Neuro-spicy
I am neurodivergent. Sharing a little bit about what a client can anticipate with my flavor of neuro-spice seems legitimate as individuals try to assess if they might like working with me. I have solid pattern recognition skills, a direct talking style, and a strong sense of justice. I care deeply about people, I am an active listener, and I also look at the person speaking. However, while I talk, I will often not be looking in the direction of the person I’m speaking to. Don’t worry, I wont turn and talk to the wall. I will mostly likely talk with my hands and will give check-in glances. In the session room, my sense of empathy can show up as sharing a relatable story and/or techniques that have worked for me within the contexts of what is relevant to was shared by the client.
It’s important to me to continue to build report and keep a connection with clients, while also being my authentic self. My time with clients is focused on the greater good of the client. I ask questions and share what I feel might be helpful for the client.
My Intention
I work with adult Oregon and Washington residents, for individual mental health counseling, via telehealth. I utilize modalities of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and Internal Family Systems (IFS) – informed. My intention is to create and maintain a therapeutic connection and environment that is a safe
Working with telehealth, I am mindful of building rapport, provide insights to keep transparency, and connection within sessions.
I acknowledge and honor the tribes, and stewardship of the land I live and work on. I stand in solidarity with their past and current painful experiences and enormous losses. I celebrate and honor their past and current languages, traditions, and practices of their cultures providing the privilege to work via tele-health;
(Source, https://native-land.ca/).
Background
I spent over 10 years working with those who found themselves having a horrible set of days, months, and sometimes years. You know, when life hits hard and keeps hitting. When life is too consistent with being overwhelming and traumatic. I spent a year working in hospice care – home health. I spent six years working direct patient care in hospitals. I spent a year working at a nonprofit supporting those who were without the support for housing. I spent a year serving the community at a mobile needle exchange program. In all of these settings I have been honored to show up holding space for love, compassionate care, and with the comfort of resources.
I love being a mental health counselor. I am a trauma therapist in part because of what the trauma I have been through, and in part what I have seen others go through. Although, similar traumatic events can be experienced by a community, I honor how different trauma can show up due to history, culture, and the individual meaning given to events.
Education
I earned my Master’s of Science degree, Mental Health Counseling graduate program, from Western Oregon University. My Bachelor’s of Science degree, Psychology Major, is from University of Oregon.
Continued Training
“A Neurologically-Informed Treatment of OCD: Breaking Free from Obsessions, Worry, and Avoidance”, with Catherine Pittman, PhD, HSPP; 2026, 3 CEUs
“Treating Complex Trauma with IFS Therapy”, with Frank Anderson, MD; 2025, 12.5 CEUs
“Treating Trauma with IFS: step-by step procedures for healing trauma, anxiety, depression, and more”, with Dr. Frank Anderson, Dr. Alexia Rothman, and Nancy Sowell, LICSW; 2023, 4 CEUs
“Making it Matter with DBT Micro-Interventions”, with Dr. Ursula Whiteside; 2023, 2 CEUs
“Let’s Listen to our Youth: Strategies to Engage Black Youth in Mental Health Care”, with Aijah K. B. Goodwin, PhD.; 2023, 1 CEU
“Attachment-Focused EMDR: Healing Developmental Deficits and Adults Abused as Children”, with Laurel Parnell, PhD, Clinical Psychologist, EMDR Trainer; 2022, 9.25 CEUs
Supervision
- The standards required by the Oregon Board of Counselors and Therapist states that supervision is mandatory until I meet criteria for my Licensed Professional Counseling (LPC).
My supervisors consults with me, guides me, and are a resource to enrich my capacity as a counselor. You are welcome to reach out to my supervisors with any questions and/or concerns about my care.
@ Connections First: Ebony Holly, LPC; E: ebony@connectionsfirst.org, P: 503-427-1952
@ Emerald Behavioral Health: Maegan Mexicotte, LPC:E: maegan@ebhoregon.com, P: 541-224-7585
@Pulto Mental Health: Lesley Burke, LPC, ART-BC; E: lesleyburkelpc@gmail.com, P: 503-662-8511