OUR BOARD

KEELY C HELMICK, LPC, CADCI (SHE/THEY)

President

Keely C Helmick is the Executive Director and co-owner of Connective Therapy Collective. Keely is a relationship, gender and sexuality counselor, LPC and LMFT Supervisor, and CADCI. She has been working with folks individually and in relationships for over 13-years to address a myriad of personal, sexual concerns in a sex-positive, non-judgmental way. Keely specializes in work with the LGBTQ+ community to provide inclusive mental health care for all folks.
Last year Keely had the opportunity to be part of a forum in Salem to address the inequity of mental health and substance abuse treatment for LGBTQ+ Oregonians. She also co-wrote an article on the same topic for the Statesmen Journal.

SAREN CRAIG, MA, LPC INTERN (THEY/THEM)

President-Elect

Hello. I am Saren Craig, a queer nonbinary LPC Intern who is currently working in private practice. I’m originally from the Missouri Ozarks, growing up there really gave me a good understanding of what oppression is like. I’m an advocate for the rights of LGBTQ and BIPOC folks and working to become more aware of my own role within oppressive systems. I’m actively working to deconstruct oppression within society and am aware of how systems of power affect folks who are minorities.

LIZZIE BENSON, MS (THEY/THEM)

Secretary

Lizzie Benson is a graduate student at PSU in their third year of their masters program. They have been an advocate for LGBTQIA+ rights and hope to continue that work through OALGBTIC. They have previously worked with LGBT organizations in their undergraduate degree, holding different board positions over the course of three years. Lizzie is a narrative and feminist based therapist, and also hopes that lens will inform the way in which they show up to board meetings.

KALENE KRAUSE (SHE/HER)

Treasurer

Hello! My name is Kalene Krause and I am a student attending Pacific University for Applied Psychological Science with hopes to graduate in the fall of 2022. I love the wilderness, music, photography, and my cat. I became passionate about psychology at a young age so I am excited to finally be able to dive into social justice, queer access, and truama informed care. I aim to bring intersectionality, feminism, and unconditional positive regard to a clinical setting to help my clients heal in any way I can. I identify as a queer woman and hope to work with LGBTQ+ youth and adults so they can feel heard throughout their growth. I am also passionate about cultural competency and learning about how other cultures interpret and treat mental health.

EMILY DAVIS, MS, NCC, LPC INTERN (SHE/HER)

Membership Committee Chair

Emily is a therapist, yoga instructor, and birth doula. She is passionate about justice and access issues, integrating trauma-informed perspectives, and helping clients find their thriving, authentic selves. Emily is a recent graduate of PSU's Clinical Mental Health Counseling program, and as a therapist she works from a feminist and somatic approach. She considers issues of power in context, and believes that mental health is culturally-shaped, intergenerational, and political.
An advocate of health as a human right, she has a BS in Psychology and 4+ years of experience working in the nonprofit, global health sector. Emily loves working at the intersection of mental and physical health, and is a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT 200hr), Prenatal Yoga Instructor (RYT 85hr), and Certified Birth Doula (CD). Emily feels most grounded and connected when she's in the PNW wilderness, happy to be surrounded by plants and getting to share time in her community garden. She also enjoys playing music with loved ones and divining through tarot and astrology.

LOREN HASHA, MS, LPC (THEY/THEM)

Advocacy Committee Chair,
Newsletter Editor

Hi, I'm Loren. Born and raised in Texas, I fell in love with Portland and moved here in 2019. I am a dog person (I have two!) and enjoy reading, writing, hiking, trying new recipes and restaurants, 90s country, and spending time with my partner, friends, and chosen family. I became a therapist to help others the way that therapy has helped me throughout my life, and celebrated my eight year anniversary as a therapist in May 2021. My firm belief is that our mental health practices must be trauma-informed and rooted in social justice. I am queer, neurodivergent (ADHD), nonbinary (they/them), and love connecting with other members of the LGBTQ+ community. Happy to be here and serve on this wonderful board!

ALEX PEREZ-MEDINA, MA, LPC INTERN (HE/HIM)

Equity and Inclusion Committee Chair

Born in Puerto Rico, raised partially in Nashville, and currently living in Tillamook, Alex is a doctoral candidate at Pacific University's Clinical Psychology PsyD program. He will begin his final internship at Western Psychological & Counseling Services in Gresham in September (under the supervision of Joni Moon, PsyD). He is very passionate about working with diverse populations, and has specialized his career primarily working with Latinx, LGBTQ-identified individuals, and people with disabilities. His former career was in the music business. He currently lives with Fitzwilliam, his spoiled beach-loving corgi-huahua.

AARYNN CYPHER, MS, CRC (SHE/HER)

Past-Treasurer

Aarynn Cypher has an 11-year history as a Family Support Specialist/Home Visitor in early childhood education and family support. Aarynn has most recently graduated from Portland State University, with a Master’s of Science degree in Counseling with a Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling accreditation. Aarynn is currently a Rehabilitation Counselor at DHS Vocational Rehabilitation, Clackamas Branch, specifically counseling people with disabilities. Aarynn identifies as a cisgender, White, female, queer/lesbian with an apparent/visible, congenital/at birth disability, and as a wheelchair user. Aarynn is a Disability Justice activist and learner. Aarynn’s activism is based on her values that all humans are to be treated with dignity, equity, inclusion and humanity; and that the disability community moves forward together leaving no person or disability behind. We all belong and are welcome here.

KEN STEINBACHER, MS, NCC, LPC INTERN (THEY/THEM)

Past-President, 
Technology Committee Chair

Ken is dedicated to making counseling a safe and culturally relevant space for clients and practitioners alike. They recently graduated from Portland State University with a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. They have a private practice with a focus on Queer, Trans, and Gender Expansive people. Ken also works in crisis counseling and as an adjunct instructor at Portland State University. They identify as a queer, nonbinary, white, able-bodied, counselor (and kinda nerdy too).

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Next Board Member

We are still growing and there's room for you! If you have been wanting to put your energy towards creating change in our professions and our communities let's work together!