauma therapy, providing you with a supportive path toward healing, growth, integration, and connection.

I felt a calling for quite some time into a healing profession, but it required a radical life shift, one where I moved into a place of stillness, turned inward, called upon profound courage, and relied on my intuition to choose a new path. I believe we need to widen our lens on trauma so we can honor individual experiences and suffering, and feel the acceptance and support that comes from seeking therapeutic help. I know what it looks like to appear high functioning, but feel tormented and confused by the dark remnants of trauma within the body, beliefs, and relational patterns. While relationships can cause significant harm, relationships can also heal. My calling into this work is rooted in the awareness that we cannot heal alone, and recovering from trauma and how it shows up in our life must tend to all of you - your mind, body, emotions, and soul. I believe we heal when we are seen, heard, and known. Seeking help is brave and your inquiry will be met with compassionate attention.