Aldous Huxley is quoted as saying “Consciousness is only possible through change. Change is only possible through movement.” Modern dance pioneer Martha Graham said “The body says what words cannot.” As clinicians, how may we bring our and our clients’ attention to their fundamental human agency through movement? What interventions may open possibility towards greater freedom from pain, fixation, and limited choices?

I will introduce fundamental principles of human movement, teach experientally guided cues that can help us as clinicians, as well as clients, to uncover blockages and restore (and re-story) available potential. I will also present a case history demonstrating how restoring movement to a client’s feet and thorax resulted in the cessation of chronic pain which allowed the client to stop using analgesics and anxiolytics.

By Bus or MAX: The Center is located one block west of the Old Town/Chinatown MAX
Station (Blue and Red Lines), and a few blocks east of NW 6th and Davis (Green and Yellow
Lines) and 5th and Couch (Green and Orange Lines) Stations. The Center is near many bus lines.

To plan your trip via MAX or bus, visit TriMet’s Trip Planner.

Parking: On sstreet (and using Parking Kitty), at the Parking NW pay lot at NW 2nd Ave & NW
Davis St, or in the Old Town Smart Park at NW Naito Pkwy and NW Davis St. Bike parking is
available in the parking lot behind our building and on-street.

Accessibility: There are two accessible entrances to the Center. One is on NW 2 nd Ave, and one
through the parking lot by way of NW 3 rd Ave. There is an elevator in the first floor lobby.
Food nearby:

-Kasbah Moroccan Café (right on our block)
-Afuri Ramen (south of Burnside, about a 5-7-minute walk)
-Angelina’s Greek Gyros (same area as Afuri)
-Fabos Tacos (NW 5 th , about a 5-min walk)
-Kaizen Sushi (same area as Afuri)
-Pine Street Market (same area as Afuri)
-Miss’ippi Chefs – we recommend for catering

The wearing of face mask is optional.

There is complimentary coffee, tea and water available at the center.

YES: Bring a lunch

No: No alcoholic beverages allowed at Center
No smoking allowed at Center
No wearing of fragrances at Center

Lavinia is a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate recently graduated from Portland State University’s Clinical Rehabilitation counseling program. Prior to becoming a mental health clinician, she worked as a therapeutic Pilates teacher and movement therapist at her studio, Equipoise ~ enlightened exercise LLC. Since 1998, she worked primarily with clients who had neurological challenges like CP, CMT, and Guillaume-Barre. She has a Master of Science in Clinical Rehabiitation Counseling and BA in English Literature and Creative Writing. Lavinia was also a professional ballet dancer at New York’s Metropolitan Opera Ballet (1992-1998) and a professional writer at the Cincinnati Enquirer and Antenna Magazine. Currently she works at Three Firs Counseling LLC where she brings her somatic and movement experience to her clients who have trauma, chronic illness, and disability. As a Registered Associated in the State of Oregon, Lavinia practices under the supervision of Sarah Williams, LMFT.

The Existential Humanistic perspective has been a part of her life since she can remember. Lavinia’s father was a psychiatrist at the Menninger clinic in Topeka, KS. Her life-long interest in ontology, human experience and potential, and spiritual practices led her to study mutiple disciplines ranging from mystic Christianity, Kabbalah, Taosim (she studied QiGong in China), Advaita Vedanta, and Tantra Shaivism (similar to Dzogchen Buddhism). Her article on her work with a sex offender was published in the ACA Counseling Today January 2023 edition: https://ct.counseling.org/2023/01/unexpected-lessons-and-connections-in-sex-offender-counseling/

Lavinia is an avid Star Trek fan, loves our magnificent planet and all its life forms, enjoys playing keyboard, writing, cooking, reading, and traveling with her partner.