Services
- Individual
About My Clients
I specialize in working with adult clients who have experienced complex trauma and are wanting to heal from their trauma. My clients want to learn how their nervous system holds their trauma and for a therapist to understand that working on thoughts alone just doesn't help when nervous system is in fight, flight, freeze or submit (faun). Many of my clients are LGBTQ, particularly transgender or nonbinary. I also have experience working with clients on the autistic spectrum and ADHD.
My Background and Approach
As a retired psychiatric nurse, I decided to return to graduate school to do what I feel most passionate about - mental health counseling. I obtained my degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Oregon State University-Cascades in 2020. Yes, during Covid which meant providing therapy via Telehealth which I continue to do since I can be available to people throughout Oregon. I've been a registered professional associate counselor for three years and specialize in working with adults who have experienced complex trauma. I utilize gentle therapy approaches that are truly trauma-informed. I've been seeing excellent results with Janina Fisher's Trauma-Informed Stabilization Treatment (TIST) and many of my client's report that they feel they have found a therapy that is working for them for the first time. Of course, therapy is not a one size fits all, therefor I work with my clients to find the best approach for them. Sometimes it's integrating multiple approaches.
My Personal Beliefs and Interests
I have a strong social justice part of me that is an ally for all marginalized populations, however, I know that I can best serve those who are marginalized by supporting them and lifting their voices. I'm an ally to the LGBTQ community and I personally align on the queer spectrum. I have a good amount of experience in working with transgender masculine individuals. I've been an atheist for nearly two decades and have worked for an international atheist organization to assist endangered atheists, primarily ex-Muslims. Although I'm an atheist, I also value Buddhism and Daoism and have extensive experience with both. I feel spirituality does not have to be connected to any religion or dogmas but can be what you find within yourself. For me, it's running in the mountains and connecting to the earth. I also greatly value pagan beliefs. Other personal interests - I'm an ultra runner (long distances on trails), I have two Bengal cats that own me, and I love all animals.