The Path Home: Decolonizing Hearts and Minds

/in , /by

When: Weekly meetings on Wednesdays, beginning on May 7

Time: 5:00 pm

Where: Google Meet

Suggested donation: Suggested donation: $10 per weekly session, or what you can afford. No one turned away for lack of funds. Money given helps people receive mental health services at Liberation Institute.

The Path Home: Decolonizing Hearts and Minds is a weekly therapeutic group for people of the global majority and accomplices seeking to challenge, unlearn, and heal from internalized messages of colonization, supremacy, and oppression. Through guided reflection, discussion, and expressive practices, participants will explore how colonizing narratives have shaped identity, self-worth, relationships, and community connection. The group centers Indigenous and ancestral wisdom and honors each member’s unique cultural heritage. Together, we will reclaim narratives of liberation, restore collective dignity, and build tools for ongoing decolonial healing.

 Facilitator: Abeytax (Ah-Bay-Tosh)  Barana (they/them) is an Afro-Indigenous, queer therapist trainee in their second practicum term, writer, and community educator committed to creating spaces for radical healing and cultural reclamation. With a background in clinical psychology, Abeytax draws on Indigenous and earth-based practices, liberation psychology, and trauma-informed approaches to support clients and communities in decolonizing their minds, spirits, and relationships. Supervised by: Elizabeth Lenkeit Hoke, LMFT – License # T1440 & Shelly Stratton, PhD, LCSW – License # 7252, Liberation Institute. 



To RSVP/Get Details: Email Abeytax@liberationInstitute.org

Z

Skill Building for Emotional Support

/in , /by

When: Starting Friday, the 21st, Fridays 10-11:30am 90 min

Time: 10-11:30am 90 min

Where: via Zoom

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

To join contact: groups@liberationinstitute.org

For anyone looking for a safe space for general support and coping skill building with a
creative twist. This weekly drop-in group is focused on offering an inclusive, collaborative space
for general support, as well as tools for stress management, emotional regulation, and
self care. Techniques are drawn from positive psychology, mindfulness, and somatic
based practices to help clients better help themselves during times of distress. Sessions
may incorporate creative modalities such as sound, movement, writing, acting, and
visual arts to support participants through tough situations and strong emotions.
General support activities in group therapy can include icebreakers like “Two Truths and
a Lie”, sharing personal experiences, check-ins to discuss current challenges, active
listening, providing validation and empathy, discussing coping mechanisms, practicing
relaxation techniques like deep breathing, and collaborative art projects to foster
self-expression and group connection; all aimed at creating a safe space for individuals
to share their struggles and gain support from others within the group. Every session
gives space to learn and practice emotional regulation techniques, promoting balance
and holistic well being.


Facilitators:

Emily Martinez is currently pursuing her Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy
at Touro University Worldwide, and works as an MFT Trainee at the Liberation
Institute, providing accessible, collaborative therapy for individuals, couples,
families, and groups across California via telehealth. As a dedicated therapist
trainee, she is passionate about supporting individuals navigating issues such as
anxiety, depression, stress management, relationship issues, through a
compassionate and collaborative approach. Drawing on her training in Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and person-centered therapy, she strives to create a
safe space for clients to explore their experiences and develop coping
mechanisms for personal growth and facilitate positive change. She is deeply
motivated to help others facing challenges through a trauma-informed lens. She
places an emphasis on integrative therapy and other eclectic therapies. Currently
honing her skills in mindfulness practices and motivational interviewing, she aims
to provide tailored interventions that address individual needs.

Kaitlyn Plante’s work offers an artistic take on body-based and Liberatory
approaches to mental health. She uses visual arts, writing, music, movement and
drama therapy techniques to holistically and creatively address a variety of
issues in ways that talk therapy alone cannot. Kaitlyn supports those struggling
with anxiety, depression, self esteem, relationships, grief, and experiences of
trauma in finding an internal sense of safety, compassion, and liberation by
combining mind-body awareness with creative expression. Her work is
collaborative, client-centered, strengths-based, and solution-focused. She is
committed to providing trauma-informed care, emphasizing resilience and
empowerment. Kaitlyn is currently a MFT Trainee at the Liberation Institute,
providing accessible and inclusive therapy for individuals, couples, families, and
groups across California via telehealth. She is completing her Masters in
Counseling Psychology with a specialization in Expressive Arts Therapy at
California Institute of Integral Studies.

Both Kaitlyn and Emily are Supervised by Miles Ruttinger, LMFT #133402

Care for Caregivers

/in , /by

When: Thursdays, Beginning Feb. 20, 2025

Time: 1-2:30 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

Suvi Silvanto is a therapist committed to providing compassionate, client-centered care. She works with individuals, couples, and families, integrating a holistic, trauma-informed approach that honors each client’s unique strengths and experiences. Drawing from Narrative Therapy, Liberation Psychology, and Attachment Theory, she focuses on resilience, empowerment, and personal transformation. She earned her MA in Counseling Psychology from CIIS in 2024 and has spent the past year as a student therapist at the Liberation Institute, supporting diverse clients through various challenges. Having lived in multiple cultures, she brings a global perspective to her work and is deeply interested in feminist psychology, social justice, and the intersections of identity and mental well-being. Suvi strives to create an affirming and accessible space that acknowledges the diverse experiences of her clients. Her integrative approach combines psychodynamic work, somatic techniques, mindfulness, and transpersonal psychology, tailoring therapy to each client’s journey. With a backgroundin art and design, she values creativity as a powerful tool for self-expression and exploration. Suvi is supervised by Adina Ascher, LCSW #28900

Dance of Intimacy: Exploring Connection and Autonomy in Relationships – Part 2

/in , /by

When: Starting Thursday, September 25, 2025 – November 20, 2025

Time: 7 pm – 8:30 pm

Where: GoogleMeet

Suggested donation: $10-$20 per session, no one turned away for lack of funds

Join a group of women as we dive into anger: what it tells us, and how we might best listen to it and learn to dance with it. We’ll be reading Harriet Lerner’s book The Dance of Anger through the lens of our broader group investigation into the tension between the parts of us who long for closeness and intimacy and the parts of us who crave autonomy in our personal relationships, whether with friends, lovers,  parents, siblings, children or other family members. When this tension isn’t consciously felt and explored, anger can definitely arise, so Lerner’s book will fit perfectly with our larger theme.

We will meet for nine weeks, ending the week before Thanksgiving.

Bio: Tamara Yates has been dancing the tension of the opposites within since she discovered Voice Dialogue, a therapeutic modality that works with inner selves or parts, in 2011.  Having worked for over a decade as a Voice Dialogue facilitator, she is currently pursuing a master’s in counseling psychology at Pacifica Graduate Institute and is a professional counseling trainee at Liberation Institute. She loves to get her hands in the soil as a gardener and enjoys dancing (literally as well as metaphorically). She lives in Corvallis with her husband and their sweet golden retriever, Finn. Tamara is supervised by Shelly Stratton, LCSW 7252.

Want to Sign Up or Ask Questions? Contact Tamara at tamara@liberationinstitute.org

RSVP to tamara@liberationinstitute.org

Z

Reading for Reconnection

/in , /by

When:  Sundays, starting Feb. 2, 2025

Time: 11 – 12:30pm

Where: GoogleMeet

Suggested donation: $20 per weekly session, or what you can afford. No one turned away for lack of funds. 

Join Us!
RSVP: estherb@liberationinstitute.org or call:  503-836-7350 ext. 705

Would you like to . . .
Learn about the nervous system?

Better understand your attachment

style?

Go on an adventure?

Enjoy a sense of community?

About Us
We are a new group of Oregonians who enjoy reading books, both fiction and nonfiction, that give us insight into ourselves, each other, and the world.

Bio:
Hello fellow humans!
My name is Esther and I’m a new intern with Libi. My heart is so excited to learn and grow with this truly special team and I’d like to take a moment to introduce myself. I’m in my final year of graduate school and really resonating with therapies such as parts work, focusing, brainspotting, EMDR, mindfulness, somatics, etc.! I love finding ways to incorporate the body into the therapeutic process since I believe that deep and profound healing can happen when we can come home to the body. This is easier said than done, especially for my fellow humans who also struggle with chronic illness and neurodivergence that can leave our nervous systems feeling fraught with exhaustion and overwhelm. I hope to create a co-regulating space where unmasking and connection can become antidotes to the shame and isolation that so often plague our sensitive souls.

My hope is that this group will be a heart-filling space to breathe deeply, laugh heartily, and feel less alone in our human experiences. 

Esther Bonds, Counseling Intern, Supervised by Elizabeth Hoke, License #T1440

Psychedelic Integration for People in Recovery

/in , /by

When: Once a month on the Third Friday

Time: 515pm-645pm

Where: Tabor Space Library https://taborspace.org/library 

This community gathering invites people in recovery who are interested in, or currently integrating psychedelics into their healing practice. We will discuss how psychedelics impact addictive behaviors and risks of relapse.  We will explore relationships with altered states of consciousness, sobriety vs moderation, various recovery models, and systemic pressures leading to overconsumption and addictive tendencies.   The purpose of the gathering is to be in dialogue about these topics and how they impact our relationship to self, others, substances and altered states.

While we’re not requiring everyone to be sober or abstinent from all substances, we do ask that everyone attending the meeting not be engaging with whatever substance that triggers the addictive behavior.  Our intention for this monthly gathering is for everyone to have a confidential and safe space where people are able to self manage and discuss openly.  This group offers support for people who already have an active healing process around their addiction and are looking for a community to share it with and get support from.

This group is offered to the community in collaboration with Portland Psychedelic Society https://www.meetup.com/psychedelic/events/299239325/

RSVP to elizabeth@liberationinstitute.org

Facilitators:

Elizabeth Hoke is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California and Oregon who has over a decade of personal and professional experience with addiction recovery.  She is dedicated to helping people in need receive mental health services through Liberation Institute where therapy is provided for all on a sliding scale. Elizabeth also works with Dr. Rosonke at Rainfall Medicine, sitting with patients as they explore their relationship with addiction through the use of ketamine and psychotherapy. https://www.liberationinstitute.org/our-clinic/team/

Pryor Shade is a therapist trainee at Liberation Institute, veteran, educator, and artist who understands the struggles that we as humans can experience, trying to fit in, earn a living, access resources, develop relationships, and appreciate our own value as creative beings. Along the way he has learned a great deal about humility, about the need for curiosity and a desire to acquire new knowledge and skills. It’s not so much about having the right answer, but to help people share their story and feel heard, seen and valued. One of the greatest lessons he has acquired is to get out of his own way: to let go of his agenda, and be an active participant in the process. No matter what the task, a collaborative approach tends to be far better than a mission executed by an army of one.