Care for Caregivers

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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

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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

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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

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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.

Recovery’s Remedy: A Monthly Gathering for Addiction Support

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Addiction can be a formidable adversary, but the journey to recovery is not one that you have to face alone. “Recovery’s Remedy” offers a monthly gathering where you can find the support and camaraderie you need to take those important steps towards healing. Let’s delve into the details of this vital support group.

Time: Monthly gathering for addiction support, held on the first Tuesday of each month.

Contact: To RSVP, please email Elizabeth at elizabeth@liberationinstitue.org.

Location: TaborSpace

Who this group is for: “Recovery’s Remedy” is a supportive community designed for individuals seeking addiction support. Whether you are on the path to recovery or supporting a loved one, you are welcome to join this gathering.

How many times this group will run for: This group meets on a monthly basis, offering consistent and reliable support for those navigating the challenges of addiction and recovery.

“Recovery’s Remedy” serves as a beacon of hope and support for those on the journey to recovery. The focus here is on creating a safe and welcoming space where you will find the support you need. To join this monthly gathering and take steps towards healing and recovery, simply reach out to Elizabeth at elizabeth@liberationinstitue.org to RSVP. You don’t have to face addiction alone, and “Recovery’s Remedy” is here to remind you of that.

Weekly Support Group – Wednesdays at 6PM

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Every Wednesday at 6:00pm-7:30pm PST

Where: Weekly Via Zoom

Looking for support and connection in a safe space where you can just be—no judgment, no pressure? Our Weekly Support Group is an affirming, inclusive, welcoming therapeutic space for connection, reflection, and real talk. This open-topic, drop-in group invites you to share and connect with others while receiving support and guidance from two compassionate host therapists. This group is accessible to all California residents and meets weekly via Zoom. While there is no cost to join, donations are always welcome and help support Liberation Institute’s mission to provide affordable and accessible therapy to ALL. Come as you are, share as you feel comfortable, and know that support is here for you. 

Facilitators:

Myles Green – “My name is Myles and I feel very lucky to serve here at the Liberation Institute. I’ve been working as a middle school P.E. teacher for the past 7 years; and I recently came to the realization that much of my experience here informs my current passion for mental health. When I first started as an educator, I began noticing that many if not most of my students were unable to access the curriculum until they learned to process some of their more challenging emotions. Hence, I have since made the pivot to focus on addressing this before diving into any academic content. Today, I strive everyday to make sure my students are empowered with the tools they need to be their best selves. And I hope to do the same here at Libi. My work utilizes a collaborative approach to determine what therapeutic interventions work best for clients, as I believe they are the experts on their own stories and respective journeys. I prefer to think of myself as a humble guide helping to keep things on track along the way. One of my favorite things to witness is when clients utilize strengths they never knew they had to tackle challenges they never thought they’d overcome. My hope is to illuminate opportunities for this and other transformative change within all those I am privileged to work with.”

Brianna Breimayer – “Brianna is a bisexual female-identified Marriage and Family Therapist Trainee at Liberation Institute focusing on queer and polyamorous relationship counseling in the Bay Area. She employs various modalities including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Somatic Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Brianna is pursuing her Masters degree in Counseling Psychology at Golden Gate University and plans to graduate December 2025. In her free time she enjoys being active outside via long distance running, rock climbing, skiing, and hiking, as well as pursues her hobbies of dancing, attending music festivals, and fire spinning. Brianna is passionate about her work and brings a holistic approach to working with clients to help them work through their current and past concerns to lead more fulfilling and peaceful lives.”


Both Brianna Breimayer and Myles Green are Supervised by a Licensed Person. 


RVSP/Contact: groups@liberationinstitute.org