|
Meet Mary
Mary is currently the Executive Director of Brave Souls. She also works as a survivor leader, chemical dependency counselor (CADC-II), qualified mental health associate (QMHA II) and peer with Brave Souls. Mary provides intensive peer care coordination advocating for and with clients reintegrating into the community.
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 in an effort to decrease demand for sex in the Portland Metro and surrounding areas as well as help educate local agencies on how to identify victims and survivors and best practices to provide support and counseling. Mary was the former Community Restoration Aid & Assist Program Supervisor at Transcending Hope: Tri-County Supportive Housing as well as 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. Mary is currently enrolled at Grand Canyon University pursuing her bachelors in social work. In her spare time Mary enjoys spending time with her family going camping, four-wheeling, and fishing. 
|
Meet Marisa
Marisa is currently the Director of Clinical Programs here at Brave Souls. Marisa is a licensed professional counselor (LPC) and sex trafficking victim/survivor advocate. Marisa co-facilitates trainings on sex trafficking for local agencies and formerly facilitated diversion for sex buyers for Multnomah and Clackamas County for 5 years (2021-2026). Marisa primarily provides counseling and care coordination for folks who have experienced/are experiencing sexual exploitation. In addition to her work with Brave Souls, Marisa works for Cascadia Health's Project Respond the mobile crisis response team in Multnomah County and for Partners in Healing providing short-term, brief counseling.
Marisa was formerly a Police BHU clinician co-responding to mental health crises with law enforcement officers with Port of Portland Police, 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, forensic/justice involved populations, and mobile crisis response. Marisa's work is primarily informed by Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Narrative Therapy. In her spare time Marisa enjoys running, spending time with her nieces and nephews, playing board games with friends and family, being a plant mom, and taking naps. |
