My hope is to eventually work myself out of a job. That being said, life happens. Expect to address our initial treatment goals within the first six months of treatment. As things evolve, some clients change treatment goals and others move towards termination. Most weekly clients work with me for six to twelve months. That being said, if there is significant trauma or if we are working through significant relational patterns treatment timelines can change. I also have clients that move towards a monthly cadence for maintenance and accountability.

This is a great question! To be honest, therapeutic progress looks different for everyone. Sometimes, it can feel like a light switch and sometimes it can feel like a grueling hike. I am with you for whatever path you are traveling. If you are feeling ‘stalled’ I want you to tell me; these conversations can be integral, as they help to deepen into your knowing and attune our work together. Separately, I will be capturing change metrics alongside our sessions based on your initial treatment goals. I know that sometimes when you are in the mud - it can be hard to see how far you’ve come.

First sessions are like first dates -- a bit awkward, squirmy, and definitely hopeful. Initial visits can open a lot as you walk through your story of your life right now. I take this seriously and with the utmost compassion and respect. My goal for you in our first session (and every session!) is that you have a place to land. My care room is outfitted with tactile and sensory supports to help you settle in and together we will work to find a rhythm and connection style that leaves you feeling regulated and heard.

Ironically, sometimes feeling more uncomfortable is a sign of progress. When we arrive in therapy we are often guarded and protected by all our habits and stories that got us until now. Therapy often asks us to surrender these (or at least get curious about them) which can feel emotional and even destabilizing. This is the first layer of the work! I want you to bring your messiness into our sessions. It is in the mess that we can ultimately find clarity and a new path moving forward. Remember, my goal is not to change your life but to change how you see and experience your life. As Pema Chodron says - joy comes from the feeling that this situation is workable; something can grow here.

Great. I welcome you here! I work with a lot of 'first timers' in my men's groups and I personally love the curiosity (and sometimes resistance) that comes with starting this work. It's a brave new language for many of us. Whenever you are ready (and even before then) - I've got you.

I've been there too! There are a lot of great therapists out there and not every therapist is great for everybody. If you've had a negative experience in the past - I want you to tell me about it. Often times, our 'nos' are how we get to yes. And, for what it's worth, if you are not feeling connected with me - I want you to tell me about that too. Your healing is most important to me.

I get it! It sounds like you are paying attention. It can be scary to approach our histories and dream of doing things differently. I understand this and hold these energies with deep respect and tenderness. I welcome all of this into our work. I'm glad to be with you at every step of the journey.

We prioritize our patient portal as our primary method of direct communication with patients. If you'd like to get in touch, please reach out through a secure, direct portal message.

I can! Everything I offer is an invitation. You'll receive visit summary after we meet that offers you themes to notice, interpretations to hold, and practices to ground into. Some weeks you might feel really called to these and other weeks - life happens. No matter what kind of week you are having - I'll be holding the threads to pick back up when I see you next.

No, I'm a licensed therapist, not a medical doctor, so I cannot prescribe medication. However, being part of the team at The Buddha's Medicine means that I collaborate in care directly with Dr. Matt Van Auken, MD who is a medical provider with prescribing privileges. If medication evaluation (or herbal medicine or supplementation) might be helpful as part of your overall treatment plan, we can include him in your care, as well.

It depends. Every time someone sees a therapist through a traditional Western model, they receive a diagnosis for the purposes of billing insurance. If you are requesting a Superbill, then this conversation will be part of our intake. Generally, I view diagnosing as one aspect of the picture; diagnosing can help systems talk to each other and can invite a rear-view sense of clarity and peace, which can be very important and helpful for clients. That being said, a diagnosis usually represents a moment in time, and DSM diagnosing is based on and about statistics, not the uniqueness of individuals. Further, traditional diagnosing tends to be defecit-based, one-sided, and based on Caucasian male-centered data; in my opinion, this leads to biases, errors, and sometimes even systems-based oppression.

Lastly, if you are seeing me as a relational-system (a pair or triad or other family unit) and using insurance to Superbill, one person will have to be the "identified patient;" in traditional western systems, this means that treatment goals and progress are mapped through that identified patient, which is an important piece to be aware of.

When we work together, all of these conversations will be explicit and collaborative. I hold your knowing, your identities, and your cultural contexts with the utmost respect and care. You will never receive any labels, diagnosis, or treatments from me without your full consent and understanding.

Yes! I offer both virtual/telehealth sessions and in-person sessions. - Get Started

While I have worked with children in the past, at present I am only seeing clients age fifteen and up. If I am working with you for parenting support, I might meet your kiddo or have a virtual observation session of the family unit. We would discuss this as needed and this would be on a case-by-case basis not for on-going treatment.

I work with individuals, couples, and family systems (both biological and chosen). My relational work focuses on nervous system regulation and attachment-based healing, with particular expertise in "mixed neurotype" relationships where partners regulate differently. I also support individuals working on relationship patterns, attachment healing, and preparing for healthier relationships. I am trained to think relationally and systemically; this means that whether you are working with me as an individual or a relationship system, we will always be attending to the impact and wisdom of the inter-relational aspect of your experience and your being. - Get Started

Definitely - yes. I was trained relationally and systemically which means that your family is often in treatment (even when they are not in the room). Please know though that if we are inviting a family member into the session it will be with your consent and agreement. Opening sessions up is always intentional and purposeful; we will discuss parameters and boundaries before anyone joins in.

Absolutely! Having competed at the Olympic level for two decades, I intimately understand athletic identity, performance pressure, perfectionism, and the often challenging transition out of competitive sports. I bring both professional expertise and lived experience to supporting current and former athletes.

Yes! I regularly work with people that have other professionals in their corner. My favorite way to work is in collaboration - so please just name this in our sessions so that all appropriate paperwork can happen for us to communicate together.

I run groups from time to time. Please check the site for current and future offerings. If you have a group request feel free to message us with it!

I have experience communicating with multiple systems and providers. I am always happy to consult where and when appropriate. That being said, I believe that you are your best advocate. I am committed to not only being a voice in the room for you but, also, walking you through the steps of working with multiple systems so that you can continuously be the the advocate you need!

Somatic work might include breathwork, gentle movement, attuning to sensations in your body, or even walking sessions where movement supports processing. It's not about forcing anything - it's about creating space for your body's natural wisdom to emerge. Sometimes we'll simply slow down enough to notice what's happening in your nervous system moment to moment; other times, I will guide you towards deepening your connection with your somatic system through sound, creative process, tapping, and movement. All our somatic work starts with witnessing and consent. You'll create your path back towards a deeper connection with yourself.

IFS is all about the different "parts" we have within us - some that protect, some that carry pain, and a core Self that holds wisdom and compassion. Rather than trying to eliminate difficult emotions or behaviors, we explore these parts with curiosity and appreciation, helping them feel seen and valued so they are able to relax their protective roles, and in turn so that we open doorways to healing.

I have extensive experience working in eating disorder treatment centers across NY, WA, and OR, where I used Health at Every Size approaches and yoga/mindfulness-based interventions. My athletic background and personal recovery journey gives me unique insight into the complex relationship between body, performance, and identity that often underlies eating disorders.

I practice from a neurodiversity-affirming framework that celebrates neurological differences as natural variations in human expression. Rather than trying to make you fit neurotypical expectations, I help you understand how your unique nervous system operates and develop tools that support your thriving. Our work will invite in accommodations, sensory support and somatic strategies, so that you feel tended to and regulated as you are. As a highly-sensitive person myself, the spouse of a neurodiverse person, and a parent of neurodiverse children, I understand these challenges both professionally and personally.

I provide knowledgeable, affirming therapeutic support for gender identity exploration, transition decision-making, and processing the complex emotions that accompany gender journeys. While I don't provide medical transition care or formal letters, I offer skilled therapeutic support throughout your gender exploration process, and I can coordinate with other members of your care team.

I work with parents navigating the identity shift of becoming a parent, supporting neurodivergent or non-typical (hint - all!) children, and breaking generational cycles. As a mother myself, I understand the profound changes parenthood brings and the importance of parents having their own space to process and regulate. Support sessions often include regulation skills and strategies for caregivers, as well as identity caretaking and psycho-education around the path of raising tiny humans in a biased (and often broken) system.

Our therapy services are seamlessly integrated with our medical practice, which makes truly comprehensive care possible. We understand that anxiety, depression, relational struggles, and body image concerns often have physiological components that benefit from our integrative medical approach. Our collaboration means we can explore how factors like nervous system dysregulation, hormonal imbalances, nutritional deficiencies, or chronic health conditions might be impacting your mental and emotional well-being from a multi-disciplinary standpoint. Rather than treating symptoms in isolation, we address root causes and support your system's natural capacity for balance and vitality.

I want to be transparent about this: I don't work with clients who are actively suicidal or in crisis. The Buddha's Medicine is not equipped as a crisis clinic, and my practice focuses on growth-oriented therapy rather than crisis intervention. If crisis needs arise, I help connect clients with appropriate higher levels of care while maintaining the support they need during transitions.

Therapy services are not appropriate for mental health emergencies. In case of crisis:

Immediate Emergencies:

• Call 911 for life-threatening situations

• Go to your nearest emergency room

Mental Health Crisis Support:

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988

• Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741

• Local crisis resources in your area

Active Psychosis: If you are experiencing hallucinations, delusions, severe disorientation, or loss of contact with reality, seek immediate medical attention at an emergency room. These conditions require specialized medical evaluation that cannot be provided through outpatient therapy.

Do not use email or text messaging for emergencies, as these are not monitored continuously.

I am unable to support active psychosis and active suicidality. I also do not prescribe any medication. If you are seeking pharmaceutical support you can address that with Dr. Matt or with your PCP/prescribing provider.

I am sorry that anyone has to ask this question, and I understand why. Firstly, therapy should be a safe space for you. Even if you do not end up engaging with me, please know this. While at times uncomfortable, therapy should be a place where you can compassionately examine yourself; we can only do this when our nervous system feels held and grounded. If you are not feeling this in any therapeutic relationship (and you do not feel like you can address this with your therapist), then the relationship is not the right fit for your growth.

Practically, when I say I am affirming, I mean that I live in with open-heartedness for the full diverse spectrum of persons. There is no one right way to human. In addition to my personal relationships, I regularly consult with and am supervised by people that share different identities and social locations then my own. I have worked in trans-affirming care and have supported many clients that share different identities. I remain committed to centering and listening to voices from those that have direct, lived experience. I am not one to 'tell you how it is;' rather, I am one to deeply listen and reflect back as you find your way back home.

The loves of my life are neurodiverse. For me, being neuro-affirming is not a token or a search term - it's my entire life. (I actually wrote a paper about this in grad school.) Raising an autistic son, who I love with my whole being, has been one of the biggest awakenings of my life. I feel the dissonance of knowing on an intrinsic level that there was nothing 'broken' about my son, while regularly pinged by systems-at-large that things were 'problems.' Honestly, it was an emperor has no clothes moment for me. I have had to question everything from: 'why we school' certain ways to 'is this my discomfort or a problem?' This is on-going work for me that I center everyday.

I want you to know that I feel on an visceral level that differences are not deficits and I believe you when you say that you have been harmed and misperceived - you do not have to explain that to me. Together, we will center how you come, celebrate your resilience living in a paradigm that is often inherently activating, and find strategies to accommodate you in your life so you feel better.

I want you to feel heard and understood in therapy. This means that the onus is on me to understand. Too often, people walking different (read: culturally 'non-normative') paths fall victim to tokenism or incomplete understanding; further, I've personally and professionally witnessed how people from minority groups often have to do the labor of 'educating' others. It is not your job to get me to understand you -- it's mine. If I have questions about your cultural, religion, history - I will do my earnest best to gain knowledge from appropriate sources, so that our time together is fully and wholly about you.

I am licensed to practice in Oregon and Washington. You can be anywhere in either of those two states. Unfortunately, if you move beyond those places we will have to terminate our work. In the event of this, I will work with you to find an appropriate referral who can walk with you for the next leg of your journey.

Yes! I welcome involvement from those that support you in your life. If I am seeing you as an individual client - we can always invite in additional people when it is relevant to your healing. If it becomes evident that relational work is more relevant to your growth we will talk about it. I am trained to do both relational work and individual work. Please know though that I cannot ethically do on-going individual and relational treatment for an individual client. If it becomes clear that both supports are necessary and on-going, I will support you in finding a second provider that can walk with you as you heal.

Provided that my schedule accommodates, I am always happy to do a 'bump-up' session as needed! It is not uncommon for people to need an extra session (or three) when making changes or when life hits. If on-going crisis support is needed, we will have a conversation about next steps. The Buddha’s Medicine is not a crisis clinic and we are not in a position to handle active psychosis or emergency care.

Life happens for all of us! If you know in advance of a schedule update - just let me know. We can always modify our schedule as needed. You also get one ‘no-questions-asked’ grace cancel per year because stuff comes up.