Our Team
Lauren Summer, MA
Mental Health Counselor, LPC, Clinical Director
Lauren is an Arizona native living in Portland. She completed her Master's in Counseling at Lewis & Clark College with a focus on LGBTQIA studies. Lauren uses DBT, ACT, Gestalt and Existential modalities in her practice, and has worked with a wide variety of issues including anxiety, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, autism spectrum disorder, ADD/ADHD, borderline personality disorder, chronic pain, and grief and loss.
Navya Janapati
Counseling Associate
I approach counseling using a Relational-Cultural approach (RCT) and the Internal Family Systems model (IFS), with some somatic integration as needed. I aim to help clients in their exploration of relationships and their social/cultural context to guide our collaborative work and identify values or goals. It is important to foster acceptance of ourselves, to heal from self-doubt and to give ourselves grace. My clinical experience focuses on areas such as caregiver of origin issues, shame, identity work (including varied cultural values/influences), family, relationship conflicts, and trauma processing. As a woman of color myself, I hope to center people of color and those with multicultural backgrounds. Being a child of South Indian immigrants in the U.S, I've been immersed in Eastern and Western cultures. Life is uniquely challenging for us all, and I hope to re-establish a sense of comfort and or re-empowerment in oneself and in one's resilience.
Leah Sobieck
Counseling Associate
Before becoming a counselor, I was engaged in community development and affordable housing work across Oregon. I practice from a humanistic, relational-cultural framework and incorporate principles from acceptance and commitment theory (ACT) in my work. Inspired by my certified yoga and somatic training, I integrate body-based movement, nervous system and emotional regulation, and mindfulness skills to help clients understand what feels supportive in their bodies. My clinical practice has focused on serving those experiencing grief and loss, complex trauma, chronic pain/disability, life transitions, anxiety, depression, chronic shame, ADHD, and psychosis. My own experiences have taught me to appreciate how challenging and transformative growth can feel. As someone with an invisible disability, it brings me joy to support disabled folks and others, in establishing congruent connections to themselves. I bring my full self into counseling by creating a warm, adaptive, and creative environment that allows folks to unfold and be their authentic selves.
Byrd McDonald
Counseling Associate
Byrd’s person-centered, humanistic approach to counseling incorporates ACT, existential, and attachment-based modalities to support clients experiencing anxiety, anger, depression, ADHD, low self-esteem, grief, and relational trauma. As a member of the LGBTQIA community, Byrd has worked with chronic shame, HIV, aging, and family of origin issues. Byrd’s previous career in documentary filmmaking inspired his decision to become a counselor and informs his mission to honor the unique challenges, strengths, and resilience of every client.
MADDIE SMITH
Mental Health Intern
Maddie is compassionate and curious, utilizing a collaborative approach grounded in existentialism, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and somatic psychotherapy. She supports clients in exploring the intersection of their holistic selves and environment by using a trauma-informed, neurodivergent-affirming, and social justice-oriented framework. Having a particular interest in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Maddie brings a nuanced understanding of how OCD can manifest. She has professional experience working with neurodivergent, queer, and polyamorous folks as well as individuals navigating complex trauma and various life changes. Through her integrative approach, Maddie encourages clients to create meaningful change by embracing uncertainty, fostering psychological flexibility, and promoting the embodiment of their authentic selves. She prioritizes creating a safe space for growth, healing, and empowerment. Prior to counseling, Maddie taught yoga for local shelters and supported various therapy processes for autistic kids.
MEGHAN MILLS
Clinician Intern
With a background as a pelvic floor specialist and health coach, Meghan takes a biopsychosocial (mind-body-relational) approach to counseling. She integrates modalities from person-centered, existential, and coherence therapy, along with polyvagal and attachment theory. Meghan works with clients navigating chronic and persistent pain (including pelvic pain for all genders), anxiety, depression, family-of-origin trauma, peri/menopause, chronic illness, and neurodivergence — especially gifted, twice-exceptional (2e), and highly sensitive people (HSPs). She strives to create a warm, collaborative space where clients can feel deeply understood, cultivate self-trust, and build resilience.
AMBER FEARS
Skills Trainer, QMHA
Amber graduated with her Bachelor's degree in Psychology in June of 2022 and is currently pursuing her Master's degree in counseling. With a background of two years as a skills trainer, Amber hopes to continue her work with clients by utilizing a humanistic approach and implementing collaborative ways to improve executive functioning skills. Amber incorporates her knowledge of cognitive behavioral theory, solution-focused theory, and unconditional positive regard in her work with vulnerable populations. She hopes to bring more awareness to the importance of mental health, as well as enhance therapeutic experiences by creating ways for clients to practice their skills and collaborate with others. She strives to create spaces where people feel empowered and recognize their strengths. Amber has experience working with grief/loss, life transitions, sleep disturbances, organizational skills, children and families, depression and anxiety, ADHD and autism, and more.
AERYKA DENTON
Operations Manager
With 15+ years of public and private office operations experience, and having benefitted immensely from mental healthcare services, I've always been eager to learn more about and cross over into this industry. I've made a career out of making people's jobs easier at organizations from education, finance and tech to energy and government. This has given me a treasure trove of niche technical, leadership, and organizational skills which converge at Holistic Healing PDX and serve to meet the constantly evolving demands of operating a mental health group practice. I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to contribute to a wonderful organization, supporting brilliant clinicians whom I greatly admire, and playing a small role in providing a valuable service to our clients and community.
