About Me

Nice to meet you! My name is Andrea and I am a neurodivergent counseling intern. I have lived in the Vancouver area my whole life and feel a deep sense of care for the community here in southwest Washington and the greater Pacific Northwest. I believe mental health care is for everyone, and that seeking support is a courageous and worthy endeavor.

Approach to Therapy

I approach therapy from a psychodynamic lens with an emphasis on StoryWork. This approach focuses on creating a safe environment for you to tell the story of your lived experience in the presence of an empathetic witness. There is power in naming the harm you’ve endured and the strategies you’ve resiliently developed to survive it. When we confront these realities, we are faced with an invitation to bring compassion to our stories and develop new ways to live in the present instead of dwelling in the shadow of the past. If you want to read more about StoryWork, check out the following resource: https://storyinformed.com/about/sitt-for-clients/

I also integrate other evidenced-based treatment approaches into my work, including internal family systems, emotion focused therapy, and person-centered therapy. I offer Christian faith integration upon client request. My goal is to adapt the therapeutic process to your needs and unique style of processing.

Experience

I am currently working on obtaining my Master of Arts in Counseling degree at Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon. In the meantime, I am counseling under the supervision of Scott Mazdzer License #MHC.LH.61422280. I received my BA in Psychology from the University of Portland in 2023. I have two years of experience working as a Clinical Care Coordinator at Catholic Community Services in their Youth Mobile Crisis Intervention and Wraparound with Intensive Services programs. During my time there, I had the privilege of serving families and youth facing a variety of challenges and diagnoses, including but not limited to autism, attention deficit hyperactive disorder, depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, suicidality, homicidality, and self-harm.

Outside the Office

When I’m not meeting with clients or tackling endless grad school reading, I love to spend my time crocheting, exercising, reading classic literature, and listening to podcasts. I can often be found going on walks around my neighborhood with a good podcast in my ears or curled up on the couch with my three cats, my husband, and a ball of yarn.