ARE WE A GOOD FIT?

I am a curious, caring, and passionate person. I love my work and can’t think of any greater privilege than being able to share in the lives of others. I do my best work with people who are not afraid to be challenged or to challenge me, and who are willing to try new things (including ideas and beliefs), even if they seem alien or downright outlandish.

My work is inspired by existential and insight-oriented traditions and incorporates body-mind-based therapies such as EMDR and somatic experiencing. I am also a certified hypnotherapist [add link to TOJ]. The extent to which you want to employ any of these interventions I leave mostly up to you but will make recommendations if needed. I am comfortable with whatever process emerges. If you want to talk, we can talk. If you want to breathe, we can breathe.

HOW DID I GET HERE

Becoming a therapist and counselor in my forties, I bring the experience and wisdom of half a life well lived, and the enthusiasm and curiosity of someone at the beginning of a great adventure. Life is nothing less, and wants nothing less but that we take our part in it: courageously, faithfully and above all, with great love.

I have always enjoyed working with people and words, helping others translate lived experiences into meaningful narratives. In the decades prior to my work as a therapist, I covered feature stories as a journalist and travel writer (while living in Germany where I am from), taught yoga, developed a body-mind centered childbirth education program, and published a book about the marriage of yoga and birth. As a doula, I have supported mothers giving birth, and parents grieving the loss of a child.

These experiences flow into my work as a counselor as do over two decades of motherhood, my yoga practice, and the pursuit of love in a committed relationship. Ultimately, it is a humble expression of my gratitude to share my life with others — backed up by my loved ones, and the trees, mountains, and rivers of the Pacific Northwest.

Training and Education:

BA in Journalism, Leipzig University, Germany
MS in Counseling, Portland State University
5-Path® Certified Hypnotherapist (add badge)
EMDR, Level 1 & 2

Spiritual Mentorship Training, Shayne Case

Certified yoga instructor (2001-2008)

DONA Certified birth doula (1999-2003)

Emotionally Focused Therapy, Sue Johnson

Relational Life Institute, Terrence Real
Erotic intelligence, Esther Perel

Gestalt therapy, Contact Institute Portland

Professional memberships:

Other passions:

When I am not seeing clients, I like to read, write poetry,
practice yoga, work on my next book, play with watercolors,
learn playing the accordion,
or head to the forest with my lover.