Mindfulness and Movement Group

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When:  Mondays, starting Nov. 18 through Dec. 9, 2024.

Time: 6:30pm-7:30pm

Where: GoogleMeet: https://meet.google.com/kch-cgzi-kib

Suggested donation: $5-$20 per weekly session, or what you can afford. No one turned away for lack of funds. 

Join Us!
RSVP preferred: ruth@liberationinstitute.org
Feel free to use the link above to join.

Utilizing gentle movement and yoga, guided meditation, poetry, guided imagery, as well as journaling, come be guided through a gentle hour-long practice, that centers experiential activities you can bring into your daily life.

All experience levels are welcome.

Bio: Ruth Nelson-Moore is currently completing her Master’s in Integral Counseling Psychology at California Institute of Integral Studies. She is a trained yoga teacher, with experience leading movement, dance, and yoga classes, as well as years facilitating ceremonies within earth-based spirituality communities. She is currently completing a somatic ecotherapy certification through EarthBody Institute, and enjoys leading people home to themselves, their community and the earth.

Ruth is Supervised by Dr. Shelly Stratton, PhD, LCSW L7252

Healing Masculinity:7-Week Process Group

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When: Monday’s November 11, 2024 through December 16, 2024

Time: 6:30 pm – 8 pm

Where: TaborSpace: 5441 SE Belmont St, Portland, OR 97215

Suggested donation: $25-50 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.

Unpack the effects of the patriarchy on our emotional lives, relationships, and self-worth through Bell Hooks‘ powerful book, The Will to Change in a safe, supportive environment.

This group is for anyone who is ready to explore healthy masculinity, emotional vulnerability, and personal accountability.

What you will I Gain from this group?
Learn to express emotions authentically and constructively.

Develop strategies for personal development and change.

Connect with peers on a similar journey toward self-improvement.

Bio: Pryor Shade is a 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 I have 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 I have acquired along the way is to get out of my own way: to let go of my 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. I hope to help people who have had difficult life experiences and wish to develop a positive and affirming frame for moving forward.  Pryor is supervised by Dr. Shelly Stratton, PhD, LCSW #L7252. 

Clifford (Chepo) Henry (they/them) is a BIPOC, LatinX, queer, and non-binary therapist who believes in the potential for healing at any stage of life. They create a supportive and inclusive space that honors clients’ lived experiences and innate wisdom. Chepo specializes in working with neurodivergent individuals, LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC communities, couples, and trauma survivors. They utilize a range of therapeutic modalities to address issues like anxiety, depression, and communication difficulties, with an approach focused on fostering growth, self-acceptance, and deeper connections. Supervised by Elizabeth Hoke Lic. (#T1440).

RSVP to pryor@liberationinstitute.org or chepo@resilientrootsgrow.com

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Dreams, Visions, and The Psyche

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When: Monday’s October 8, 2024 through January 2025

Time: 6 pm – 7:30 pm

Where: Google Meet

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.

Join us for an enriching journey into the unconscious, where we will explore dreams, visions, and the mysteries of the mind through the lens of Jungian dream interpretation and Depth psychology. This weekly book group will first delve into Dreams by Marie-Louise von Franz, a close collaborator of Carl Jung, where we will break down and discuss each chapter weekly in detail.

Through guided discussions, we’ll interpret key themes and symbols from the assigned literature, relating them to our own experiences and inner world. Whether you are familiar with Jungian psychology or just curious about the rich world of dream analysis, this group offers a safe and supportive space for anyone interested in deepening their understanding of the psyche.

No prior experience is necessary—just bring your curiosity and an open mind as we explore the depths together. Join us to connect with others on a path toward self-discovery and greater insight through the transformative power of dreams and literature.

Bio: Zach Schultz is a graduate student of clinical psychology at Pacific University and a training therapist at the Liberation Institute, supervised by Elizabeth Hoke (Lic #T1440). Prior to training through the Liberation Institute, he worked for several years running different evidence-based therapeutic groups in inpatient psychiatric settings. Zach’s theoretical orientation is rooted in depth psychologies, and he finds heart in helping people explore and understand their human experience within and beyond the bounds of common therapies. 

Aidan Lynch is a graduate student at Pacific University for Clinical Psychology who is supervised by Elizabeth Hoke Lic. (#T1440). Prior to working at Liberation Institute, Aidan has ran a variety of lucid dreaming forums and groups online as well as teaching lucid dreaming How-to Seminars within the Portland Metro area. His interests lie deeply within Transpersonal and Depth Psychology. With an extensive background in ethnobotany and archaeology, the study of plant medicines, altered states of consciousness, and dreams/dreamwork has always been a great point of interest.

RSVP to aidanl@liberationinstitute.org

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Expansive relationships: POLYAM/CNM/KINK/ALT RELATIONSHIPS

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When: Tuesdays Starting October 8, 2024

Time: 6-7:30 PM

Where: via Zoom

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.

To join:contact groups@liberationinstitute.org

This group is for people ages 18+ who are interested in and/or engaged in consensual non-monogamy (e.g., polyamory, open relationships, relationship anarchy, solopoly, swinging, etc) and/or BDSM/kink, or other consensual, adult relationship styles. All adults in CA are welcome.
Facilitators:


Evar Restad – Evar (they/them) is committed to supporting gender non-conforming, queer, and neurodivergent individuals through eclectic modalities including IFS, MBCT, and narrative therapy. With a background in film and art, Evar integrates creativity and intuition into their practice, empowering participants to explore their authentic selves and relationships.

Dawn Davidson – Dawn Davidson is a graduate of UC Berkeley, a certified coach and counselor, and the author of a self-published book on “KISSable Agreements” for people in polyamorous/CNM relationships. She is kink-knowledgable, and has been coaching polyamorous people and creating community for over 25 years, both online and in person. 
In 2021, Dawn became a Certified Zentangle®️Teacher (a meditative art form), and she expects to complete her Master’s in Counseling Psychology at Golden Gate University in 2025. Her work experience includes almost 2 years with the San Mateo County Pride Center, where she started and still maintains a monthly drop-in peer-led CNM discussion group. She is currently volunteering at The Liberation Institute where she is completing her practicum hours towards graduation and licensure. Dawn passionately believes that no matter who or how many you love, Love is ALWAYS okay!


Both Dawn and Evar are supervised by Paul Allen Jr, LFMT 121687

A Weekly Parenting Group for Parents Ages 1-5

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When: Starting October 20, 2024 through January 19th, 2025

Time: 4 pm – 5 pm

Where: Liberation Institute office: 7831 SE Stark St #211, Portland, OR 97215

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 darker months are coming, and that means you’ll be spending a whole lot of time inside with your kid(s). Take a breath this autumn, and step back to appreciate all the hard work you’ve done so far as a parent to young ones. Get some space each week that is just for you, a place to share the joys and the hardships of parenting. Each week, join other parents of kids one to five in laughter and commiseration, where we’ll collectively build our village and share resources for this journey of transformation that is parenting. This is a support group, led by skilled facilitators and fellow parents, to fill your cups and bond with other parents in the neighborhood.

Zach Holz is a father, a gardener, and a forager of wild things. He is currently a professional counselor trainee at Liberation Institute. He has past experience in facilitating groups of parents as they work to process and integrate their new identity as caregivers. He is perennially humbled by the deep personal transformation that parenting offers. He lives in Montavilla, with his wife and energetic toddler. Zach is supervised by Shelly Stratton, LCSW 7252. 

Melody McKee is a mother, educator, and life long learner. She is currently the assistant director at Liberation Institute. She has a degree in Child and Adolescent Development and a MA in Curriculum Development. Melody has built relationships and supported young people and families as a middle school teacher for over a decade. She lives in Montavilla, and is a mom to two busy toddlers who is just trying her best each day. 

How to sign up: 

Email Zach at zachh@liberationinstitute.org, or call 503-836-7350 ext. #723, to sign up. We look forward to sharing time with you!

Grief & Loss Creative Process Group

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When: We will meet for 6 weeks on Tuesday evenings, from 10/15 – 11/19

Time: 6 pm – 7:30 pm

Where: Zoom

Suggested donation: $5 – $25 per session.

Grief & Loss Creative Process Group: An expressive arts therapy group for processing grief & loss within a therapeutic space. We will explore themes of loss, death, & grief as a collective community with verbal processing as well as creative prompts. This group is open to adults having experienced the death of a loved one (at any point), or is actively working with anticipatory grief with loss of a loved one. LGBTQIA+ affirming. No previous artistic experience necessary. Those who are interested are encouraged to reach out to me for more information.

Contact: kp (she/he/fae): kp@liberationinstitute.org

Bio: kp (she/he/fae) is a therapist trainee, currently seeing clients at Liberation Institute and attending school at the California Institute of Integral Studies. kp has been doing grief work for over a decade in several capacities, is an experienced homebirth midwife, and has completed training at Final Passages for Death Midwifery/Death Doula work. Fae have a passion for grief work integrated into the creative process, and have published several zines with community grief artwork. He has also experienced long term crafting of clairvoyant skills and integrates that into intuitively based practice. kp is holistically oriented with roots in relational care, liberation work, transpersonal psychology, and a touch of magic. Having had a relationship with grief for 24 years, creative grief care is close to her heart and a core aspect of what informs her lifework and relationship with self, other, & the unseen.

KP Parks is supervised by Brad Byrum, License # T2185.

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.