Services
- Individual
About My Clients
You work so hard at acting “as if”—as if you’ve got it all together, as if it’s all under control, as if your losses are no big deal. You wonder why you feel exhausted, angry, numb, constantly worried, and too often sad. Painful memories pop up when you least expect them, and you try to ignore them—but sometimes you can’t. You’ve learned to hide how inadequate and hopeless you feel in trying to cope. And you wonder, what am I doing here? What is this all for? Why all this suffering?
My Background and Approach
I have a background in family and individual therapy, obtained my MA in Marriage and Family Therapy from Saybrook University, and worked in public mental health for two very different county agencies in Oregon for over 5 years. I have worked with trauma, loss of loved ones, relationship problems, and life transitions; I know they can feel like open wounds that challenge a person's sense of self and purpose. I offer you compassionate support as you discover how to heal, and find new meaning in your life. A variety of approaches may be needed. My style is intuitive and creative; treatment can include art, role play, mindfulness, and various psychodynamic/depth techniques.
My Personal Beliefs and Interests
I believe that social issues have as much to do with how we function and whether we thrive as personal or familial issues; we often can’t control what’s going on around us, and feeling tremendous stress at social injustice, bias, racism, sexism, homophobia, ageism, and environmental degradation (for example—you can substitute your own list) means we are human and we feel and care. I believe that we aren’t meant to suffer alone, and that access to good physical and mental health care is a human right; I also believe that if I’m working harder than my client, we’re not getting anywhere. I support work to end sexism, homophobia, racism, social injustices, and environmental destruction. I have enjoyed working with clients from different backgrounds, ethnicities, and belief systems, as well as clients who are LGBTQ. I am a married mother of two fantastic adult humans and a not-quite-adult cat. I am also an artist and writer.