“Amalia rhymes with Mamma Mia”
Pronouns: she/her/hers
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a Licensed Massage Therapist (License # 26103) in the state of Oregon. I have been trained in a variety of somatic mindfulness therapies, therapeutic touch, and yoga teaching.
Even more fundamentally though - I am neurodivergent (AuDHD) and struggled for a long time to find my way. As I had the privilege to develop my professional skills over the years though, I simultaneously benefited personally by integrating all of the healing modalities I learned. I was also blessed with several truly amazing counselors, mentors, and bodyworkers as well (thank you from the bottom of my heart to Pamela Birrell, Debra Sunderland, and Robert Bike). From these profound experiences of being deeply listened to, supported, and gently guided, I know what it feels like to truly trust another human and to develop that trust in myself.
I now know a stability, contentedness, and joy that I previously thought would never be available to me. And this is the wellspring from which I draw when showing up for my clients.
As is common for neurodivergent folks, my nervous system is extra sensitive. I still have times where I struggle to fit into this world or to feel a solid sense of self. What I can say though is that finding myself again and allowing those feelings to flow through me and shift, has become a gentler and more practiced process.
My capacity to listen to and respect my nervous system is what allows me to show up in the world in the most compassionate way I can. Because of this, I enthusiastically and viscerally believe both in the healing power of counseling and the healing power of massage therapy. I love this work and it would be a great honor to hear from you.