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MEET YOUR INSTRUCTORS

Lauren Wilson

Lauren while passionate about leading Speak Out & holding space for others to navigate the complexities of life, she also loves gardening, painting, biking & camping. When she’s not engaging in those things, you’ll likely find her enjoying her home with her husband, two schnauzers & ducks.

Founder & Mental Health Coach

Madison Nagy

Madison planted a small network of house churches in Portland alongside her husband in 2021. She is a mom of 2, enjoys being outside, making sourdough & is often repairing, renovating or working on a project around the house.

Pastor
VP of Speak Out & Group Counselor

Danny Hazen

Danny has over 14 years of professional experience leading individuals through group counseling. When he’s not working, you’ll find him enjoying the the wide variety of food/beverages Portland has to offer, or enjoying his hobby’s of leather work, camping, music or repairing vintage amps & guitars.

Full Team

“THIS 'SAFE PLACE' PRACTICE HAS REALLY HELPED ME. BEFORE, I'D GET CAUGHT IN THOSE ANXIOUS SPIRALS, AND IT FELT IMPOSSIBLE TO STOP. NOW, I CAN GO TO MY MENTAL REFUGE, AND IT BREAKS THE CYCLE. IT'S A REAL ANCHOR FOR ME, KEEPING ME FROM GETTING SWEPT AWAY”

Who We Are

Every decision we make is shaped by a clear sense of purpose. Our journey has been anything but ordinary. Through every step, we've focused on staying true to our values and making space for thoughtful, lasting work.

We believe in simple ideas, strong relationships, and lasting impact. What began as a passion project has evolved into something more. We’re proud of where we’ve been and even more excited for what’s ahead.

Skip to Videos

  • Underdogs Practice - Building A Safe Place

    This guided visualization and mindfulness exercise allows you to create an internal haven, a refuge you can access whenever you need it.

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    Underdogs Practice - Trauma vs Traumatic Events

    This week, we will be focusing on deepening your self-awareness, exploring the importance of setting healthy boundaries, and beginning to cultivate curiosity about your personal wellness plan. We will also be discussing and identifying individuals for your safety and distraction teams.

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    Toolkit Activity One: My Wellness Plan

    My Wellness Plan introduces coping strategies as essential tools for navigating life's challenges.

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    Toolkit Activity Two: My Boundaries & Communication

    This week, we will be focusing on deepening your self-awareness, exploring the importance of setting healthy boundaries, and beginning to cultivate curiosity about your personal wellness plan.

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    Toolkit Activity Three: Group Discussion

    This segment centers on a deeper exploration of support systems, prompting individuals to reflect on personal barriers that hinder them from asking for help, such as fear of judgment or a feeling of self-reliance.

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    Toolkit Activity Four: My Distraction Team

    The conversation now transitions from individual coping mechanisms to the importance of social support networks, specifically introducing the concept of a "distraction team."

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    Toolkit Activity Five: My Safety Team

    Building upon the idea of social support, the discussion now focuses on establishing a "safety team" – a group of trusted individuals who can be called upon during moments of crisis or significant distress.

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    Toolkit Activity Six: Group Discussion

    Concluding the session, the focus shifts towards actively building a diverse care team over the coming weeks, encompassing both professional and personal support such as clinicians, coaches, friends, and family, all contributing uniquely to the healing journey.

  • Low Level Interventions: 5,4,3,2,1

    The '5-4-3-2-1' technique is a simple yet powerful grounding exercise designed to pull you out of overwhelming thoughts or flashbacks and bring you back into the present moment using your senses.

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    Low Level Intervention One: Progressive Muscle Relaxation

    Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR) is a simple yet effective technique designed to reduce physical tension and mental stress by bringing deep awareness to your body. It works by systematically tensing, and then consciously releasing, different muscle groups throughout your body.

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    Low Level Intervention Worksheet

    Now that we've explored what low-level interventions are, looking at both top-down and bottom-up approaches, and touched on examples like mindfulness, the 5-4-3-2-1 technique, the alphabet game, and progressive muscle relaxation, the next step is to start building your own personalized Low-Level Interventions Toolkit.

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    Week Five: Healthy vs Unhealthy Coping Strategies

    In Week Five of our Trauma Cohort, we will be diving in to the ways in which we cope when healing from trauma. In moments of intense psychological distress, it's completely understandable to seek relief, to grasp at anything that might help us manage the overwhelming emotions.