About Me
My name is Danae and I am a mental health counselor who specializes in helping people heal from trauma, depression, anxiety, and fertility traumas. As a counselor I find enormous value in fostering a stronger connection to our bodies and emotional experiences. I have seen that when we are able to strengthen our emotional insight and connect with ourselves somatically, we’re able to understand ourselves and experiences more fully, feel a deeper sense of control and connection, and live more authentically. It enables us to make decisions that are aligned with our values, hold boundaries more confidently with others, trust our intuition, and feel grounded in ourselves.
I believe that every person has the potential to live a fulfilling and meaningful life, but sometimes life can be overwhelming and throw us unexpected curveballs. My mission is to provide a safe and non-judgemental space where individuals can explore their emotions, thoughts, and behaviors in order to better understand themselves and develop strategies for managing life’s challenges.
My approach to therapy draws from many modalities including attachment theory, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), existential therapy, humanistic therapy, psychodynamic therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and Lifespan Integration (LI). I also draw from the concept of emotional granularity, which is our ability to feel, recognize, and name the specific emotions we are experiencing. Building this skill gives us the opportunity to better understand where the source of our discomfort is coming from, feel less out of control, and more effectively problem solve to figure out how to address the problem.
I am deeply passionate about my work and I find great joy in supporting clients on their journey towards healing, connection, and growth. Outside of my office, I find my own healing through music, reading, photography, and watching stand-up comedy. Also through spending time with my cats, Salem and Sabrina.
Education and Licensure
I completed my Master’s Degree in Clinical Rehabilitation counseling from Portland State University and have been licensed to practice through the State of Oregon’s Board of Licensed Professional Counselors and Therapists (License #C6350). Additionally, I’ve completed trainings in: EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy, Lifespan Integration therapy, and am working to complete my certification in Perinatal Mental Health through Postpartum Support International.
Certifications
I am currently certified by the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC). The NBCC is a private certifying agency that identifies counselors who have met the Board’s standards for education, knowledge, and experience.
What is EMDR?
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is an extensively researched approach which has been proven to help people heal and recover from symptoms stemming from traumas and other distressing events. EMDR therapy has been recognized by the American Psychiatric Association, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and the World Health Organization, among other professional organizations, as an effective trauma treatment. During EMDR therapy, traumatic memories will be reprocessed to gain adaptive perspective, reduce physiological reactivity to trauma triggers, and alter negative beliefs associated with the trauma.
What is Lifespan Integration Therapy?
Lifespan Integration Therapy is an approach to trauma treatment which promotes healing from distressing symptoms of trauma through reviewing one’s life story with the support of a therapist. Clients will work with a therapist to recall memories from each year of their life in order to build a timeline. This timeline will then be reviewed to allow the body-mind to recognize that one has moved past and survived trauma. Through this process, Lifespan Integration relies on the innate ability of the body-mind to heal itself and integrate parts of the self that have been impacted by trauma.