https://manolalotustherapy.com/services daily 0.75 2024-08-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64498740e6d7c4706329a597/1682540453524-G6EEHGVFDPZRII09NC0X/AdobeStock_323427575+copy+2.jpeg Services - You’re in the right place Manola Kerr Therapy provides virtual and in-person mental health therapy for adults and teens, aged 14 and over. I provide individual therapy only. My specialties include relationship issues, abuse and trauma recovery, anxiety, depression, PTSD, guilt/ shame, teen and young adult issues, twin issues, self-esteem, cultural/ systemic oppression, and intergenerational trauma. After our initial consultation and treatment plan formulation, we’ll meet for individual therapy sessions at a pace that feels right for you. I’ll send you a summary of the work we did together in our therapy session, highlighting progress made, and discuss the next steps. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64498740e6d7c4706329a597/1703126967484-YGJ6T4N4TCC3NG1EUDCW/image-asset.jpeg Services - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64498740e6d7c4706329a597/1682540399767-14RBQ4T9SH6J8IIP8AU7/MadelinePhoto35.jpg Services - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64498740e6d7c4706329a597/941ed4c3-b130-45e8-9340-61148ecb47bf/pexels-j-lee-6843561.jpg Services - Therapy for Anxiety, Depression & PTSD Bad things happen in life that are unexpected, unwanted, or overwhelmingly challenging to cope with. It is common to feel hopeless or like life is out of your control, especially when moving through major life changes. Losing a loved one, a job loss, health changes, and other life transitions can cause overwhelming anxiety and feelings of defeat. Do you ever find yourself unable to fall asleep because your mind keeps replaying something that happened five years ago? Your mind keeps thinking about what could happen in the future if you do this or don’t do that. Feeling worried or scared, even if there isn't anything dangerous happening, is exhausting. As someone who has struggled with anxiety my entire life, I know how challenging it can be to find relief. Feeling sad or hopeless for a long time can feel like a never-ending cycle of sadness and hopelessness. It is as if you are stuck in a deep pit without any way out. You don't enjoy doing things that you used to like. You might feel tired all the time, have trouble sleeping, or feel like you don't have any energy. You might also have a hard time concentrating or feel like you're not good at anything. You are not alone. I know how scary it can feel to be in this depressive place. There is help available! Asking for help is the first step. After a traumatic event, it is normal to have nightmares or flashbacks, where you feel like you are reliving the event all over again. It is normal to feel anxious or on edge all the time and have a hard time sleeping or concentrating. I know how disruptive these feelings can be when you are trying to get through your day at work, school, and enjoy your relationships. Life should not feel this hard. It's important to remember it's okay to feel anxious, depressed, or traumatized. There is support available. In therapy, you will begin to make sense out of the chaos and create meaning from the loss. You will gain a new perspective and framework that will support you moving forward. Schedule a free consultation with me to learn if therapy can help. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64498740e6d7c4706329a597/a87a9971-e6ae-4340-a830-e4830f88145d/pexels-karolina-grabowska-4466240.jpg Services - Therapy for Twins As a twin, I have first-hand experience navigating the unique issues and challenges of being a twin. I know how difficult it can be to find a therapist who understands what it is like to be a twin. Twins are a unique population that have specific needs when it comes to mental health therapy. Issues related to identity, relationships, separation and loss, and competition and comparison are common challenges that twins seek in therapy. As a therapist, it's important to recognize these unique issues and provide a safe and supportive space for twins to explore their individual identities, establish healthy boundaries with their twin, and develop healthy relationships with others. Schedule a free consultation with me to find out if therapy can help. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64498740e6d7c4706329a597/1ab5803f-b43a-43e2-87c9-0dbc13d51f84/image-asset.jpg Services - Biracial & Bicultural Issues I grew up in a small, rural town, in Oregon. My father is white, American-born. My mother is a first-generation immigrant from Laos. As a child, I had mixed feelings about my family. I had no concept of what “race” or “culture” was. All I knew was my family was different. After coming to know others like me, who identify as “mixed,” “biracial,” or “bicultural,” I have learned there are a few common issues we sometimes share. Here are common issues I see in clients: · Code-switching · Imposter syndrome · Being exoticized/tokenized · Internalized racism/shame · Feeling lonely Code-switching If you’re not familiar with the term code-switching, it was first used to refer when people who speak more than one language or dialect alternate those languages or dialects within a conversation. Today, it has another meaning. Code-switching involves adjusting one’s style of speech, appearance, behavior, and expression in order to potentially fit in or gain acceptance from the dominant environment. For bicultural clients, this can look like adjusting the types of foods they bring to lunch at work or school, or changing their behavior when visiting extended family. Code-switching is adaptive on the one hand, but it can take a toll on a person’s mental health. The cognitive resources it takes to adjust one’s behavior, reduces authentic self-expression, and can contribute to exhaustion and burnout. Imposter Syndrome Growing up in a family made of two distinct cultures comes with gifts and challenges. You may feel you belong to both cultures and you also don’t quite belong to either. This can lead to some bicultural clients to develop feelings of being an imposter, what some refer to as imposter syndrome. These individuals describe a fear of not being an authentic member of a community or identity group. Sometimes called cultural imposter syndrome, this phenomenon can take many forms but is common among members of marginalized communities who feel that they do not have the correct experiences or feelings to be counted as a member of those groups. Cultural imposter syndrome is not unusual among people who have mixed ethnic, racial, or cultural backgrounds and who are often made to feel that they do not belong in any of the communities to which they are connected. Some sufferers have claimed that imposter syndrome encourages them to work harder and improve, even at high levels of achievement. Most experts, however, believe that the stress, fear, and self-recrimination associated with imposter syndrome make it undesirable (Eldridge, Stephen. "imposter syndrome". Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 Jan. 2024, ). Being Exoticized or Tokenized The New Oxford American Dictionary defines exoticize as a verb, meaning to portray (someone or something unfamiliar) as exotic or unusual; romanticize or glamorize. On the surface, this may not sound so bad. After all, what is so wrong with being romanticized or glamorized, right? Appearing “unfamiliar” or what some might describe as “ethnically ambiguous” lends to experiences of being exoticized by the dominant environment. In clients, this presents as experiences of frustration in dating, trying to make friends, and even when encountering complete strangers. In dating, this can look like a bicultural woman becoming frustrated when yet another man confesses to being interested in her because she is “exotic.” For the woman, it can make her feel objectified and tokenized. Being culturally tokenized means being singled out because of being perceived as distinctly different or novel from the majority. It can make bicultural individuals feel further separated from those non-tokenized groups, leading to thoughts that they are going to be liked less or a little too much solely because they appear exotic. This can also lead to association of stereotypes with a group a tokenized individual belongs to. For example, an east Asian woman stereotyped as submissive. The higher attention from others can lead to increase sense of pressure to defy any associated stereotypes or to prove one’s own merit. With those effects in mind, tokenism has a serious impact on an individual's mental health. For example, authors of a 2020 article mentioned the idea that tokenism has the potential to lead to depression, burnout, attrition (wearing away, feeling sapped, feeling harassed), and minority tax (basic concept that when you are one of the few racial/ethnic minorities you’ll be called upon more than others simply because someone who looks like you needs to have a seat at the table). (Ellis J, Otugo O, Landry A, Landry A. Interviewed while Black. N Engl J Med. 2020;383(25):2401-2404. doi:10.1056/NEJMp2023999). Internalized Racism As you can probably begin to see, these repetitive experiences in which bicultural individuals are singled out from the dominant environment can lead them to feel increasingly marginalized and oppressed. Internalized racism is a form of internalized oppression. In bicultural clients, this can look like a deep sense of shame and loneliness. They feel ashamed of their marginalized identity or even ashamed for being white. They may feel a deep loneliness when they feel they cannot share this with others. When clients suppress the shame, the unresolved, internal conflict can lead to depression. Feeling Lonely If a client’s parent was an immigrant it can bring up additional challenges. It is not uncommon for clients to report a lack of emotional support from their parent or family due to a cultural belief that mental health problems are shameful or the client should be grateful for the opportunities their parent has worked so hard to give them. Bicultural clients and clients who are second-generation immigrants (have at least one parent who is foreign born), may face pressure to achieve “the American Dream,” resulting in the felt inability to show any perceived weakness or vulnerability, in the fear it may upset their parent. This can contribute to a sense of isolation in the client. It’s important for bicultural individuals to seek connections with friends or groups that value diversity and who can relate to their unique world views. This can feel incredibly affirming. Appearing ethnically ambiguous to others does not equal being less-than or too much. It has nothing to do with one’s value or worth as a person. Being bicultural provides individuals with the ability to see both sides, the shades of grey. They often have a unique ability to value and appreciate cultural differences and build community. How Therapy Can Help As someone who grew up in Oregon, it was hard finding a therapist who looked like me and could understand what it is like being bicultural. It comes with unique challenges that have a significant impact on your mental health and well-being. Navigating work, school, friendships, family, systems, and messages from society and media is a lot to process and deal with. As a therapist, I understand how important it is to recognize these challenges and provide culturally responsive care. Therapy is empowering. It supports social justice because it provides a safe and supportive environment for you to explore your experiences, emotions, and reactions. By validating your experiences, you regain your sense of agency and control. Therapy also helps you identify and challenge oppressive systems and develop strategies to advocate for yourself and your communities. This contributes to greater social justice and equity by promoting the well-being and empowerment of marginalized individuals and communities. Contact me to schedule a free consultation to learn if therapy can help you. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64498740e6d7c4706329a597/1703106463917-VUUIETK6XFYJK32FHSZJ/image-asset.jpeg Services - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://manolalotustherapy.com/home daily 1.0 2025-02-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64498740e6d7c4706329a597/29a5f84a-bf4c-40d7-9253-20c29621fc45/Your+paragraph+text.png Home - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64498740e6d7c4706329a597/6535faba-5e21-4591-8450-4ac122059602/IMG_6130_magic.jpeg Home - Hi, I’m Manola Welcome, I’m glad you’re here Almost everyone needs professional support at some time in life. I have years of clinical experience, helping individuals of all ages and backgrounds. I enjoy working with adults who want support and guidance through some of life’s common challenges: Navigating dating, relationships, and breakups. Coping with major life changes such as job loss, chronic illness, or other unexpected events that leave you feeling powerless or like life is out of your control. Recovering from past abuse, betrayal, or other traumatic experiences that are difficult to move on from. Through our work together, you’ll learn: How your experiences impact your beliefs, thoughts, and decisions A new framework for better communication How to assert healthy boundaries How to utilize self-compassion Healthy coping tools The defensive coping tools getting in your way How to harness your internal sense of power How to integrate your values within your relationships and life goals And so much more… You will be able to have a better understanding of yourself, allowing for greater freedom to live your life on your own terms with meaning and purpose. https://manolalotustherapy.com/contact daily 0.75 2025-02-05 https://manolalotustherapy.com/404-page daily 0.75 2023-04-26 https://manolalotustherapy.com/info daily 0.75 2025-08-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64498740e6d7c4706329a597/1683836692146-XEWEKPNTBFRCMHVRAE92/unsplash-image-tzCJWNB0gHg.jpg Info - You’re in the right place PAYMENT POLICIES I accept payment by credit card before or at the time of service. My preferred method of accepting payments is via Simple Practice, a secure and confidential service designed for therapists. For some insurances, I use Headway to manage my billing and admin work so that I can place all of my focus on our work together. Headway manages everything related to payments and insurance to make things as easy as possible for you. Please refer to my Headway website for more information: https://care.headway.co/providers/manola-kerr If you’re curious about my payment policies, or my office policies in general, please read about them in more detail in my Welcome Letter/Informed Consent before we begin treatment. If you have questions or concerns about these policies, let's discuss them at the outset, so that there are no surprises as we begin our work together. INSURANCE United Healthcare, Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Carelon Behavioral Health, and Quest Behavioral Health. https://manolalotustherapy.com/about daily 0.75 2024-02-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64498740e6d7c4706329a597/47d1733d-e183-4418-aa44-67bb7b9c0bba/image_6483441.jpg About - Hi, I’m Manola A therapist, twin, and bonafide nature-lover. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, who is passionate about supporting individuals on their journey toward self-empowerment. I earned my master’s degree in social work from Portland State University in 2016. I have a wide range of experience working with diverse individuals in community, healthcare, and educational settings. I learned how trauma can be passed down through families, and how a person’s experiences can influence their current thoughts, feelings, and decisions in life. I had the opportunity to help youth, adults and families with navigating oppressive systems by advocating, supporting, and validating their experiences. This is why I am devoted to working with historically marginalized people and communities. After working with survivors of sexual trauma and domestic violence, I became passionate about supporting people on their journey toward finding safety and calm. I believe everyone deserves to be healthy and to thrive in life. https://manolalotustherapy.com/specialty daily 0.75 2023-04-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64498740e6d7c4706329a597/1682540453520-3BT18SY33UYO77IG9GCO/Ellen+-+Anger+Image.jpg Specialty - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64498740e6d7c4706329a597/1682540453524-G6EEHGVFDPZRII09NC0X/AdobeStock_323427575+copy+2.jpeg Specialty - You deserve to feel seen and heard A safe space to explore your emotions Nulla vitae elit libero, a pharetra augue. Vivamus sagittis lacus vel augue laoreet rutrum faucibus dolor auctor. Fusce dapibus, tellus ac cursus commodo, tortor mauris condimentum nibh, ut fermentum massa justo sit amet risus. Aenean eu leo quam. Pellentesque ornare sem lacinia quam venenatis vestibulum. Integer posuere erat a ante venenatis dapibus posuere velit aliquet. 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Maecenas faucibus mollis interdum. https://manolalotustherapy.com/learnmoreanxiety daily 0.75 2023-05-03 https://manolalotustherapy.com/learn-more-counseling-for-twins daily 0.75 2023-05-03 https://manolalotustherapy.com/learn-more-counseling-for-abuse-trauma daily 0.75 2023-05-03 https://manolalotustherapy.com/privacy-policy daily 0.75 2023-05-07 https://manolalotustherapy.com/terms-conditions daily 0.75 2023-12-20 https://manolalotustherapy.com/counseling-for-relationship-issues daily 0.75 2024-01-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64498740e6d7c4706329a597/1703018033292-UK6633CP7FZXXHBA9DXS/image-asset.jpeg Therapy for Relationship Issues - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://manolalotustherapy.com/therapy-for-depression-anxiety-ptsd daily 0.75 2023-12-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64498740e6d7c4706329a597/941ed4c3-b130-45e8-9340-61148ecb47bf/pexels-j-lee-6843561.jpg Therapy for Anxiety, Depression & PTSD - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://manolalotustherapy.com/therapy-for-twins daily 0.75 2023-12-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64498740e6d7c4706329a597/a87a9971-e6ae-4340-a830-e4830f88145d/pexels-karolina-grabowska-4466240.jpg Therapy for Twins - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://manolalotustherapy.com/therapy-for-abuse-trauma-recovery daily 0.75 2023-12-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64498740e6d7c4706329a597/ddbc3e2a-d7f4-48bc-8fc2-45ef964322f6/IMG_5545.JPG Therapy for Abuse & Trauma Recovery - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://manolalotustherapy.com/therapy-for-teens-young-adults daily 0.75 2024-01-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64498740e6d7c4706329a597/1703047879078-CNSVVQWUCW55REAMMC48/image-asset.jpeg Therapy for Teens & Young Adults - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://manolalotustherapy.com/biculturalbiracial-issues daily 0.75 2024-05-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64498740e6d7c4706329a597/1ab5803f-b43a-43e2-87c9-0dbc13d51f84/image-asset.jpg Bicultural/Biracial Issues - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://manolalotustherapy.com/immigration-mh-evaluations daily 0.75 2024-03-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64498740e6d7c4706329a597/56cdf4d7-ae8b-4c8b-a247-f20375e887e4/image-asset.jpg Immigration Mental Health Evaluations - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.