She/Her or They/Them

As a therapist, I begin with the understanding that you are the expert of your own life and you have inner knowledge and capacity for healing. My intention is to support your growth by offering a non-judgemental and supportive environment for you to be exactly where you are right now. I will hold space for you to be with your pain, tell the truth about what’s wrong, explore limiting beliefs, find new insight, and make courageous shifts towards healing and deepening purpose. Through therapy, I hope you can begin to express your “full and free human-beingness.”

My approach is relational and centered in your strengths and resilience. I tailor my approach to each individual. Although I enjoy working with a wide variety of people, I am currently prioritizing supporting clients who identify as LGBTI/Queer/Poly and/or clients who work as activists and healers.

I specifically work with the mind-body connection and non-talk therapy methods (including somatic exploration, Internal Family Systems, and Brainspotting). These modalities help access your capacity for self-wisdom and inner healing.

I am a member of the LGBTIQ community, kink/poly aware and sex positive. I actively examine my privilege and seek to align my practice to support the thriving of all individuals, especially those who are marginalized by the dominant culture in areas of race, gender expression, and disability.

I grew up in the Northwest and enjoy my three children and goofy goldendoodle, growing medicinal herbs, dancing to live music, and finding quiet time for silent retreat.

I have 20+ years of experience in areas of psychological healing, spiritual leadership and activism. I hold a Masters in Divinity (2008), a Masters in Social Work (2009) and a PhD in philosophy and religious studies with a focus in queer/gender studies (2017).

Licensed in Oregon.

Teletherapy and in-person. Works with ages 18+.

(503) 664-0104 in the NE Portland office.
(503) 286-7909 (fax)

sara@energymatterspdx.com

Email contact preferred

Issues Treated

  • ADHD
  • Anxiety
  • Challenges of LGBTQ+ individuals
  • Codependency
  • Depression
  • Grief and Loss
  • Life transitions
  • Parenting
  • Relationship challenges or transitions
  • Spiritual seeking
  • Trauma (Religious Trauma in particular)
  • Sex and sexuality

Help with:

  • Accessing and naming feelings
  • Working with reactions, sensitivities, and limiting beliefs
  • Setting boundaries and clearly communicating needs
  • Learning self-love and self-support
  • Developing secure attachments in relationships
  • Exploring more freeing sexual expression and practice
  • Aligning more deeply with values
  • Processing Grief and loss
  • Making behavioral changes to support ADHD and Neuro-Divergence
  • Managing chronic health conditions & chronic pain
  • Healing from religious trauma
  • Exploring supportive spiritual practices

Treatment Techniques/Approaches:

  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
  • Parts work and Internal Family Systems (IFS)
  • Brainspotting
  • Trauma-Informed Therapy
  • Mindfulness and Somatic Therapy
  • (Trained in Hakomi Mindful and Somatic Psychotherapy Level 1)