Who am I?
Hello, I’m Kathryn. I’m so happy to meet you!
Kathryn graduated from La Salle University, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with a Master’s Degree in Professional Clinical Counseling with a minor is in Addictions Counseling in 2016. She received her Bachelor’s Degree from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York in 2007. During her time at La Salle, she obtained experience in providing individual, group, and familial counseling at an intensive outpatient mental health facility.
While completing her degree, Kathryn completed a 32-hour intensive training in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). DBT is a skills-based therapy approach which focuses on teaching skills to increase Emotion Regulation, Distress Tolerance, Interpersonal Effectiveness, and Core Mindfulness. This approach has been proven to be effective for numerous complex mental health challenges including eating disorders, substance abuse disorders, personality disorders and mood disorders. Next, Kathryn completed the first level of the Gottman Method for couples counseling to expand her skillset. This method uses assessment to gain insight into a couple’s current challenges. It focuses on the couple’s strengths and building skills in areas of concern to create more satisfying relationships. Also, Kathryn completed the basic training on Somatic and Attachment Focused (SAFE) Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). This counseling approach allows individuals to heal from emotional distress that results from exposure to traumatic life experiences. Please refer to the modalities page for more information surrounding EMDR. Lastly, Kathryn completed the Health at Every Size® (HAES®) and Intuitive Eating curriculum which outlines a research based, non-diet approach that focuses on health instead of weight to assess overall mental and physical wellbeing.
In Summer 2021, Kathryn completed a 200hr intensive trauma informed yoga teacher training, meditation training, and social emotional wellness facilitator workshop hosted by Breathe for Change. She is now a 200hr Certified Yoga Teacher and Social Emotional Learning Facilitator (SEL*F). She is hoping to incorporate yoga into her counseling practice to increase inclusivity of the practice and increase client’s connection to their bodies.
Kathryn has attended multiple conference dedicated to the treatment of feeding and eating disorders including: The Renfrew Center’s Conference (November 2018), Eating Recovery Center + Pathlight Mood and Anxiety Center’s Conference (September 2020), and IAEDP Symposium (March 2021).
Kathryn is a member of the National Eating Disorder Association, International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals, and Association for Size Diversity and Health. Currently, Kathryn is pursuing specialized training from the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals for the treatment of Feeding or Eating Disorders. Kathryn is passionate about helping individuals improve body image, stop disordered eating behaviors, find peace from emotional eating, and process the negative impact of trauma on weight related challenges.
“The degree to which I can create relationships, which facilitate the growth of other as separate persons, is a measure of the growth I have achieved in myself.“
-Carl Rogers
KATHRYN'S PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE
In 2012, Kathryn completed A Women’s Place’s domestic violence CORE training, completed 20 hours of Direct Service Training, and was a victim advocate with this organization. Upon moving to Oregon in 2016, Kathryn completed the 40-hour training to support victims of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault and volunteered with Community Works in Medford, Oregon. Next, Kathryn completed the training program with the International Association of Trauma Professionals and became a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional. She has also completed trainings on Compassion Fatigue and the treatment of trauma within the family system. Kathryn uses a trauma focused lens to view all mental health challenges which helps to reduce stigma and feelings of shame.
Kathryn joined Rogue Medicine in Grants Pass, Oregon in June of 2016 where she took on the responsibility of creating and implementing the organization-wide utilization of Trauma Informed office policies. As an individual counselor, she administered state mandated risk assessments for individuals who were prescribed narcotic medication for chronic pain conditions, consulted with medical providers regarding individual’s with mental health concerns, conducted suicide risk assessments, provided Alpha-Stim Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation (CES) treatments and individual counseling services to clinic patients.
She also joined the team at Rising Phoenix Counseling Services, LLC in May of 2016, where she provided individual counseling for adults and teens, couples counseling, and family counseling. At RPCS, Kathryn worked with multidisciplinary team to provide effective, ethical care to those struggling with disordered eating.
In November 2017, Kathryn founded the Southern Oregon Chapter of Project HEAL: Help to Eat, Accept, and Live. Project HEAL is the leading nonprofit in the United States for delivering prevention, treatment financing, and recovery support for people suffering from eating disorders. The goal of Project HEAL: Southern Oregon Chapter is to spread eating disorder education and awareness throughout in the Rogue Valley; and act as a community of support for those struggling with disordered eating. Kathryn decided to close this chapter to focus on providing treatment for those struggling with feeding and eating disorders.
In December 2021, Kathryn will be utilizing all her experience, training, and passion to build a private practice that focuses on providing effective care to clients. Kathryn will be focusing on advocating for treatment access + prevention for eating disorders, incorporating mind-body techniques to increase connection to one’s body, creating professional + personal growth workshops, providing consultation to professionals looking to work with eating disorders, and sharing her passion for mental health with our community.
“We don’t have to do it alone. We were never meant to.”
— Brené Brown