Experience and Overall Approach
I have lived and worked in the Portland Metro area since 1995 after spending my childhood and undergraduate years on the East Coast. During this time, I have worked in both the private and public sectors, with children, adults and families. I work with clients and families with struggles including; relational difficulties, family conflicts, mood disorders, self-esteem, anxiety and the effects of trauma. I also work often with those who are seeking overall peace, mastery and true meaning in their life. I assist clients with building hope and learning safe ways to cope and function so they can find their own success and truth as individuals, partners and/or family systems.
My passion is to help clients feeling stuck to explore and create new solutions when others have not worked. I have worked for many years with children, adults and families who have struggled with complex and long term mental health needs often combined with substance use and abuse and or/trauma. I have long term experience working with families who have come together through foster care or adoption. I also enjoy supporting adolescents/young adults with developing and practicing successful transitions to adulthood and independence.
My overall therapeutic approach is based in mindfulness and awareness building techniques. I also integrate a wide variety of other approaches depending on the individual needs of each client. These approaches include; Acceptance and Commitment Therapy techniques, Family Systems Theory, CBT, Attachment Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Collaborative Problem Solving emotionally-focused techniques and trauma-based approaches. In my role, I support clients with identifying the source of struggles, and learning effective ways to manage symptoms and develop their own meaning of success. I support clients in defining and honoring their individual needs, beliefs, values and goals. I aim to provide a space for them to explore what is and is not working and to develop tools that assist them in moving toward a better overall quality of life. I work with clients to provide them a safe space to check in, explore and process life's struggles.
Over the years, I have been able to build strong relationships with community mental
health providers, state agencies, educational and court systems in Washington, Multnomah and Clackamas Counties. I have worked directly with providers at many levels of care including day treatment, psychiatric residential, and state hospital. My years of experience include working with clients from a wide array of backgrounds including; cultural and sexual minority groups, clients from a variety of religious and economic backgrounds, and clients who have experienced significant trauma.
My passion is to help clients feeling stuck to explore and create new solutions when others have not worked. I have worked for many years with children, adults and families who have struggled with complex and long term mental health needs often combined with substance use and abuse and or/trauma. I have long term experience working with families who have come together through foster care or adoption. I also enjoy supporting adolescents/young adults with developing and practicing successful transitions to adulthood and independence.
My overall therapeutic approach is based in mindfulness and awareness building techniques. I also integrate a wide variety of other approaches depending on the individual needs of each client. These approaches include; Acceptance and Commitment Therapy techniques, Family Systems Theory, CBT, Attachment Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Collaborative Problem Solving emotionally-focused techniques and trauma-based approaches. In my role, I support clients with identifying the source of struggles, and learning effective ways to manage symptoms and develop their own meaning of success. I support clients in defining and honoring their individual needs, beliefs, values and goals. I aim to provide a space for them to explore what is and is not working and to develop tools that assist them in moving toward a better overall quality of life. I work with clients to provide them a safe space to check in, explore and process life's struggles.
Over the years, I have been able to build strong relationships with community mental
health providers, state agencies, educational and court systems in Washington, Multnomah and Clackamas Counties. I have worked directly with providers at many levels of care including day treatment, psychiatric residential, and state hospital. My years of experience include working with clients from a wide array of backgrounds including; cultural and sexual minority groups, clients from a variety of religious and economic backgrounds, and clients who have experienced significant trauma.