Meet Your Therapist
Hi! I'm Halle (pronounced “hay-lee”// pronouns: she/they) and I'm looking forward to working with you!
I’m Bay Area born and raised, but the Pacific Northwest has been my home for over a decade. Growing up as a queer, mixed-race African-American person led me to be a chronic question-asker with an endless supply of curiosity about how people navigate conversations about identity. People tend to like categories, but the reality is that many of us exist in the in-between spaces.
I got into this work because I remember how hard it was to find a therapist who shared any aspect of my lived experience. It made it hard to benefit from therapy fully because it felt like my identity and cultural context were either ignored or misunderstood.
It’s a relief to know other people get to have a different experience, and it’s an honor to be part of the wave of therapists who are looking out for those who often get left behind in conversations about therapy.
When I’m not in therapist-mode, I’m usually embracing another part of my identity. If it’s 5pm on any given day, know that I’ve likely put together a charcuterie board and have a classic horror movie queued up (ask me for recommendations- horror is my favorite genre!).
My Approach
In my practice, I center and affirm the lived experiences of folks who face marginalization based on their race and ethnic group. Many of the people who find my practice often tell me about prior experiences in therapy where the therapist did not take into account their cultural context, which resulted in feelings of mistrust and hopelessness. While I may not share all aspects of your cultural background, I am always considering the ways you have been affected by racism, colorism, migration, displacement, historical movements, and other culturally specific factors. Any questions I ask about these factors will always be rooted in compassion and will help me to better understand how you experience the world.
My work is informed by Brainspotting, Internal Family Systems, and Motivational Interviewing. People who receive care from me have described me as direct yet gentle. You will likely hear me tell you that it is okay for you to be your full self in session and I will provide that reminder as many times as you need me to. I also provide suggestions for activities you may do between our sessions to further your work.
Education, Qualifications, and Select Trainings
Licensed Professional Counselor (CO #0019450 & OR #C7789)
Certified Gambling Addiction Counselor, Level 2
Brainspotting Phase 1 and Phase 2: Attuning to BIPOC Experiences
BIPOC Brainspotting Phase 3
200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training, from Yoga Tree in San Francisco, CA
Master of Arts in Marriage, Couple, and Family Therapy, from Lewis & Clark College in Portland, OR
Bachelor’s in Psychology from Gonzaga University in Spokane, WA
Part of maintaining my license includes completing 40 hours of Continuing Education every 2 years. The above trainings and degrees are highlighted as they have had the most impact on informing how I practice as a therapist.