Naomi Painter

The Hakomi Method: Mindful, Somatic, Experiential Therapy Hakomi is a form of sensorimotor psychotherapy (also called somatic therapy), consisting of guided self-study that uses mindfulness to access traumatic memories and harmful beliefs encoded in the body - those places in your body where you feel restless, uncomfortable, ill, or just plain “don’t go there.” Together, we will harness the power of mindfulness, creativity, curiosity, and presence to courageously dive in, unearth your pain, and reshape your experience of the world. Hakomi brings together the wisdom of Buddhist and Taoist teachings with modern scientific findings on how the brain changes itself through experience, not just talking about it. What is somatic therapy like? I start every session with a “check in,” 3-5 minutes of guided mindfulness exercises to get us into the present moment and have you checking in with your body to see what we’ll be working with today. During sessions, we may do “little experiments” to study how your thoughts and bodily sensations work together to keep you stuck. I strive to create a nonjudgmental, supportive, caring atmosphere, and there will be stretches of silent reflection, scary moments of grief and sadness, and times of laughter and surprise in our work together. At the end of each session, I give homework so you can put what you are learning into practice each week and come in prepared for new experiences in session. The point is not to spend years in therapy wondering what you’re doing there - my goal for you is to see transformative and lasting change appear in your life as a result of our work together.

SPECIALIZED TRAINING Certificate Program, Integrative Somatic Trauma Therapy The Embody Lab Experiential Training in Hakomi Mindful Somatic Psychotherapy Hakomi Institute International Advanced Master Program on the Treatment of Trauma National Institute for the Clinical Application of Behavioral Medicine Professional Training Program in Mind Body Medicine Dr. James S. Gordon, Center for Mind-Body Medicine Relational Life Therapy Training Program Terry Real, Relational Life Institute Polyamory in Therapy Martha Kauppi, Institute for Relational Intimacy In my pre-private practice days, I have been: a family support worker and program manager for a home visiting program serving first-time parents, a special education paraeducator, a school counselor at the elementary, middle, and high school level, a case manager and program manager for a grant serving veterans experiencing homelessness, and an Aging and Disability case manager.

2400 Direct Supervised Hours, LPC Associate, 2022 Oregon Board of Licensed Professional Counselors and Therapists Graduate Certificate, Adult Education, 2015 Portland State University, Oregon Master of Education, Guidance and Counseling, 2008 Loyola University, Maryland Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, 2004 University of Maryland Baltimore County, Maryland