Who am I?

I’ve always been psychologically minded, so I suppose it was inevitable that I would become a therapist. I got my Masters in Counseling Psychology in 2013, and I’ve never looked back.

I believe in getting to the root of things. In fact, my favorite poem as a child was The Root of the Root of Myself by Rumi. I think that is why my biggest influence is Intensive Short Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP).

ISTDP is a depth oriented psychodynamic therapy that looked at older models like Freud’s psychoanalytic theory and asked, what if we flipped the script from interminable psychoanalysis and pulled that accordion of knowledge into a faster yet rigorously evidence based modality that looked at actual client video to know precisely what it takes to get a client from point A to their choice of point B?

I love:

• Running: so much so that I published a book on running based on years of coaching experience!

• Improv: if I can’t think on my feet how am I supposed to be a good therapist?

• Chinese internal martial arts: certified teacher with So Cal Chi Arts

• Popping dance: think of any individual dance style and it was influenced by this American style known for taking a rich lexicon of dance moves and styles and flipping the foundation to create something original yet recognizable

Why Me?

I am one of a handful of trained ISTDP therapists in the state of Oregon. I am also a trained sex therapist (ATSIP Graduate), and trained couples therapist (PACT, Developmental Model, AEDP for Couples, ISTDP for Couples, EFT).

I’m dedicated to getting you over the hump into the life you are looking for. I always start with my ‘magic wand’ question- if we had a magic wand, what does your life look like at the other end of our therapy together? And then we don’t stop until we get there.

With your permission, I video tape sessions so we can make sure no rock goes unturned, no opportunity for your goals being achieved gets missed. I remain in active and constant training (next up is Terry Real’s RLT and a much deeper dive into AEDP!).

Most therapists take trainings here and there, but few stay learning all the time. Most therapists stop getting regular consultation, but I have a team of therapists across the world I consult with because I believe good enough is just a way point to excellence. Clients rarely ask me to review tape, but I ttake the time outside our sessions because any moment we plateau is a moment I want to flip into forward motion the very next week.

I’m also a community builder, co-hosting PDX Therapists Network + Connect, fostering authentic community in Portland, Oregon.