My name is Greta, and I'm a licensed professional counselor (LPC) in the state of Oregon, and a counselor associate in Washington state.
Seeking my own path to healing long ago sparked my passion for supporting others in this work. I started out in the mental health field working with unhoused folks and later serving as a suicide and mental health hotline crisis counselor for five years where I assisted DV survivors, military veterans, adolescent and adult callers in their worst and most frightening moments. During and after graduate school, I pursued training in somatic psychotherapy, EMDR, Gestalt, Lifespan Integration and IFS. After my clinical internship in community mental health, I opened my private practice in 2020, just as the pandemic was getting underway.
My style is collaborative, deeply intuitive, and incorporates methods that are research-proven (EMDR having the most robust research base to date). My philosophy is imbued with the egalitarian principles of feminism, social justice and nonviolence. I welcome clients from all genders, races, ethnicities and walks of life. I treat individual adults ages 18 and up.
Many of my clients seek help because of debilitating anxiety, depression, relationship problems, or trauma symptoms. Yet others seek a little extra support during life transitions and when grappling with the big existential questions, like "What is the ruling passion of my soul?" ... "What will it take for my life to be meaningful?" ... "What are my moral obligations?" ... "What does it mean to be a good person in this modern context?" and so on. Entering therapy can feel vulnerable and challenging, yet the potential rewards are well worth the discomfort.
I believe therapy should be life-changing. The research is clear that therapy helps, and that a "good fit" between helper and helpee is the primary agent of change. This concept of fit is hard to quantify; it may not follow any obvious logic, and it may even change over time. I encourage you to interview several therapists before making a decision, and to trust your gut in making that choice. To that end, many therapists offer a free consultation so you can get a sense of good/good-enough fit. I offer that too; please email me if you'd like to set up a time to chat.
Trauma is *any* experience that is too overwhelming for us to process at the time. The nature of the event itself is not what matters most. The after-effects of experiencing a trauma can range: Some people experience flashbacks, nightmares and intrusive thoughts. Others can have strong emotional states that feel out of control and like vast overreactions to the present situation. With EMDR we harness the brain's natural ability to heal itself. EMDR is the most research-based trauma therapy to date. We can also use EMDR to address a variety of other issues, e.g. core negative beliefs, phobias, and more.
Lifespan Integration (LI) is a gentle cousin of EMDR created by Peggy Pace in 2002. LI uses the same natural processes of the brain to heal the mind-body. With LI, we can help you make sense of your story, heal old wounds and strengthen your inner resources. This modality offers a powerful way to help your mind and body finally break free of traumatic experiences from the past. LI is a more gentle and subtle approach than EMDR, but the healing goes deep. Below I have included an introduction video by Peggy Pace, the founder of LI.
Based in mindfulness and nonviolence, Hakomi Psychology assumes we each have an Organic Self with an innate drive toward wholeness and health. This underlying principle is shared with almost all other therapy modalities. Similar to IFS, Hakomi has a primary focus on helping you cultivate a friendly, nonjudgmental relationship with your whole self. With this approach, we help you get deeply curious about your inner world; here, your body acts as a doorway to a deeper understanding of core beliefs, assumptions and attitudes about yourself and your world. As we bring these elements more into your conscious awareness, you get more choice, and leverage to transform old patterns of thought that may be keeping you small. One of my clients described Hakomi therapy as "facilitated meditation," and most clients are surprised by how powerful the experience of turning inward feels, using this method.
Anxiety and depression can be mild, daily visitors set on a low hum, or they can be debilitating and extreme. Both can feel a lot like you're living with an enemy on the inside. Driving on the freeway, being in a social environment with others, and any number of other daily activities can become frightening with out-of-control panic and anxiety, or feel pointless and leave you flat, unmotivated. Whether your symptoms are mild or severe, adding a professional perspective can help. I find that the clients I work with do best with a tailored, integrative approach--meaning we pull from a variety of techniques to address your specific situation. We can build you a toolkit and perhaps explore root causes/beliefs that keep you stuck. Please take heart; even though it may seem impossible to you now, this truly can change and you can feel better. Our time is short; you deserve to live a life in which you feel a sense of belonging, freedom, calm and connected to your joyful nature.
Introduction to EMDR (about 10 minutes)
Introduction to Lifespan Integration (about 20 minutes)
Cost of therapy
Individual therapy, 50-minute session: $90, out of pocket.
Logistics
I am offering Tele-health (online) therapy currently.
Check back for information about a new office location for in-person services in Eugene Oregon.