JASMIN PORTAZ, LPC

From a young age, poetry gave me a place to express myself and heal. I’ve found that when words are difficult to find, or too uncomfortable to name, creative expression can support us while offering additional comfort, ease, and even enjoyment. This is an important step toward putting the experience or the person's story back in their own hands to bring self-compassion, and reframe or redefine painful situations. In addition to traditional talk therapy I draw from a variety of holistic approaches including narrative, art, and poetry therapy according to each person's unique needs or experiences. I feel this is an important element in creating a healthy and successful relationship between therapist and client.

 

I believe that we are not the labels or diagnoses we are given, understanding them can help us heal, but they don’t have to define us. While working with children in various supportive and teaching roles for over 20 years, I’ve learned that labels can be destructive and harmful. There are no “bad” children, only “bad experiences” and poor reactions to them. All of our “inner children” have felt pain, some of us carry it with us throughout our lives, some of us are still in the middle of it, some of us pretend it isn't there but still feel a pain we don’t understand the origin of. I became a therapist to help people realize that the person your inner child needs love from most is you.

 

I completely understand it may feel daunting, foreign, even terrifying to imagine giving yourself the space and permission to go down this journey - you don’t have to do it alone. I am here to listen and help you learn to express yourself in the way that works best for you. Giving a voice and a space to tell and maybe even rewrite your story can be one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself. Now is the time, this is the space. Let’s talk.