Mental Health Therapy
Tending to mental health is just as important as tending to physical health. And that the two are interrelated makes it that much more important. Using a holistic, collaborative, creative, and client-centered approach, our providers offer a unique experience in therapy. Sessions can include and be a blend of evidence-based trauma and mind-body techniques, mindfulness, and expressive arts - in addition, to talk therapy.
Our team of trauma-informed therapists are all trained in EMDR therapy. EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is considered by trauma experts, including the U.S. Departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense and the American Psychological Association, to be a front-line treatment for PTSD. It is a type of therapy that can help people heal from overwhelming life events that contribute to chronic stress, which can lead to emotional and physical health issues. Therapy begins working immediately and can reduce trauma symptoms in as quick as a few sessions.
Meet Our Providers
RAQUEL RAMIREZ, LMHC
Raquel is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) and EMDR Therapist who provides a container, a safe and compassionate space, to explore the areas you seek to shift or expand. Her style is warm, intuitive, authentic, compassionate, and direct. Raquel naturally uses a trauma-informed lens, and leans towards a Psychodynamic, Attachment, and Person-Centered approach to get a big picture of you and your experience. She believes we are better able to shed layers and get into deeper truths when we feel seen, safe, and heard, from a supportive non judgemental person. Bringing the unconscious to light to become empowered and capable of making the choices needed to live the life you desire. Raquel works with adult individuals and teens 15+, as well as couples.
Ginger Hemming, LMHC, ATR
Ginger Hemming is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Registered Art Therapist, who works with kids ages 3+, teens, families, and adults. She has had the pleasure of having 14 years of experience working in the mental health field with a variety of populations, primarily with a focus on treating trauma symptoms arising from early childhood experiences, domestic violence, accidents, and vicarious trauma resulting from employment
Ginger creates a safe, therapeutic space where clients can process past or current life struggles, leading to an improved quality of relationship with self and others. Her approach is client-centered, meeting each client where they are in their healing. Ginger uses a variety of modalities such as EMDR, DBT, IFS, and solution-focused and trauma-informed CBT. She utilizes art within the comfort of each client as a tool to assist in the therapeutic process.
Stephanie Zoeller, LMHCI
Stephanie is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor Intern completing her master’s degree at Oregon State University in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. She is deeply passionate about supporting individuals on their journey towards holistic well-being.
Stephanie believes in the inherent resilience of each individual and works collaboratively with clients to identify their strengths and empower them to overcome life's challenges. By helping clients identify and challenge troubling beliefs and thought patterns that contribute to emotional distress, Stephanie helps encourage individuals to reframe negative thinking patterns, cultivate self-compassion, and develop healthier coping strategies.
Her goal is to promote emotional well-being and psychological resilience by equipping individuals with the tools and insights needed to navigate life's challenges with greater clarity and resilience. Stephanie is dedicated to fostering a supportive and non-judgmental therapeutic environment where clients feel free to explore their concerns and work towards meaningful change.
Stephanie has a special interest in working with the following groups: law enforcement, fire fighters, dispatchers, those in emergency medical care, attorneys, as well as family members of those in that career field.
Adults and Teens (13 and older)
Gretchen Edwards, MSW, LSWAIC
Gretchen is a Licensed Clinical Social Work Associate who believes in the power of connection in finding healing in our lives. Her approach is warm, collaborative, eclectic, and relationship-focused, recognizing that growth and healing in a therapeutic environment is best supported in a foundation of safety, trust, openness, and respect. Grounded in relational, family systems, EMDR, and somatic therapies, Gretchen believes in the power of walking beside her clients on their journey to healing.
Gretchen brings a wealth of experience in working with individuals experiencing caregiver stress, chronic pain and illness, cancer, grief/loss/end of life concerns, ADHD, anxiety, depression, infertility, occupational stress, postpartum and post-adoption depression and anxiety, and parenting of aging parents. Additionally, Gretchen’s years of experience as both a potential adoptive parent-in-waiting and later an adoptive mom have given her firsthand knowledge of the tremendous challenges adoptive families face in finding resources that are adoption trauma/attachment informed for both adopted children and their parents. Her professional experiences have often focused on listening to, supporting, and encouraging individuals in hard places as they find their way to feeling truly heard and seen in both group settings and through one-on-one counseling focused on mindfulness, camaraderie, and evidence-based practices.
Children ages 4+, teens, adults
Services Offered:
Talk therapy
EMDR trauma & PTSD therapy
Somatic (body-oriented) therapy
Neurofeedback
Imago Relational therapy
Emotion Focused therapy
Complimentary Consultation
Couples Counseling
Child & Family Therapy
Sliding Scale Services with our Intern Therapists
Beneficial for:
Trauma, PTSD & complex trauma
Chronic pain & medical illnesses
Grief, loss & bereavement
Life transitions
Relationship discord (Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples and Individuals)
Couples Therapy (monogomous, ethical non-monogomous and polyamorous relationships)
Support for other helping professionals
Anxiety & stress
Depression
Phobias
Treatment for Disordered Eating
Addictions
LGBTQIA
Domestic Violence
Sexual Assault
Childhood Abuse Recovery
Inner Child/Ego State/IFS Informed Therapy
First Responders
Mindfulness and Somatic (body based) interventions
Intern Therapy
At VWS we are proud to support our community by providing reduced fee services for clients seeking mental health. We offer a clinical training program for graduate-level intern therapists. As part of this program, we offer low-cost counseling with fees of $90 for Individuals and $115.00 for Couples + Family therapy.
Our Intern Therapists start at different times throughout the year, most often in January or April, and see clients during their internship for up to 10-18 months. After that time, clients can continue with their therapist once they become a VWS employee, or be transitioned to another VWS therapist to continue their care. Learn more about our Intern Therapists below!