Individual and Relationship Therapist
Philosophy and Approach:  As a relational counselor I believe that healing is done in community. In my work I place an emphasis on the impact of our shared experience in connection with others. My approach to counseling is both collaborative and client led. I believe that you are the expert of your life, and my job is to help you unpack and understand the influences that make you who you are and what you are experiencing. My style tends to stray away from the notion that I am an expert. Rather, I engage with the counseling space with curiosity and a desire to cultivate a space that you can use however is most meaningful to you.

I draw upon narrative approaches to counseling to understand what messages inform the notions of self and behavior we hold. In my individual and relational work I often look to the past and contextual factors to help us explore our current conditions. I also utilize principles of Emotionally Focused Therapy and somatic practices to help facilitate the experience of noticing and giving name to our experiences. Furthermore holding a systems perspective that is both strengths based and trauma informed stands as my guiding light in the work that we do together.

I believe that my presence in the counseling space is to be used as a tool to help you understand your current condition and to reach the goals that you set for yourself. I am not a fly on the wall, rather someone who is walking alongside you and acts as another set of eyes to offer support. My life is touched by your presence and I take it as the highest honor to work with you.

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 under-insured 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 subscribers and cash/out-of-pocket payers. My fees with a cash-pay discount are: $45 for individuals and $65 for relationship counseling.  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.  

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 grew up in Sonoma County California and in 2020 moved to Portland where I
received my BA in Psychology from Lewis and Clark University. I am a third year Marriage, Couples, and Family counseling student at Portland State University (PSU). Both of these programs focus heavily on intersectionality, social justice, and the contextual factors that contribute to who we are and what we experience. I bring these influences to the counseling space to inform the work that we do together. My time practicing at PSU’s Community Counseling Clinic has given me my first hand experience in working with individuals, monogamous and nonmonogamous couples, and family relational dynamics.

Other influences that I bring into the counseling space include my prior life working in the service industry, both front and back of house. I identify as queer and a gender exploring individual which informs my dedication to providing support to those who fall wherever on the spectrum of gender, sexuality, and cultural identity. Furthermore, my family’s Azorean identity and immigrant experience impacts my relationship with the intersectionality of privilege and cultural identity. When I am not working you can often find me at home reading or browsing the aisles of Movie Madness. I am a firm believer that consuming the stories of others is one of the most meaningful ways to broaden one’s understanding of themselves and the world around us. I’m eager to hear your stories and learn about what has made you who you are today.

Licensure: I am a third-year graduate Marriage, Couples, and Family Counselor student intern attending Portland State University. At Owls’ Nest North, I am under the clinical supervision of Scout Northway, LPC. I abide by the code of ethics set forth by the American Association for Licensed Professional Counselors and Therapists, the American Counseling Association, and the Oregon Licensing Board (OAR chapter 833, Division 100).

 Contact: azlen@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.