Connected Roots Counseling

I approach therapy as a radical act of care, connection, and reclamation. I do not see any person as being broken or in need of fixing—but rather, being shaped by systems, histories, and daily conditions that often demand disconnection from self, body, land, and reality, just to survive. Therapy is a space where we can begin to undo that. It’s a space to speak and reclaim what has been taken or hidden. I see my role as therapist as holding space with and for you—not above or outside of you—while working together to build a container strong enough to hold complexity, contradiction, grief, rage, love, and hope. My work is grounded in anti-oppressive, trauma-informed, and liberatory frameworks. While my primary counseling modality is Ecotherapy, I also heavily draw from somatic practices, creative arts interventions, Gestalt therapy, and parts work. I integrate elements beyond traditional talk therapy—play, land-based work, movement, and art —because healing doesn’t just happen in the mind or through words. We heal in relationship. In the body. In reconnection with the land and ourselves. I come to this work with a foundation in existential and Buddhist philosophy, which informs how I hold space for clients navigating identity, meaning, freedom, loss, and the contradictions of being alive in this moment. I'm especially interested in how dominant systems show up in our personal struggles—and how we can resist those forces in our healing. I work with pre-teens, teens, and adults, with a focus on: Minority stress and trauma; Identity development, particularly for multiracial, trans, disabled, neurodiverse, and mixed-heritage folks; Life transitions; Workplace trauma; Boys’ and men’s issues, including masculinity, anger, and the emotional cost of patriarchy; and Educators, especially those navigating oppression, burnout, and disillusionment in their work. My style is direct, intuitive, and relational, and I aim to build a space where power is shared, not imposed. I believe that healing doesn’t mean returning to a baseline of functioning defined by oppressive systems—it means reconnecting with your own capacity, voice, and power. In addition to my masters from Lewis & Clark College, I completed the certificate in Ecotherapies where I gained specialized training in nature-based therapeutic practices that integrate ecological awareness with traditional counseling methods. Part of my Ecotherapies coursework included Animal Assisted Therapy training with my Assistance Animal, Cooper the Dog, who can be my co-therapist upon request. This work supports my belief in the importance of reconnecting with the non-human world as an essential part of the healing process. My approach to Ecotherapy is an immersive, forest experience. My office is located in a private corner of Camp Namanu, land that is 552 acres of forest, groves and trails. Most of our work will happen outside—walking under tall trees, sitting in quiet groves, or following winding paths through the woods. When the weather turns, we’ll have a cozy cabin to retreat to. Having spent nearly a decade in schools, my background is in mental health in Education, and am a licensed School Counselor in Oregon and Washington. I am passionate about working with youth struggling in the school system, as well as educators navigating the many challenges working in this system. I have a particular interest and speciality in working with marginalized staff and students in school contexts. Ecotherapy isn't just about "using" nature to feel better-- it's about connecting with and building a better relationship with the planet we live on, including giving back and caring for our planetary home. At Connected Roots Counseling, we embody this by: -Donating $10 from every session to local groups protecting Old Growth trees -Prioritizing used and recycled furniture and goods -Carefully vetting all new purchases for their environmental and ethical impact -Using sustainable materials, like recycled-plantable business cards