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Meet Mary
Mary is currently the Executive Director of Brave Souls. She also works as a survivor leader, chemical dependency counselor, qualified mental health associate (QMHA II) and peer with Brave Souls Collective. In her role as a survivor leader with lived experience as a sex trafficking survivor, Mary co-facilitates trainings on sex trafficking for local agencies and diversion for sex buyers with her co-founder Marisa. Mary is also the Community Restoration Aid & Assist Program Supervisor at Transcending Hope: Tri-County Supportive Housing. Mary was the former director of Women & Family Housing with Transcending Hope. Additionally, Mary has experience with LifeWorks NW in roles as an outpatient chemical dependency counselor and as a peer support specialist and certified recovery mentor with the former New Options Program working with survivors/victims of sex trafficking and exploitation. Mary has credentials as a chemical dependency counselor (CADC II), and as a QMHA II. Mary's work is informed by the harm-reduction model, is strength-based and trauma-informed, and often focused on co-occuring disorders. In her spare time Mary enjoys spending time with her family going camping, four-wheeling, fishing, and on family walks. 
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Meet Marisa
Marisa is currently the Director of Clinical Programs here at Brave Souls. Marisa is also a licensed professional counselor (LPC) and sex trafficking victim/survivor advocate. In her role as an advocate and LPC, Marisa co-facilitates trainings on sex trafficking for local agencies and diversion for sex buyers with her co-founder Mary. Marisa works for Cascadia Health--Project Respond contracted with the Port of Portland Police Behavioral Health Unit (BHU) as a Police BHU Clinician co-responding to mental health crises with Port of Portland police officers.
Marisa was formerly a Police BHU clinician with the Portland Police Bureau and Gresham Police. Marisa previously worked as a mental health therapist with the former New Options Program at LifeWorks NW working with survivors/victims of sex trafficking and exploitation. Marisa also has experience working as a graduate intern therapist with clients who had committed sexual offenses. Marisa has received her BA in Psychology from California Baptist University and her MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from George Fox University. Marisa is most passionate about trauma, sexual exploitation, domestic violence, suicidality, severe mental illness, and mobile crisis response. Marisa's work is primarily informed by trauma-focused CBT, Motivational Interviewing, and DBT. In her spare time Marisa enjoys running, spending time with her nieces and nephews, going to the beach, being a plant mom, and taking naps. |
