A space to be a therapist

I’m a trauma therapist in Portland, Oregon. I provide therapy to individuals who have experienced domestic and sexual violence. Every day, I witness the impact of trauma -not just in the therapy room, but outside of it as well. It shows up in our communities and in the systems we are a part of or surrounded by.

In a world where violence and harm continue to escalate, it’s heartbreaking to see my clients suffer while also watching the communities we are a part of, or care about, experience pain right before our eyes. The genocide in Gaza, the killing and deportation of individuals, systems losing funding and limiting or eliminating resources for people…this suffering doesn’t exist in isolation. It affects them, it affects me, it affects all of us.

Some moments of this work feel deeply important: holding space, listening without judgment, sharing grief, witnessing resilience and courage. Other moments feel overwhelming, exhausting, hopeless, angry, and scary. There are days when systems feel like they will stay broken forever, and the weight of that reality as a therapist is difficult to carry.

Through this Substack, I’ll share reflections on the work I do, the experiences I hold as a therapist, what I’m learning from clients, and what it’s like to be a trauma therapist in this world. I’ll write about my career, trauma, healing, and the quiet moments in between.