Individual and Relationship Counselor
Philosophy and Approach: I see great value in working toward self-compassion, growth, and presence, not perfection. I offer a nurturing, nonjudgmental, and empowering space to open up and to heal. This includes utilizing mind-body connection practices to harness safety, process feelings and events, and ease the impact stress and trauma has on the body.

I blend a variety of experiential approaches, such as emotion-focused therapy and inner child, reparenting, and attachment work. Additionally, I may bring in EMDR, mindfulness, and occasional humor, all under the umbrella of trauma-informed care and social justice values. Above all, I aim for connection and understanding, as a strong relationship is the foundation for growth.

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: $80 for individuals and $100 for relationship counseling.

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 began my career in the arts, obtaining a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Informed by this previous path and by queer community, I aim to fuse creativity and compassion, and unique, individualized therapy with broader anti-oppression goals. I hold a masters degree in Professional Mental Health Counseling from Lewis & Clark Graduate College of Education & Counseling, a program I chose for its social justice focus. I completed coursework in individual, family, and couples counseling, lifespan development, trauma and crisis counseling, diversity and social justice, and expressive arts therapy. My research focused primarily on trauma and somatic (body-centered) therapy. Beyond graduate school, I have EMDRIA-certified training through The Center for Excellence in EMDR Therapy.

I have experience as a counselor in both community counseling and group private practice settings, utilizing a variety of theories and techniques from talk therapy to art and play therapy. This has included experience working with individuals of all ages, as well as with couples and relationships, including non-monogamous relationships. Much of my experience is within LGBTQIA+ community, and I am strongly gender identity affirming. I enjoy working with concerns around identity, sexuality, and intimacy of all kinds. Other clinical passions include grief, trauma (including complex and developmental trauma), and self-worth.

Licensure: I am registered as a licensed professional counselor associate in the state of Oregon. As an intern licensee of the Oregon Board of Licensed Professional Counselors and Therapists, I am bound by its code of ethics. I am under the clinical supervision of Heather Sutch, LCSW.

Contact: michelle@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.