OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
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MSW, Smith College School for Social Work, 2016
BA, Comparative Literature, Harvard University, 2009
Benton County Health Department, Corvallis, OR, 2016-2018
VA Puget Sound Healthcare System, American Lake Division, Tacoma, WA, 2015-2016
Asian Counseling and Referral Service, Seattle, WA, 2014-2015
"If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality." –Desmond Tutu
Mindfulness, Acceptance & Commitment Therapy, Nondual Psychotherapy, Psychedelic Integration, Narrative Therapy, Voice Dialogue, Gestalt, Social Justice and Anti-Oppression, Critical Whiteness Studies, Psychodynamic.
Philosophy and Approach:
In contrast to the medical model—which locates the individual person as the problem and pathologizes “negative” human emotions (sadness, distress, anxiety, anger, fear) as things to be managed, controlled, or eliminated—I consider the full spectrum of emotions a natural response to the often traumatic and oppressive nature of life, relationships, and our world situation. Rather than helping clients struggle to achieve an emotionally narrow “happy” life often depicted in American advertising, I offer a nonjudgmental, compassionate space in which clients are invited to let go of painful patterns of resistance/performance (Doing) and ease into a healing sense of inherent completeness (Being) that naturally embraces the rich continuum of human emotions and experiences.
Presenting Concerns:
Anxiety, depression, PTSD, psychedelic integration issues, veteran issues (combat trauma, MST, moral injury), internalized dominance, toxic whiteness and toxic masculinity, perfectionism, religious & spiritual concerns, SPMI including psychotic disorders.
Positionality:
Born 1985, he/him/his, white, straight, cisgender, allo, male, high-SES family of origin, Zen Buddhist, mostly able-bodied (chronic pain and orthopedic issues due to rock climbing accident).
Cultural Humility:
Given the privileged identities I hold, I consider it imperative to pay close attention to dynamics of power, privilege, oppression, and social justice in counseling sessions. I try to learn as much as I can about the multicultural backgrounds of my clients, and strive to maintain a stance of cultural humility so as not to impose my own values and culture-bound perspectives on our conversations. I actively welcome feedback and challenges from clients when my approach does not feel culturally respectful or appropriate. Sustained direct eye contact during session is not something that I expect or emphasize since, like psychotherapy itself, it is not a universal cultural practice.