Shay Larken

My Approach to Helping

I work with complex trauma and grief and the ways it manifests in our mind and body, coping strategies, and relationships. While relationships can cause harm, relationships can also heal. My work draws from multiple mind-body therapies and theory, including: polyvagal therapy, somatic therapies, Internal Family Systems (IFS) parts work, AEDP, Interpersonal Neurobiology, and mindfulness. I incorporate a bottom-up (somatic) and a top-down (cognitive) approach, where you learn to move into the felt experience of deep emotions and sensations, but also engage your ability to challenge trauma shaped beliefs about yourself and others. I offer a warm and authentic presence, combined with a commitment to staying current on leading research and practices in complex trauma therapy, providing you with a supportive path toward healing, growth, integration, and connection.

My Personal Beliefs and Interests

I received my Masters in Professional Mental Health Counseling from Lewis & Clark College. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), and a National Certified Counselor (NCC). During my prior corporate career, I felt a calling into a healing profession, but this required a radical life shift, one where I moved into a place of stillness, turned inward, called upon profound courage, and relied on my intuition to choose a new path. I know what it looks like to appear high functioning, but feel tormented and confused by the dark remnants of trauma within the body, beliefs, and relational patterns. My move into this work is rooted in the awareness that we cannot heal alone, and recovering from trauma and how it shows up in our life must tend to all of you - your mind, body, emotions, and soul. I believe we heal when we are seen, heard, and known. Seeking help is brave and your inquiry will be met with compassionate attention.