My therapy style is down-to-earth, nurturing, and supportive. I believe in the healing power of creativity and imagination. I honor deep listening and the healing that comes from the insightful authenticity of what some call “talk therapy.” I sweeten the deal with blessings, honoring one’s spirituality in all forms. I bring over 20 years experience as a community educator, parent trainer, sex education teacher, college faculty, theater director and licensed therapist into my time spent with you.
My training as a therapist offers a unique orientation to psychology that values imagination, indigenous wisdom, and diverse spiritual traditions as tools for transformation. My clinical work is based on an integration of postmodern, humanistic, cognitive behavioral orientations, family systems theory and other modalities that will serve your unique path. I am a Jungian at heart. I honor my work as a Soul Friend, a term from ancient Celtic tradition, and am deeply connected to the natural world.
Education:
I earned my Masters Degree in Counseling Psychology at Meridian University near San Francisco, specializing in a unique postmodern approach to therapy. My training and orientation draws on spiritual traditions, somatic practices, creative arts, mythology, indigenous wisdom, literary and poetic imagination, deep ecology, mystical philosophy, cultural history, and social critique. I spent over 3000 hours interning with a variety of wise teachers/therapist while working in community settings with families living in poverty, adolescents and children and within the Native American community. I have worked with sex offender treatment programs and with youth in juvenile hall. I earned a BA in Theater Arts and hold a teaching credential as well. I spent several years directing “The Vagina Monologues” and working with college age women empowering themselves through sexual healing work.
Experience:
Sexuality:
With over 20 years experience as a Sexuality Educator, I offer couples and individuals a safe place to explore gender, sexuality and relationship issues. I celebrate diversity and am a strong LGBTQ ally. I also offer unique perspectives to women in mid-life transitions and offer rite of passage initiations within your circles of support. Healing from childhood sexual shame, trauma and abuse is a sacred journey. Recreating intimacy in long term relationships is possible.
Couples: This work is all there is. If you are in a committed relationship, you have made a contract whether you know it or not, to own your own shadow or have it shown to you by your beloved. I know, it gets ugly sometimes. Struggling? Of course you are dear ones, it was set up this way. Come and lighten your load, find a new language with which to speak to one another. Whether you are unsure if you are staying or not, it would be my honor to open a few doors from which to choose. I use a non-violent communication tool kit, with suggestions for books, resources in the community and homework assignments. Perhaps just one of you wants to come, trusting that individual therapy is just as powerful and will support your relationship. I support all forms of relationships, am a gay marriage rights supporter for all.
Adolescents:
For 15 years I had the good fortune to direct a healthy sexuality education program with adolescents and parents as a teacher and Peer Education Leader for Planned Parenthood in Northern California. Later, as a mental health clinician, I provided counseling for youth healing from child abuse, trauma and parental drug abuse and neglect. I have designed and led healthy relationship and empowerment trainings for young women in groups homes, high schools and in the community.
College Faculty:
As a part-time College Instructor in Psychology, I taught experiential and dynamic courses on Personal Growth and Development at College of the Redwoods. With a focus on Humanistic Psychology, behavioral change theory, stress management, healthy sexuality and the individuation process, students rated this course consistently high. Change Happens.
Native Americans:
For several years I had the honor of working with Two Feathers Native Family Services, a Native American cultural agency offering child abuse treatment and family therapy.
Learning Disabilities/ Developmental Disabilities:
I also specialize in working with families whose children are unique learners, including learning disabilities, developmental disabilities and those labeled with ADD/ADHD. I offer children and young adults on the Autism spectrum and other cognitive impairments, treatment that includes sensory integration and social/sexual training. I work closely with parents and teachers in a respectful, loving and collaborative way. My adult son was born with Down Syndrome and I have been an avid parent advocate for over 23 years.
Facilitator/Trainer:
I am well known as a Parent-daughter communication workshop facilitator for puberty age girls and older teens. Please see MOTHER DAUGHTER WORKSHOP page on this website. I have presented at national conferences as a Sexuality Educator, leading groups, exploring gender, sexuality and healthy relationships. I am a regular guest speaker for teachers-in-training on Inclusion and how to work with families who have children with disabilities. I have presented training to teachers and counselors on Sexual Harassment, Pregnancy and HIV Prevention and Teen Dating Violence. I have co-designed and facilitated 3 day retreats addressing Gender Issues in Men and Women Relationships that integrate ritual and community building.
Background: Originally from Seattle, I lived in Eugene as a child. I raised a family on the southern edge of the Pacific Northwest where I lived for thirty years in and near Arcata California.
In my spare time I enjoy exploring wild rivers and parks, growing herbs, singing in the Portland Peace Choir playing a variety of string instruments and spending time with my family.