Lucy Sherman, LPC, EMDR THERAPIST
You don’t have to carry this all on your own.
I’m a Portland, Oregon based Therapist who specializes in helping folks process complex trauma and sexual trauma through EMDR, Creative Expression and Oracle Cards in person.
please know:
Being here doesn’t mean you’re not enough or a burden, it means you have gone through some hard things that no one should have to cope with and process alone.
We create a validating space while I guide you in healing from the trauma that you have gone through. The environment we build invites humor, imagination and openness. We experiment and collaborate together to create a comforting tool kit that can help you strengthen your relationship with your intuition and feel more ok in your body as you process trauma.
How I work
At the core of my approach to therapy is the knowing that we all have the capacity to heal even the deepest wounds, we sometimes just need a little extra empathetic, trained support.
You have tried so many things from your own personal solo work, talking with others, engaging in talk therapy. With all of this you are still feeling like your body is responding as if it is not safe no matter how much you tell yourself things are ok now. You want to be able to trust yourself, trust your intuition but right now this is feeling out of reach after what has happened to you. You are at a point where you are so over feeling this way and need something different.
Ingredients For Therapy together…
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EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitzation and Reprocessing) is an evidenced-based trauma therapy that can help your body get unstuck. You may feel logically you know things are ok know but your body is stuck responding as it did in the past and you know you feel ready to try an approach outside of just talking to find relief.
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You will be invited to create and use imagery to deepen reflection while moving toward self-trust. These guided creative invitations are personalized to you and inspired by our work together in session as another language to use outside of verbal. (Absolutely no previous art experience necessary).
Mediums: Collaging, Drawing, Writing, Painting and Oracle imagery Cards.
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We collaborate with Everything! This has to feel right for you after all. We find our rhythm and learn what works for you and doesn’t work and we build a trusting therapeutic relationship where you are honored.
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We explore grounding tools that can help inside and outside of session. This could be noticing senses, taking deep breaths, imagining peaceful place, presence, moments of connection etc… System feeling more regulated than before? That is grounding.
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I do not take this work lightly, it truly is an honor sitting with folks in the parts of trauma they thought they could never share, never be validated and supported in or ever find relief from. The day by day small shifts and transformations that can happen when there is a foundation of trust and empathy and presence together is incredible. I know to hold space for others I also need to hold it for myself and create intentional self care practices that help me to show up most authentically, human, energized, empathetic and present.
specializing in:
Complex Trauma
EMDR
Sexual Trauma
My Training & Education
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
Trained in Somatic Attachment EMDR
Advanced Training in EMDR for Chronic Pain
Master’s in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling and specialized in working with folks experiencing chronic pain and adjusting to disability
Trained in Expressive Arts Therapy Approaches
10 + years supporting folks experiencing trauma in a variety of settings, private practice, group practice, resource centers, clinic, residential and psychiatric day treatment programs
My Identity and Our Work
I am dedicated to creating a space where folks with all intersecting identities feel honored and met with empathy and care. Folks who identify as LGBTQ2IA+, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and people of color), folks who identify as neuro divergent, folks of all abilities, all sizes, all ages and relationship structures are welcome in my practice. I feel it is so important for our work to be a place that is validating to you and where you feel understood. I am a cis-het white highly sensitive female (she/her pronouns) with Jewish dad, born into an able body and goodness there are many unearned privileges with these identities so I’m continuing to learn and unlearn.
A bit more…
I love doing this creative healing work! Yes, I am professionally trained and thoroughly passionate about helping others find relief from trauma and then on a personal level, this kind of work has also helped me. The feeling of shame can be overpowering and we can feel like we are not enough, over time we find ourselves in situatons that don’t align with us and we can feel stuck.
Having a gentle, non-judgemental place to explore with a professional who has a toolbox that can help in processing, can bring such solace. Creating without repercussions can feel freeing and meaningful while building a new perspective.
