Expressive Arts Therapists in Hillsboro, OR

My approach to counseling is integrative, where I pull from different modalities and therapeutic approaches to meet the individual needs of each client. I want to make sure I am adhering to what the client wants and needs, which informs how I practice. I am grounded in a trauma informed person centered model. I believe each client is the expert.

I work with clients across the lifespan and provide parent consultations when working with children/adolescents. I provide support for anxiety, behavioral challenges, depression, family conflict, grief and loss, life transitions, peer relationships, school issues, and trauma. I believe the therapeutic relationship is the foundation for any work we will do together. When you feel safe within the therapeutic relationship, that is when real healing or progress can occur. I work with individuals and family systems from a relational-cultural perspective and with a trauma-informed lens.

FIRST session by Donation (limited quantity). I believe healing from the Inside Out is essential. At Inner Journey Healing Arts we offer a safe place for adults and children to heal from addiction, domestic violence, trauma, and stressful life situations. We focus on treatment areas such as Family of Origin issues, Grief & Loss, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and similar areas of distress related to addictions. We use a variety of Wholistic therapies to empower clients to heal and recover. Expressive Arts, Counseling, Aromatherapy, and evidence-based modalities.

Seeking therapy is an act of courage when your life is not working, when you are feeling overwhelming emotions, or are ready to grow. With over 35 years of experience, I work skillfully with adults, children, families & couples. I am here to compassionately facilitate your learning to live your life with emotional freedom, purpose, creativity, passion & joy! Get in touch with the strength & beauty of your Inner Self & develop more satisfying relationships. Examine your thinking & beliefs & develop mindfulness, transforming your moods & your life. I use a gentle therapeutic style which is an eclectic, psychodynamic, humanistic, transpersonal & holistic wellness approach.

I work with individuals and families across the lifespan both in person and via telehealth formats. My specialty areas include child development, trauma, anxiety, grief & loss and chronic medial issues. I have a play therapy room designed for expressive therapies and family systems work. I am certified in trauma, EMDR for children and adults and am faculty at the institute teaching in trauma informed care, play therapy, clinical supervision and animal assisted human health. My work involves complex divorce and family therapy needs. I provide clinical supervision for professionals seeking licensing or play therapy certification.

Are you tired of feeling overwhelmed and stressed out? Trying to take care of everyone and everything in your life is exhausting! You may be a helping professional feeling burned out at work. Or maybe you are feeling pulled into a helper role for your aging parents. You may be navigating changes in your relationships and want support improving your boundaries. You want to feel more like yourself again so you can feel more confident in the choices you are making. Whether you are a family caregiver or professional helper, you are allowed to make time for yourself. Counseling is your opportunity to reconnect with yourself.

Establishing a sense of wholeness and direction in our lives is often revealed once obstacles are known and cleared. This process of self discovery is far more potent and transformational when working with a therapist who can help navigate these unfamiliar places. My practice is largely informed by the personal experience of profound grief. Journeying through these difficult waters allows me to uniquely empathize and assist my clients through life struggles and losses.

Being a woman, especially a Desi/Indian woman is unique experience. Our family dynamics are unique, our relationship challenges are different, and we have to play by our cultural rules that can rarely be understood by someone outside of our culture. In such situations, it can be easy to feel alone and isolated as we deal with our family problems, marital challenges, or even workplace related stress. With me, as your Indian therapist, you don't have to constantly code-switch and explain every tiny aspect of your culture and life. I get it. I am one of us.

Do you want to feel accepted and understood? Do you want to be happy? Would you like to work on improving areas of your life that are not fully satisfying you? I can help! Counseling can benefit anyone, but often it can be difficult to find a good counselor. My approach is respectful, non-judgmental and genuine. I support you and build upon your strengths to work toward positive change. I promote skill building and see the counseling relationship as a collaboration. Initiating change requires effort and my role is to support and encourage you in your efforts.

My job is to help you move from dreaming to doing. Are you dreaming of being less anxious or depressed? Let's uncover what you need to address it. Are you dreaming of a life without suicidal thoughts? It's possible, and you are closer than you think. Have some education or career dreams that are keeping you up at night? That's my specialty. Life is super hard. Like, so hard. Don't do it alone. I'm here to help.

As of 5/13/24: Please note that scheduling a consultation appointment does not guarantee you an ongoing appointment time, and you may be added to a waitlist depending on availability. Please visit my website www.embarkcounselingnw.com to request a free consultation appointment. I provide child & adolescent counseling to address: LGBTQ+, Identity, and more.

“You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them”, Maya Angelou. Life is complex. Events can happen that are out of our control and it becomes difficult to navigate these storms alone. It is important to know that you are not alone. There is help and support through these storms and situations. It is okay to reach out for help. I am committed to creating the opportunity for you to have a non-judgmental, trauma-informed, inclusive & affirming space to empower your life.

I help people living with depression, self-identity struggles, grief, trauma and have experience working within LGBTQIA+ and ethical non-monogamous communities. The children I see have/are experiencing abuse, behavior concerns, and life stressors. My role as a therapist is to offer authentic and genuine reflections and to help strengthen your mental capacity and confidence to handle internal and external stressors. I believe we all have a story to tell, some intertwined with tragedy and challenges, and that our time together is for you to tell yours. Note: I don't work with insurance companies; only out of pocket.

Therapy is a space meant to be collaborative. Throughout your commitment to the therapeutic process, I'll invite you to take on the role of “co-expert." My focus is meeting you however, you are showing up and making sure you feel empowered and informed with your experiences. By living meaningfully in the present you can learn to break free from past experiences, trauma, and concerns for the future. Living with intention encourages you to act with purpose and passion for your benefit and the benefit of society.

With the state of the world, mental health is at an all-time low and we are all experiencing collective trauma. I take climate, pandemic, economic, political, societal, and cultural problems into account, on top of personal issues. My goal has always been to help those with trauma, personality disorders, and depression/anxiety by diving into the unconscious, cultivating self-awareness, and creating practical solutions. My clients are diverse and range from 13-65+ yrs old.

Do you feel at times like the weight of your world is on your shoulders and you are barely able to breathe? Do you feel stuck in your life not knowing which direction to turn because you have lost yourself in the stressors of life? Are you someone who has just wanted to be heard, validated, and empowered to believe in yourself? We all experience these feelings, and you have taken the first step in your healing journey. Allow me to walk alongside you and support you from a non-judgmental, compassionate, empathetic and safe space. You are the expert in your life, and you know deep down inside what you envision for your life.

Those who tend to enjoy my approach are individual adults (18+) who are committed to self exploration, challenging past patterns, and personal growth. My practice focuses on people with symptoms of depression and/or anxiety that may stem from: lack of identity development (who am I?); adjusting to life changes–such as, going to college, career challenges, coming out, partnering/divorce, death of a loved one, mid-life crisis, retirement, empty nest; relationship conflicts–work or personal; past trauma; poor attachment to childhood caregivers; or experiences as part of a marginalized group (i.e. BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, women, immigrants).

With my client-centered focus, I work hard to build a therapeutic relationship that creates a safe, comfortable, and non-judgmental space for clients to present themselves to their fullest potential. My priority is to guide and support each client in their journey to develop their sense of self-love, confidence, and peace of mind and body. Some of the issues I work with are parenting support, parent-child relationship issues, family conflict, anxiety, depression, behavioral issues at home/school, emotional dysregulation/outbursts, coping skills, life transitions, stress, teen violence and trauma.

Are you looking to work towards the changes you want to see in your life? Do you want to improve your communication and relationships with others- or with yourself? Do you want honest feedback about your life so you don't have to spend years in therapy? I have 17+ years of experience working in the mental health field. The majority of this time was spent in crisis social work, helping individuals when they were at their worst. I am your ideal therapist if you are willing to look at your past, evaluate what led you here and if you are motivated to putting some work into changing the way you see yourself and the world!