Individual and Relationship Therapist
Philosophy and Approach: As a queer and trans therapist, I understand that the challenges we face are often rooted in the real impact of living in systems that don’t always affirm who we are. I specialize in working with queer relationships. I am tuning into attachment needs and the impact of trauma on your relationship patterns, along with the larger context within your lives and family histories. My approach is curious and collaborative—I can help you see the patterns playing out between you, understand what each of you really needs from one another, and figure out how to set you up for the relationship you want. I work slowly and intentionally, honoring the resilience it takes to love and live authentically when we are oriented toward connection yet hold deeply ingrained patterns which can create disconnection. My aim is to help you build relationships—with others and with yourself—rooted in genuine attunement, mutual care, and the freedom to be fully who you are with the people you love.

In my work with individuals, I remain curious about relational patterns and how the people, communities, and systems around you shape your specific experience—including how family histories and inherited wounds show up in your life. Whether you’re figuring out your identity, healing from past hurt, navigating a big life change, or just wanting to feel more like yourself, I will meet you with genuine interest and without judgment. My hope is to help you feel more at home in yourself and more grounded in who you really are.

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 am in my third and final year earning a Master’s degree in Marriage, Couple, and Family Therapy from Lewis & Clark’s Graduate School of Education and Counseling. This graduate program centers the Socio-Emotional Relationship Therapy (SERT) model, which I was able to study directly with one of its principal creators, Dr. Carmen Knudson-Martin, as well as through ongoing clinical supervision with Dr. Lana Kim. This social justice focused program has deepened my systemic orientation, so I will always strive to apply a systemic lens whether I am working with an individual, a couple or a family. My coursework has included specific classes on attachment theory, addictions, body politics, couples therapy, and sex therapy.

My background is in the arts and in organizing. Prior to pursuing a career as a Marriage and Family Therapist, I worked as an artist and a musician. I ran a multi-disciplinary art space in Austin, TX, and have lived and travelled all over the US. I hold a Masters in Fine Arts from the Maryland Institute College of Art’s Rinehart School of Sculpture in Baltimore, MD, primarily working in Sound and Interactive Art. I began teaching and facilitating various kinds of groups in 2001, and am most at home when I am working in small groups. As a result, I am delighted to be working with couples and systems.

I bring the experience of someone who has lived many lives in my first few decades as a person into the therapy room. I believe deeply that everyone is shaped by their environments and access to resources. In my early life, I had the privilege of being raised in Washington, DC—a culturally diverse city—within an upper-middle class family of artists. I attended public school from elementary school through my undergraduate education. I grew up bilingual and am fortunate to have learned to speak English, Spanish, and Italian. Outside of the US, I have lived in Latin America, SE Asia, and Europe. I hold this background, along with my identities as a trans, queer, white, first generation Italian-American, artist, musician, and life-long learner.

Licensure: I am a third-year graduate student intern enrolled in the Marriage, Couple, and Family Therapy Program at Lewis & Clark’s Graduate School of Education and Counseling. At Owls’ Nest North, I am under the clinical supervision of Scout Northway, a Licensed Professional Counselor, and Sajani Patel, a Licensed Professional Counselor. I abide by the code of ethics set forth by the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, the American Association for Licensed Professional Counselors and Therapists, the American Counseling Association, and the Oregon Licensing Board (OAR chapter 833, Division 100). Any questions about how this works are welcome.

 Contact: j@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.