“The Modern Hero, the modern individual who dares to heed the call, cannot, indeed must not, wait for their community to cast of its slough of pride, fear, rationalized avarice, and sanctified misunderstanding… it is not society that is to guide and save the creative hero – but precisely the reverse.”

Joseph Campbell, A Hero With A Thousand Faces

Hi 🙂 My name is Megan. I’m so glad you’re here! Hidden Hero is my therapy practice, serving individuals via telehealth and in person, based out of Portland, Oregon. Therapy here is holistic, based in an understanding of how our physiology influences our mental and emotional states, and a deep value of the role that our spirits and sense of purpose play in our experience of life.

Holistic:  Emphasizing the importance of the whole and the interdependence of its parts.

I focus on resolution and recovery from PTSD, complex PTSD, and intergenerational trauma patterns. I use a few different core approaches: Somatic Experiencing, attachment system healing, and Jungian psychodynamic theory. You can think of these three as Body, Heart and Soul, with our minds as our primary tool to forge and strengthen synthesis between them.

I like to keep it real. I really do have so much space to hold for whatever cycles or themes you’re in process with. That being said, naming those things for what they are and bringing awareness to them is an important part of getting to know yourself better and developing a deeper honesty with yourself. That’s part of what I’m here to facilitate. I’m a sincere, genuine, fiercely tender person. If we both decide we’re the right fit, you’ve just added a devoted advocate to your corner of the world who will always encourage you to investigate yourself with curiosity and compassion.

Somatic Psychotherapy

This isn’t your typical talk therapy! This is trauma work, facilitated by the challenging but incredible Somatic Experiencing (SE) modality. Similar in basis to the more widely known EMDR, SE is highly effective as a “bottom-up” therapy, working with the body directly to heal the mind, rather than the opposite. We practice directing attention to the sensations of both activation and safety as they come up in the moment, locating them within the body. With this focus, we develop an intentional relationship with nervous system regulation through dialogue with the body, and heal trust deeply through witnessing the body’s innate capacity to process experiences without overwhelming us. Good for targeting highly charged specific memories or events. Excellent for those struggling with anxiety, classic/complex PTSD symptoms, or those simply seeking to live less in their heads.

Attachment-based Therapy

This work is also physiologically based. We emphasize working with our brain’s limbic system: our emotional center also responsible for the mechanisms through which we form bonds with others. But the dominant flavor of attachment healing is Heart. We use our special relationship as a basis to reflect and heal patterns borne from formative relationships. This is an excellent focus for anyone who identifies as having complex or classic PTSD or attachment wounding (insecure attachment patterns). It pairs well with SE for slowing down and dissecting relational conflicts, which are often powerful reflections of unresolved hurts and experiences of disrupted attachment that prevent us from settling into consistent safety and happiness with loved ones.

Creative Therapy

Therapy with an intentional focus on developing creativity. This can be extremely deep work as we encounter blocks and investigate personal desires. Discover deeper levels of engagement with yourself through practices designed to awaken or strengthen the intuition. Intuition is emphasized in this journey to living more fully because it’s an aspect of our personal reality that allows us to be more honest with ourselves, and consequentially, more accepting. This approach also includes supporting your creativity practically, by identifying the best mediums for exploration and joy through experimentation on your own time, as well as creating a plan together for what it looks like to integrate a structure for your creative practice into your daily life. This is a great fit for people who may or may not already identify as artists, but struggle to live authentically and find support for their lives in capitalistic society. It’s also an excellent fit for people who haven’t had the time or space to explore their creative selves.

I have a background in Fine Art. I was and still am a painter and drawer and muser. In fact it was my deep study of what art is that first awoke my love for conceptual, psychological work. I also really love people, I think they’re incredible and I’m endlessly fascinated by the variety in our experience as humans. I have experience with religious trauma and psychedelics (the good and the ugly) that I bring to my work when relevant. My personal experience is anchored in the Vipassana (insight) meditation technique and a contemplation practice. I’m really passionate about subversive community and nature! In a time where our foundational institutions are obviously unreliable, I think it’s imperative to be connected and supported.

I am white, able and female-bodied, fluid in my gender identity. I use she or they pronouns. I’m committed to learning and understanding more about how my power and privilege impact my experience and our relationship. I always want to make space for how your identities have affected your experience and continue to do so. I work with all gender expressions, sexual orientations, and relationship structures. Being accessible to people of all classes is important to me.

10 years of personal therapy (please feel free to ask why this is important to my training)

Somatic Experiencing® trauma resolution 3 year training program:
Beginning Levels I, II, III and Intermediate levels I, II, III with Glyndie Nickerson, PhD
Advanced Level I with Lael Keen
Advanced Level II with Joshua Sylvae, PhD

CALM Suicide Prevention Training

Sexual Assault Response

Child Resource Team Therapist, Options for Southern Oregon

MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Southern Oregon University

Intentional Peer Support Specialist Training

BFA in Craft with an emphasis in Drawing and Painting from Oregon College of Art and Craft

If you’d like more information or to schedule a free consult, email me at megan@hiddenherocounseling.com to send me a message. 

You can also call 503-744-5809. Leave your full name and phone number and I will respond as soon as I can, typically within 1-2 business days.

If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, please call your local crisis line at 303-447-1665 or go to the nearest walk-in mental health clinic or ED.

Note: The confidentiality of all electronic communication cannot be guaranteed. Emails and texts, as a form of written communication, are best kept brief and used for basic scheduling or contact questions.

You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your therapy will cost.

Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the bill for medical items and services.

You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency items or services. This includes related costs like medical tests, prescription drugs, equipment, and hospital fees.​

You can ask me for a Good Faith Estimate in writing at least 1 business day before you schedule a session or at any time during out work together. If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill.

For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit. www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call 1-800-985-3059.

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