With an empathic and warm demeanor and a focus on relationships, I combine the development of personal connection and personal growth. I consistently look for creative ways to help people identify their strengths and to look for opportunities to heal and develop.
I use a caring and gentle approach to support individuals and their families with the often overwhelming complexity of life. Therefore, I will often include family members in therapy sessions and I’m always looking for opportunities to expand the supportive network of my clients.
I strongly believe in looking at a person as a whole and how all parts of their life affect who they are and how they are able to show up. We are all most successful when we are able to see and understand that everything we do either connects us with others or leaves us feeling disconnected.
I’ve been working as an individual, couples & family therapist or social worker since 2006. I received my master’s degree in applied behavioral science with a focus on systems counseling from The Leadership Institute of Seattle at Bastyr University. I hold a bachelor’s degree from San Francisco State University. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Oregon. I’ve complete Level 1 Couples Clinical Training in the Gottman Method as well as Level 1 Relational Life Therapy with Terry Real.
I come from a blended family, with full, half and stepsiblings. I have lost a parent and come through a challenging divorce stronger and more able to connect to others with similar challenges. I am empathic to the complex emotions and binds of being a sensitive person in relationships with friends, colleagues and family members who don’t always value those traits. As Hemingway said, “The world breaks everyone, and afterward, some are strong at the broken places.”
Who I Serve
Couples
This can be you: It’s possible to spend time with your partner having fun, laughing and smiling. Remember what it was like to be excited about seeing your partner when things were new? It can be like that again. You can enjoy activities, conversations, time together. You can get through tough interactions with family, friends, chores, challenges and still be talking to each other afterward. You can feel as though your partner knows you and likes you and wants to be with you. You can stop fighting and start talking. You can stop giving each other the cold shoulder and start holding hands again.
WHY COUNSELING NOW: It may be a matter of the relationship nearing an end. You might not be able to do this anymore if something doesn’t change. Or it might just be that something is changing and it’s time to work on getting more out of the relationship.
We expect our romantic relationship to meet many of our needs if not all of them. We expect it to be a perfect match and when it’s not, it may seem like there’s someone else out there that we should be with instead. It helps to explore needs we have that we might not even be aware of. It helps to learn to ask for our needs in a way that our partner can understand and be supportive of.
Men
This can be you: It’s ok to want what you want. You can have a meaningful relationship with friends, parents, bosses and romantic partners. You don’t have to feel stuck and bored in your life. You can feel smart, skilled, good enough and you can have what you want in your life.
Challenges: This is a complex time to be a male in Portland. There are so many mixed messages from our parents, friends, bosses, women, other men about how we should be. It’s hard to know how to win and how to do life well with so many different messages coming at you about how to be and what’s expected.
Divorce: It’s hard to move on after a relationship ends. How do you move forward? How do you have your feelings? How can you grieve and move past the relationship?
Men’s Groups: I lead multiple men’s groups. The deep relational insights that lead to powerful movement in the lives of the men in my groups humbles me. Ask me about joining a men’s group.
WHY COUNSELING NOW: Has a relationship ended? Are you getting nowhere in your job? Are you chronically single? Are you feeling bored in your romantic relationship? Are you feeling stuck and alone? Are you feeling angry at your parents? Do you feel like you’re turning to women or one woman for too many of your needs?
Blended Families
This can be you: Your child is doing well at school. You and your partner are getting along and able to enjoy your time together. Your ex-partner is able to have a conversation with you about your kids and you’re able to maintain good levels of consistency between your homes. You feel like you can do this and everything is going to be alright.
What to expect: Sessions will include as many family members as are willing to get involved. We will include any supportive people and people who can learn to be supportive.
WHY COUNSELING NOW: Things have gotten pretty challenging and it’s time to start making some changes. Things can get better. Let’s work together to make that happen now.
LGBTQ
This can be you: You feel powerful in your life and your relationships. You feel good about yourself and like good things await you in the future. The world seems abundant and like you have many options in front of you.
Challenges: You’re struggling to feel powerful in your relationships with family, friends and at work. You’re not getting along with your parents or having family relationships that feel satisfying. You’ve just had a breakup and feeling depressed and anxious. You want more.
WHY COUNSELING NOW: You’re looking to meet too many needs from one romantic relationship. Things aren’t working right now. You’re not meeting anyone that’s a good fit for you romantically. You’re wanting something different than what seems available out there.
