Portland Therapy Center
Kristine Zappa

Kristine Zappa (she/her)

Professional Counselor Associate

MA, Professional Counselor Associate, R-DMT, LMHCA

Supervisor: Natasha Laumei, LPC

As a somatic (body-centered), trauma-informed, and relational therapist, I take a non-judgmental and compassionate approach to counseling.

Client Status

not accepting clients

Contact

5033890139

Portland, 97214

Email Website

At a Glance

Me

Rate: $115-$150

Provides free initial consultation

Provides telehealth services

Practicing Since: 2019

Languages: English

Services

  • Individual
  • Teen

Insurances Accepted

  • Out of Pocket
  • OHP CareOregon/HealthShare
  • OHP Trillium

My Ideal Client

Do you want to feel safe and secure in your relationships? Do you fight with feelings of low-self worth or negative beliefs about yourself? My clients tend to have a history of complex trauma or developmental trauma that impacts both their relationships with others and their relationship with themselves. I work with uncovering the underlying issues contributing towards present day suffering such as relationship issues, depression, anxiety, and identity development.

My Approach to Helping

My approach to counseling starts with a belief that healing happens within a safe, compassionate, non-judgmental relationship. I use present moment awareness to help clients recognize old patterns as they occur and guide them to make choices more aligned with their goals. From a somatic perspective, I believe the body and the mind are intimately linked and I safely incorporate body awareness as a path towards greater self-awareness. I also believe that systems play an important role in our experience and should be taken into account when treating mental health; these systems can include culture, institutions, community, family, intimate relationships and more. Lastly, and importantly, my approach to counseling is not one of being an "expert", but my goal is to help clients discover their own inherent wisdom.

My Personal Beliefs and Interests

I hold a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a concentration in Somatic (body-centered) Counseling from Naropa University in Boulder, CO. My training includes both body psychotherapy and dance/movement therapy (DMT) and I am a Registered Dance/Movement Therapist (R-DMT). I am also trained in EMDR, DBT facilitation, client-centered therapy, attachment theory, trauma-informed care, and social justice counseling. As a practiced meditator, I weave mindfulness throughout my work with clients. Prior to career as a therapist, I was a performer, dancer, and yoga instructor.

Techniques I Use

Specialties

  • Somatic Therapy (Body Centered) External link

    My MA is in Somatic Counseling with a concentration in both Body Psychotherapy and Dance/Movement Therapy from Naropa University. Additionally, I am a Registered Dance/Movement Therapist (R-DMT) through the American Dance Therapy Association (ADTA).

  • Humanistic  External link

    The foundation of my counselor training is in humanistic and relational therapy.

  • Attachment Theory External link
  • EMDR External link

    I am trained in EMDR by the EMDR International Association.

Issues I Treat

Specialties

  • PTSD External link

    When working with any kind of trauma, I believe in first helping a client establish both internal and external resources. After establishing resources, we can begin to explore the impact that the trauma has had on present day experience and work towards trauma processing in a safe and contained way using somatic and EMDR informed approaches.

  • Anxiety External link

    I help you develop skills to cope with the overwhelming and exhausting experience of anxiety, eventually leading to a life with more ease.

  • Historical Trauma External link

    When working with any kind of trauma, I believe in first helping a client establish both internal and external resources. After establishing resources, we can begin to explore the impact that the trauma has had on present day experience and work towards trauma processing in a safe and contained way using somatic and EMDR informed approaches.

  • Relationship / Marriage Issues External link

    I take a developmental and attachment perspective when treating issues in relationships. I also have training in sex therapy and consider all aspects of a person when looking at intimacy.

  • Depression External link

Contact Kristine

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