Individual and Relationship Therapist
Philosophy and Approach: Many people come to therapy to heal from wounding they have experienced in important relationships. At every stage of life, we are vulnerable to the pain of betrayal, the grief of losing a loved one, the disappointment of feeling unseen or unmet. Harmful experiences that happen early in life can profoundly impact how we show up in later friendships, romantic and sexual relationships, at work, and in community life. But relationships are also potential sites of healing, where it is possible to practice new ways of relating.

As a professional counselor associate, I believe therapy is an opportunity to process, explore, and transform your relationships, starting with the relationship to yourself. My therapeutic orientation is client-centered, relational, trauma-informed, and grounded in liberation psychology. I take a systems approach to therapy and believe that having the opportunity to identify and work through experiences related to systemic violence, structural oppression, and interpersonal power dynamics is vital to healing. No matter where you have been or what you are going through, I am honored to sit with you, listen deeply, and support you on your path.

Sliding Scale Fee Structure: Owls’ Nest North is committed to making services accessible to everyone regardless of ability to pay. We seek to catch those who fall through the cracks of care in our current system. My sliding scale is determined by the current fee schedule of Owls’ Nest North. If you are un- or underinsured and therefore forced to pay out-of-pocket, please let me know prior to our first session, so we can determine your eligibility for a sliding scale fee. If you are experiencing difficulty navigating the new healthcare system, we are also happy to support and advocate for you in becoming insured.  

At this time, I am only available to see OHP, Medicare, or Kaiser subscribers, and cash/out-of-pocket payers. My fees with a cash-pay discount are: $80 for individuals and $100 for couples/families. ONN only accepts cash as payment (no checks or cards).

Cancellations: Occasionally life intervenes and prevents us from following through with our commitments. I trust our mutual respect of one another’s time. As such, it is our policy to collect my full session fee for no-shows and sessions cancelled with less than 24 hours notice. For all non-OHP payers cancelling with less than 24 hours notice, you will be charged the full fee for the session. See our fee schedule for rates with cash-pay discount. Kaiser clients will be charged our contracted rate at the time the cancellation was made (as of 1/2026 – $165).

If you are an OHP client, our contract does not allow us to charge for missed appointments and we would not want to, but we are unable to hold a regular appointment space after two missed/late cancelled appointments. You can, however, schedule into cancellation spots on your clinician’s schedule.  

Bio: I hold an MA in Counseling Psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies, where I chose my program for its multicultural orientation and emphasis on family systems and depth psychotherapy. As a pre-licensed counselor associate, I utilize a variety of modalities tailored to each individual I work with, including psychodynamics, parts work, somatic experiencing, gestalt, and mindfulness-based therapies. I also have received specialized training in clinical support for trans and gender diverse people, and I am affirming and supportive of clients exploring neurodiversity with or without a clinical diagnosis.

In addition to my professional training, I offer myself as a white, queer, transgender, and disabled man with lived experience integrating these and other identities into my self-understanding and relationships. My practice is also informed by more than 25 years of community life, organizing, and cultural change work at the intersections of class, race, sexuality, gender, ability, and social justice. I strive to live my intersectional feminist, queer, and anti-racist values and move toward collective liberation as a lifelong holistic practice.

When not working, I enjoy gardening, cooking, being in the forest, time with friends and family, and doting on my beloved senior cat, Norman. 

Licensure: As a registered pre-licensed associate at Owls’ Nest North, I am under the clinical supervision of Heather Sutch, LCSW. I abide by the code of ethics set forth by the American Association for Licensed Professional Counselors and Therapists and the Oregon Licensing Board (OAR chapter 833, Division 100). 

 Contact: athen@owlsnestnorth.com * 503.281.1166 

Please be advised that email is not a secure form of communication, and while it is unlikely that your email communications would be of interest to nefarious pursuits, it is your risk to take. Owls’ Nest and I accept no responsibility for misuse or abuse of your communications. In an effort to minimize exposure/risk, we ask that you do not include any sensitive or process-oriented information in email, and utilize it solely for the purpose of logistical issues.