Mt Tabor Drop-in Meditation

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When: Tuesdays in July & August

Time: 7:00-8:00 PM PDT

Where: In person at Mt. Tabor near Reservoir 5 (details will be shared with RSVP)

Suggested donation: Offered by donation, no one turned away for lack of funds.

To RSVP or learn more: Email Liza at lizab@liberationinstitute.org

Join us in the practice of presence and interconnection in the setting summer sun at Mt Tabor! We will gather in the grass to the east of reservoir number 5 at 7:00 PM. There will be a few minutes to talk and greet each other. Then we will find a comfortable meditation posture to practice together for about 25 minutes. Meditations will center around training attention to rest in the present moment, connecting with nature and the beings around us, and a loving-kindness practice. We will conclude with time to ask questions and share our experiences. 

Please bring whatever you need to be comfortable sitting on the earth: blanket, meditation cushion, chair, bench, shawl, water. Feel free to reach out with any questions.   

About the Facilitator: Liza (she/her) first encountered meditation during a month-long yoga teacher training in Baja Mexico in 2007. With her background in botany and ecology, she followed the spiritual path and studied multiple healing modalities to explore the multilayered aspects of healing. In 2018, she completed a traditional three-year, three-month meditation retreat in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition and then taught for four years as an Associate Lama. She is now completing her graduate studies in mental health counseling at Prescott College, with an emphasis on ecotherapy, somatic and emotion-based therapy, and is a student intern at Liberation Institute. She also has availability for individual counseling sessions. Liza is supervised by Brad Byrum T2185

Climate Wayfinding, and 8-Week Group Reading Journey

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When: Mondays – June 22 to Aug 17 

(skipping July 16)

Time: 5:00-6:30 PM PDT

Where: Online with Liberation Institute (link will be shared with RSVP)

Suggested donation: Offered by donation, no one turned away for lack of funds.

To RSVP or learn more: Email Liza at lizab@liberationinstitute.org

Climate Wayfinding: Healing Ourselves and the Planet We Call Home is a newly published book by Katharine Wilkinson, co-editor of All We Can Save and Drawdown. It is a compassionate, empowering guide that helps readers move from climate grief and overwhelm to meaningful action and direction. This book is designed to be read together, building community and support as we learn to navigate the climate crisis. It features interactive elements like journaling prompts, practical exercises, and conversation guides. 

This group will meet for 8 sessions, one for each chapter. Participants will read the chapter beforehand, spending 1-2 hours each week on reading, journaling, and self-reflection. We will then come together to discuss the chapter and engage in group explorations. If you don’t have the book yet, please contact your local library to order it.

For anyone who feels grief, overwhelm, frustration, and a desire to come together to process what is happening locally and globally, this group is for you.   

About the Facilitator: Liza (she/her) has been involved in the eco-crisis since she was a teenager, witnessing the vast harm to our landscapes: open-pit mines, clear-cutting, dams, and bottom trawling our oceans. After completing a degree in botany, ecology, and conservation, she connected with the spiritual path and spent two decades learning about how we really heal. In 2018, she completed a traditional three-year, three-month meditation retreat in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition and taught as an Associate Lama for 4 years. She is now completing her graduate studies in mental health counseling at Prescott College, with an emphasis on ecotherapy, somatic and emotion-based therapy, and is a student intern at Liberation Institute. She also has availability for individual counseling sessions if desired. Liza is supervised by Brad Byrum T2185

Second Spring

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When:

Tuesday, June 9 (Zoom)

July 23 (Tabor Space)

July 7 (Zoom)

July 21 (Tabor Space) 

August 4 (Zoom)

August 18 (Tabor Space)

Where: Zoom and Tabor Space

Suggested donation: $10 per session (or what you can afford). No one will be turned away for lack of funds.

To RSVP or learn more: Email Genevievel@liberationinstitute.org

Second Spring is a co-facilitated council group for those approaching or moving through perimenopause and menopause. Rooted in the idea that this stage of life can be not only a transition, but also a reawakening, the group offers space to honor this season as a “second spring” — a time of reflection, change, renewal, and emerging wisdom.

Together we will explore the emotional, physical, relational, and identity shifts that can arise during this time of life within a supportive and intentional community.

Using the format of council, participants are invited into a slower, more grounded space for listening, storytelling, witnessing, and authentic connection. Rather than advice-giving or fixing, council emphasizes presence, shared humanity, and the wisdom that emerges through being heard and hearing others.

The group will meet every other week in a hybrid format, alternating between online and in-person gatherings. Whether you are seeking community, grounding, deeper self-understanding, or support navigating change, Second Spring offers a place to come as you are.

About the Facilitator: Brittney Van Matre is a depth-oriented facilitator who works with anxiety, identity development, career change, and life transitions. She brings 20+ years of executive leadership and coaching experience to her practice. Brittney works with women in early adulthood and those who are at midlife, navigating career stress, relationships, and the uncertainty of this life stage. She brings warmth, steadiness, and deep respect for the unfolding process of change. Brittney is a therapist trainee, supervised by Brad Byrum #T2185.

Genevieve Layman is a therapist trainee supervised by Elizabeth Hoke, License #1440. She brings a multidisciplinary, heart-centered approach to her work, shaped by her background as a horticultural therapist, award-winning author of the book Gather & Make, and longtime student of Nonviolent Communication. Genevieve is currently completing training in Somatic Experiencing, with a focus on nervous system awareness, embodiment, and trauma-informed care. Genevieve especially enjoys facilitating groups, where participants can experience belonging, connection, and relational healing in real time with real people. Her work is informed by a deep relationship with the natural world and a belief in the wisdom of the body, mutual empathy, and the healing potential of authentic human connection.

Different Brains, Shared Relationships

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When: Wednesdays 6-7:30 PM, Start Date: TBD/Interest List forming now!

Time: 6-7:30 PM

Where: via Google Meet

Suggested donation: $5-10 per weekly session. No one turned away for lack of funds. 

To join contact: groups@liberationinstitute.org

Different Brains, Shared Relationship, is an 8- week psychoeducational and skills-based therapy group for California neurodivergent couples who want to better understand each other, improve communication, and build more connected, supportive relationships. Many neurodivergent couples find themselves stuck in painful cycles of overwhelm, shutdown, conflict, miscommunication, masking, or feeling fundamentally misunderstood by one another. 

Grounded in a somatic, relational, neuro-affirming approach, this group helps couples explore the deeper dynamics beneath conflict while learning practical tools for communication, co-regulation, emotional connection, and navigating differences with more compassion and clarity.

Together, couples will learn to:
* Understand nervous system and emotional regulation patterns.
* Recognize cycles of conflict, shutdown, masking, or misattunement.
* Improve communication and emotional safety.
* Better understand neurodivergent experiences within relationships.
* Build more supportive and sustainable ways of relating.

This group is affirming, non judgemental, and designed to help couples move away from shame and blame and toward deeper understanding, connection, and collaboration. 


Facilitators:
Ramona Arne is the facilitator of Different Brains, Shared Relationship, an 8- week group for neurodivergent couples focused on improving communication, emotional connection, and understanding the patterns that shape relationships. As a Marriage and Family Therapist and Licensed Professional Clinical Counseling Trainee with over 20 years od experience in addiction counseling, Ramona brings a somatic, relational psychodynamic and neuro-affirming approach to her work with couples. She is passionate about helping partners better understand themselves and each other through the lens of nervous systems, attachment, emotional patterns, and the deeper experiences that influence connection and conflict. Her approach is grounded in the belief that neurodivergence is not something to “fix” and that many relationship struggles begin to make sense when couples understand the underlying dynamics, regulation patterns, and unmet emotional needs beneath them. She aims to create a space that feels supportive, compassionate, and affirming for both partners. Ramona also brings lived experience of neurodivergence into the work, offering both professional insight and genuine understanding as well as curiosity of the experiences that neurodivergent couples often navigate in everyday life. 

Hannah Chung is a somatic and trauma informed therapist trainee who integrates body awareness with parts work to support lasting healing. She helps clients understand their nervous systems and build regulation, resilience and self-trust. As a former Chef and veteran, Hannah Brings a grounded and practical perspective shaped by creativity and life transitions. She understands how stress and identity are held in both body and mind. Hannah is passionate about parts work and supports clients in developing compassionate relationships with different aspects of themselves. Her approach is collaborative, direct, and warm, creating a space rooted in curiosity and respect. 

Both Hannah and Ramona are Supervised by a Licensed Person, LPCC #4505

Reconnect, create, and grow—both inside and out.

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When: Various Fridays in May and June

Where: Portland Office, Address shared with RSVP

Suggested donation: $10 per session (or what you can afford). No one will be turned away for lack of funds.

To RSVP or learn more: Email Genevievel@liberationinstitute.org

This group offers a gentle, hands-on space to explore creativity, mindfulness, and emotional well-being through plant-based crafts. Guided by Liberation Institute’s Genevieve Layman, a horticultural therapist and award winning author, each session weaves together simple plant projects with opportunities for reflection, grounding, and connection.

Working with soil, plants, and natural materials can support nervous system regulation, reduce stress, and foster a deeper sense of presence. No prior gardening or artistic experience is needed—just a willingness to show up and engage with the process.

Whether you’re seeking calm, community, or a new way to care for yourself, this group invites you to slow down and nurture something meaningful.

About the Facilitator: Genevieve Layman is a therapist trainee supervised by Elizabeth Hoke, License #1440. She brings a multidisciplinary, heart-centered approach to her work, shaped by her background as a horticultural therapist, award-winning author of the book Gather & Make, and longtime student of Nonviolent Communication. Genevieve is currently completing training in Somatic Experiencing, with a focus on nervous system awareness, embodiment, and trauma-informed care. Genevieve especially enjoys facilitating groups, where participants can experience belonging, connection, and relational healing in real time with real people. Her work is informed by a deep relationship with the natural world and a belief in the wisdom of the body, mutual empathy, and the healing potential of authentic human connection.

The Long Beginning

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When: Every first Friday, starting Friday April 3rd 

Time: 4-5:30 pm

Where: Online- Zoom

Suggested donation: $10 per session (or what you can afford). No one will be turned away for lack of funds.

To RSVP or learn more: Email brittneyv@liberationinstitute.org

The Long Beginning is a process-oriented space for women in the midst of early adulthood who are navigating anxiety, identity, relationships, and the pressures of becoming someone in the world. Group sessions will include relational sharing, gentle somatic awareness, reflection, and facilitated group dialogue. Curiosity, honesty, and a willingness to show up as you are are all that is required.

About the Facilitator: Brittney Van Matre is a depth-oriented facilitator who works with anxiety, identity development, career change, and life transitions. She brings 20+ years of executive leadership and coaching experience to her practice. Brittney works with women in early adulthood who are navigating career stress, relationships, and the uncertainty of this life stage. She brings warmth, steadiness, and deep respect for the unfolding process of change. Brittney is a therapist trainee, supervised by Brad Byrum #T2185.

I Wonder What This Sounds Like

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When: Mondays

Time: 4p-530p

Where: Where: Portland Office 

Suggested donation: $10 per session (or what you can afford). No one will be turned away for lack of funds.

To RSVP or learn more: Email Jean-Paul@liberationinstitute.org 

I Wonder What This Sounds Like is a group that explores how rhythm, sound and deep listening can support emotional regulation, connection, and self expression through shared creative experience. Using simple sound making practices, participants engage in guided exercises with voice, percussion, found sound and listening to explore how rhythm and sound affect the body, emotions, and relationships. 

Drawing from trauma research, somatic approaches, and rhythm based healing practices, the group emphasizes direct experience rather than performance or musical skill. Sessions focus on curiosity, presence, nonverbal communication, and collective exploration, creating space for participants to reconnect with their bodies, increase emotional awareness, and experience connection through shared rhythm and listening. No musical experience is required.

About the Facilitator: JP Jenkins is a counselor in training, musician, and facilitator based in Portland, Oregon. Alongside his clinical training, he has spent more than two decades organizing experimental music and arts events, leading creative groups, and working with improvisation, sound, and deep listening practices. His clinical interests include mindfulness, somatic awareness, recovery, and experiential approaches that help people develop greater connection to themselves and others. JP’s approach emphasizes curiosity, presence, and creating spaces where people can explore experience beyond words, regardless of artistic or musical background. JP is supervised by Brad Byrum LMFT #T2185

Animal Loss and Grief Support Group

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When: Tuesday

Time: 6-7 PM

Where: via Zoom/Drop-in

Suggested donation: $5-10 per weekly session. Donations welcome but no one turned away due to lack of funds 

To join contact: groups@liberationinstitute.org

Description: This group is dedicated to honoring the deep bonds we share with our animal friends and the profound impact they have on our lives. The loss of an animal companion can be deeply painful, and yet often misunderstood or minimized by others. People often tell us things like “just get another pet,” leaving many feeling unseen in their grief. This group offers a safe, compassionate space to honor and process animal-specific grief – a very real and often invalidated form of loss. Whether you’ve lost a beloved companion animal, you are experiencing anticipatory grief for a companion animal, or you work in a setting where animal loss or euthanasia is part of the job – such as veterinary care, animal shelters, or rescue organizations – you are welcome here. Guided by two compassionate therapists who have also experienced the pain of animal loss, this group offers a safe, supportive space to process animal-specific grief – a form of loss that deserves to be seen, validated, and supported. Through guided discussions, somatic experiencing and therapeutic exercises participants can share memories, explore emotions, and utilize tools that promote resilience. You’ll have the opportunity to connect with others who truly understand what it means to lose animal friends – and to be reminded that your grief is valid, your bond was real, and you are not alone.


Facilitators: Steve Dumain & Kelly Duane de la Vega

Steve “Dumain” is pursuing his Master’s in Counseling Psychology with a specialization in Depth Psychology at Pacifica Graduate Institute. He currently serves as a Marriage and Family Therapist Trainee at the Liberation Institute, providing telehealth therapy for individuals, couples, and groups across California. His clinical orientation draws from various styles, including depth, somatic and family systems psychology; including trauma-informed practices, and mindfulness-based approaches. His work emphasizes the integration of the unconscious, body awareness, and relational healing to foster self-understanding and resilience and a mindset of growth and wisdom. He is particularly interested in working with clients navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, identity development, and relational issues. With a strong commitment to inclusivity and social justice, Steven aims to support individuals from a wide range of backgrounds and identities through an integrative and compassionate therapeutic approach.

Kelly Duane de la Vega is pursuing her Master’s in Counseling Psychology with a focus on depth work, taking a psychodynamic approach to therapy. She currently serves as a Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) Trainee at the Liberation Institute, providing telehealth therapy for individuals, couples, and groups throughout California. She also co-facilitates a grief and loss support group at a senior community center in San Rafael.

Kelly is a lifelong pet owner who considers animals to be vital members of the family and essential parts of one’s support network. She understands the profound bond that can form between a person and their pet, and the unique pain of navigating that loss in a society that often minimizes or misunderstands its significance. She brings both personal experience and clinical sensitivity to her work with clients processing pet loss and bereavement.

Kelly Duane is Supervised by a Licensed Person, LMFT #78183

 LGBTQ+ Substance Use Recovery Space

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When: Wednesdays

Time: 8pm – 9:30pm 90 min

Where: via Zoom/Drop-in

Suggested donation: $5-10 per weekly session. Donations welcome but no one turned away due to lack of funds 

To join contact: groups@liberationinstitute.org

Description: This group provides a deeply supportive space for individuals to share their thoughts, feelings, and experiences in a non-judgmental environment, fostering a sense of belonging and reducing feelings of isolation. Through the dynamics of group interaction, we aim to create an environment where participants can improve interpersonal skills, practice empathy, and experience mutual support amongst group members. Though we welcome people who are “sober curious”–– those who have not yet committed to the path of sobriety––we ask that participants not be under the influence of mind-altering substances for at least 24 hours prior to arriving in group.


Facilitators: Kara Schamell & Steven Anderson

Steven is a Marriage and Family Therapist trainee and a second-year master’s student in Counseling Psychology. As a gay man and active member of both the LGBTQ+ and recovery communities, he brings several years of lived experience in sobriety to his clinical training. Steven has facilitated recovery group meetings for over two years and is passionate about supporting queer-identifying individuals as they navigate substance use challenges and find healing within the queer community. Before pursuing a career in counseling, Steven worked in creative roles in the fashion industry in New York City and Los Angeles, where he developed a deep appreciation for identity, expression, and resilience. Steven is supervised by Adina Ascher, LCSW 28900
 

Kara Schamell is a Marriage and Family Therapist Trainee in her second year of a master’s program in counseling psychology. With six years of personal experience in group therapy and five years of experience facilitating racial justice consciousness-raising groups, she is passionate about providing spaces for healing to unfold within community. Kara is a strong ally to numerous family members and friends who are in recovery, whose journeys inspire her work as a therapist. As a lesbian, she feels especially called to serve the LGBTQ+ community, which is disproportionately affected by substance abuse and mental health challenges. Prior to transitioning to a career in mental health counseling, she worked in the field of women’s health for nearly 15 years––guiding hundreds of people through pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and peri-menopause. Kara is supervised by Miles Ruttinger, LMFT #133402

Care for Caregivers

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When: Thursdays

Time: 6-7:30 PM

Where: via Google Meet

Suggested donation: $5-10 per weekly session. No one turned away for lack of funds. 

To join contact: groups@liberationinstitute.org

Caring for the physical and mental wellbeing of others as a family member or in a professional capacity is uniquely taxing work. There can be devastating effects on those providing long-term care, especially for those helping individuals with higher support needs: financial pressures, legal quandaries, health problems, and emotional turmoil. Joining a support group can be incredibly beneficial for caregivers. Caregiver groups work to help those who care for loved ones or clients with chronic conditions, disabilities or disease, as well as those supporting the living needs of children and older adults. These groups provide a safe space to connect with others who understand the unique challenges of caregiving, share experiences and find emotional support. They also provide a space to share coping strategies and strengthen caregiver self-care. The primary value of caregiver support groups is to provide a place where caregivers can give voice to stressful experiences, strong feelings and personal frustrations in the company of others who can relate and respond without judgment. Care for Caregivers provides a nonjudgmental and compassionate framework for caregivers to find understanding and support from others who are in similar situations. Both family and professionals are encouraged to participate. 

This group provides a nonjudgmental framework for caregivers to find understanding and support from others who are in similar situations. 

Both family and professionals are encouraged to participate.


Facilitators:
Kaitlyn Leilani May Plante is currently pursuing her Masters in Counseling Psychology at California Institute of Integral Studies, and works as a MFT Trainee at the Liberation Institute, providing accessible, neurodivergent-affirming therapy for individuals, couples, families, and groups across California via tele-health. Her practice integrates a multi-modal Expressive Arts Therapy practice with somatics, neurobiology, Narrative therapy, and Liberation psychology. Kaitlyn’s work is collaborative, client-centered, strengths-based, and solution-focused. She is committed to providing trauma-informed care, emphasizing resilience and empowerment. After a life-threatening accident left Kaitlyn physically and emotionally scarred, she decided to pursue a career in mental health, in hopes of helping others who have experienced trauma. Her goal is to open an integrative therapy and retreat space offering Expressive Arts and other holistic therapies. Kaitlyn is supervised by Miles Ruttinger, LMFT #133402