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Westminster Presbyterian 1817 NE 17th Ave, 97212
St. John's Episcopal 2036 SE Jefferson Milwaukie, OR 97222
"Out beyond ideas of wrong doing and right doing, there is a field; I'll meet you there." – Rumi
“Whoever you are, no matter how lonely, the world offers itself to your imagination, calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting - over and over announcing your place in the family of things.” – Mary Oliver
I love my work. For 17 years I have been fortunate to counsel individuals, couples, families, and adolescents as they strive to improve the quality of their lives. Clients and colleagues describe my style as caring, insightful, humorous, open and direct. The people I help often come to counseling feeling “stuck,” weighed down by heavy moods or anxiety, and isolated. They yearn to experience greater joy and ease in their daily life, to recover from past hurts, to feel a deeper sense of meaning in their lives, and to have less conflict with loved ones. Some are searching to find a way to live without addictive behaviors.
Once someone takes the initiative to seek help and change, a remarkable process begins. I am in awe of the intuitive wisdom I see people discover within themselves about what they need to grow. Therapy is not about talking down to you or fitting your experience into a particular theory. Therapy is having a safe, strong relationship with someone you trust, who is by your side as you face what needs to change in your life.
I come to this work with the conviction that human beings desire deep connection. Connection can involve attachment to other people, a sense of spiritual bond to something greater than ourselves, or a sense of belonging in the world. When this desire to connect isn’t satisfied, we can develop unhealthy habits of coping. A safe, supportive relationship with a therapist can be a powerful springboard to create healthier connections in one’s life.
In our society people increasingly live out of balance with the natural world. My therapeutic approach encourages restorative time in nature to help bring our lives into greater balance.
I earned my MA in Integral Counseling Psychology at the California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco, CA, a school devoted to the integration of mind, body and spirit. I also hold a BA from Colgate University. I am a registered intern with the Oregon Board of Licensed Professional Counselors and Therapists.
My clinical experience includes: psychotherapy for individuals, families, and groups. I often work with people who are experiencing the challenges of depression, anxiety, addiction, grief and loss. In addition to crisis intervention and case management, I have educated parents about child development and parenting skills. My theoretical interests include existential psychotherapy, ecopsychology and narrative therapy. For five years I worked with adolescents and families providing extended therapeutic experiences on wilderness expeditions. My personal and professional experience has shown me that the wilderness and experiential activity can be a powerful therapeutic medium and catalyst for change.
