Who I Am

I came to this work by way of my body. In my healing journey of managing chronic pain in my knees, I found the mind-body practices of yoga, meditation and dance at the age of 18. Through these practices, and later through additional somatic & spiritual practices, I began the long (and ongoing) journey of healing and transforming my relationship to my pain, body and self.  

As a therapist, I am passionate about supporting others to become experts of their own bodies & nervous systems, and in gaining insight into parts of themselves previously kept under subconscious or experienced through tension and pain. This insight includes the recognition that ancestral trauma, and/or the impacts of systems of oppression on our bodies and nervous systems are an essential part of therapy.

My social justice work began in the realm of permaculture, food sovereignty and journalism. This work guided me to understand what it means for an environment to be harmonious, sustainable and productive, and to recognize when there are imbalances.

I humbly strive to ground my practice in an anti-oppression/pro-liberation lens and work from feminist, queer, and consent theories. My work in the mental health field has taught me that trauma shows up in many forms, and that each of us has an incredible capacity for healing and an innate drive towards meaning and wholeness. I continue to grow in holding myself and individuals with privileged identities accountable to the work of dismantling oppressive patterns, and supporting individuals with marginalized identities in their work of healing. I recognize that working with intersectionality is vital so that healing can happen on individual and collective levels.

I am a ritualist who is dedicated to studying and incorporating traditional healing methods. I seek out joy and wonder, spend time with trees and in water, learn from our plant elders, and dance as often as I can. I have had a dedicated yoga practice for the last two decades, which sustains me and informs my work as a therapist. I am trained as a yoga instructor and a Reiki practitioner. I am greatly influenced by the places I have lived and traveled, and the many teachers I have had the privilege of learning from along the way. I live in Portland with my partner and two-year-old child.

My Clinical Background

I received my M.A. in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in Somatic Psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS). Throughout my training at CIIS, I worked in diverse communities, including, offering individual and group therapy at the San Francisco Sheriff Department's Women’s Center in San Francisco, and at the private practice sliding scale clinic, The Center for Somatic Psychotherapy. As an Associate Marriage & Family Therapist, I worked for Grateful Heart Holistic Therapy Center based in Oakland and Berkeley, and as a school-based therapist for Middle & High School-aged students all over the Bay Area. I held a private practice in Berkeley for five years before moving to Portland. I now offer virtual therapy in California and virtual and in-person therapy in Oregon. My in-person office is located in SW Portland (unceded territory of the Multnomah, Wasco, Kathlamet, Clackamas, Cowlitz, Molalla, Tumwater, Watlala, and Tualatin bands of the Chinook peoples, and the Tualatin Band of Kalapuya).

Trainings

EMDR 1 & 2 — 2018

Foundations of Polyvagal Informed Practice, Deb Dana — 2021-2022

Certificate In Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies, Naropa University — 2024

Will We Be A Good Fit?

Hands down, there are a few things that people like most about working with me:

I am emotionally engaged:  I am a great listener and am deeply relational. I talk with you. I don’t just sit back and nod my head. I am in every conversation with you, each step of the way.

I am warm and nurturing while being direct: Many clients describe me as having a unique combination of a warm and nurturing presence, and an intuitive directness. This creates a sense of trust, security and depth in our work.

I go deep.  I am a therapist you come to when you want to deeply engage with life’s tough and messy stuff.  I am there to support you, from a trauma informed lens, in approaching and being with the difficult parts of life with awareness, compassion, and integrity.

I am experiential. I have many clients who come to me who have had countless hours (or years) of traditional talk therapy. They have gained a lot from this work but are wanting to try something different. My approach takes components of traditional talk therapy and combines it with somatic and experiential methods.

Click here to learn more about how I work.