Transgender Archives - Vista Counseling & Wellness Center

Shannon Beatty, LCSW

September 2, 2026

Julie Liszka

Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Current clients can book a therapy session here

I work with:

I specialize in:

Does this sound familiar?

Struggling with difficult medical diagnoses and/or grief from losing someone close?
Experiencing conflict in their personal relationships with your partner, family, or friends?
Wanting increased support around LBGT+ issues?

I Can Help

The years I spent working in pediatric medical settings and the child welfare system allow for a greater understanding of the complexity of these experiences.
I have experience helping clients navigate difficult personal relationships including family estrangement, parenting support, and conflict with their partner.
Being a member of the LGBT population assists in bringing a more personal approach to the wide range of concerns that my clients face .

What can you expect?

Clients can expect a greater understanding of their own thought processes to assist them in creating an environment where they can thrive.
Clients can expect increased awareness of the dynamics in their personal relationships and skills to create healthy interactions with those most important to them.
Clients can expect to develop confidence in themselves that they are worthy, valued, and deserve safety and happiness.

Daschel Franz, PhD

September 2, 2026

Julie Liszka

Psychologist Resident

Current clients can book a therapy session here

I work with:

I Specialize In:

Does this sound familiar?

Are you working through trauma or navigating a major life transition?
Is your teen struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma, or difficult emotions?
Are you a parent or family hoping to strengthen your relationships, improve communication, or better understand one another?

I Can Help.

I bring compassion, honesty, and a little humor to my work.
You are the expert on your own life, and my role is to bring clinical knowledge to help you better understand yourself and move toward the life you want.
My goal is not simply to help you reduce symptoms, but to help you feel more connected to yourself and others. This can help you to feel more equipped to navigate life with intention and confidence.

What can you expect?

Move beyond simply coping with distress toward a life that feels more connected, meaningful, and consistent with what’s important to you.
Teens can develop practical skills to better manage emotions and stress.
Learn skills to navigate important and often challenging transitions of parenthood, from pregnancy and early parenthood through the many stages of raising a child.

I believe that meaningful therapy begins with a genuine human connection. I value openness, honesty, humor, and authenticity in the therapeutic relationship, and I hope to create a space where you can be fully human, including when things feel messy, difficult, or uncertain. I approach therapy collaboratively, working with you to understand your experiences, identify
your goals, and develop strategies that feel practical and authentic to you.

My training in counseling psychology and experiences across community mental health, medical settings, residential treatment, and the Veterans Affairs healthcare system, have allowed me to work with people from all different backgrounds working through trauma, anxiety, depression, substance use, reproductive mental health, parenting, relationship challenges, and major life
transitions. I integrate treatments including trauma-focused interventions, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Emotion Focused Therapy, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.

Outside of work, I enjoy spending time outdoors, reading, and being with my family, especially trying to keep up with my daughter.

Bennett Glass, MA

August 11, 2026

Julie Liszka

Professional Counselor Associate

Current clients can book a therapy session here

I work with:

I Specialize In:

Does this sound familiar?

Are you or your child processing past or current parental conflict?
Is your teenager navigating familial or life changes and transitions?
Is your child ages 6-12 with ADHD having trouble with focus in school or at home?

I Can Help.

I focus on making counseling feel less intimidating by creating a space where children, teens, and families can be themselves, feel heard, and comfortable.
Over the past two years, I’ve had the opportunity to work closely with children, teens, and families, helping me develop a better understanding of their individual needs and the challenges they face at home and at school.
I seek to connect families through bolstering emotional communication, building coping skills through collaborative work in session

What can you expect?

Clients can learn to better understand their emotions, handle difficult situations, and develop practical skills they can use long after counseling ends.
Successful counseling can help children, teens, and families understand each other better, communicate more openly, and build stronger relationships.
Clients can develop greater confidence, communicate their needs more clearly, and feel better equipped to handle challenges at home, at school, and in their relationships.

Naomi Smits, MA

July 1, 2026

Julie Liszka

Professional Counselor Associate

Current clients can book a therapy session here

I work with:

I specialize in:

Does this sound familiar?

Are you experiencing big emotions, racing thoughts, and a brain that feels impossible to manage?
Does loneliness, identity confusion, or the feeling of never quite fitting in or being truly understood permeate your thinking?
Do you struggle with family or relationship tension, friendships, or the quiet ache of trying to figure out who you are and whether that person is okay?
Do you experience symptoms of ADHD, anxiety, or rejection sensitivity?

I Can Help.

I believe it’s important to meet young people where they are, not where the world expects them to be.
I understand the unique challenges that come with a brain that works differently and an identity still taking shape.
I approach clients with warmth and curiosity and like to use different approaches like ACT, CBT & DBT.
I hope to help you understand the stories your mind tells you, find steadiness in overwhelming emotions, and begin moving toward a life that actually reflects who you are and what matters most to you.

What can you expect?

Move from feeling overwhelmed and misunderstood to having real tools that help you manage your emotions, your relationships, and your everyday life.
You will gain tools and self understanding for your ADHD symptoms.
You will develop a clearer, more confident sense of who you are, what you value, and the confidence to live a life in your authenticity.

Chris Barker, LCSW

May 5, 2026

Julie Liszka

Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Current clients can book a therapy session here

I work with:

I specialize in:

Does this sound familiar?

Being neurodivergent in a neurotypical world? Perhaps it feels like you are measuring life in meters while everyone else is measuring in feet?
Maybe you are a veteran who feels like they never left the battlefield and aren’t sure how to be a civilian? I have not served, but for some folks having a civilian therapist can make therapy more effective.
Feeling like you have left no stone unturned as you try to be the best version of yourself, but all that turns up is self-blame?

I Can Help

I believe everything the brain does it does for a reason. Your brain wants what’s best for you and those you love, but sometimes too much anxiety, too little self-esteem, or just the right amount of doubt can get in the way.
I treat everyone as the expert of their own life. I find the greatest strides in therapy occur when the therapist is just holding the flashlight.
I will always treat you with dignity, respect, and kindness no matter your skin color, culture, ability level, ethnicity, national origin, gender identity, race, religion (or absence of religion), sexual orientation, marital status, biological sex, political beliefs, socioeconomic status, or any other aspects of your identity and circumstances.

What can you expect?

I will walk with you as you identify how trauma has impacted you, where it came from, and what you want for yourself instead.
At no point will I tell you who you “should” be or what you “should” do. Your thoughts, feelings, and values are yours to determine, and yours alone.
When you get out of bed each morning you can expect your thoughts and feelings to serve you, and you can feel safe knowing that you have what it takes to handle the day if they don’t.

Hannah Wahl, MSW

June 26, 2025

Julie Liszka

Clinical Social Worker Associate

Current clients can book a therapy session here

I work with:

I specialize in:

Does this sound familiar?

Do you identify as neurodivergent and are looking for a therapist who truly gets them and offers support without judgment?
Are you struggling with anxiety or panic, especially when big life changes feel overwhelming?
Do you feel scattered or “all over the place” and want help slowing down and feeling more grounded?

I Can Help.

I believe the heart of therapy is the relationship we build. I show up as a real person and we create a space where you feel seen and supported.
My style is warm and collaborative—we’ll explore what’s working in your life and gently challenge what’s not, always with curiosity and care.
Clients often tell me they feel both supported and pushed in the right ways. I don’t just listen—I help you move forward.

What can you expect?

You’ll feel more confident making choices that align with who you are.
You’ll feel more present and connected to your daily life, instead of stuck in your head.
You’ll notice more joy, more calm moments—even in the middle of stress.
You’ll build tools to handle life’s curveballs without feeling like you’re unraveling.

I help teens and adults who feel overwhelmed, scattered, or stuck start to feel more grounded and empowered. Many of my clients identify as neurodivergent or anxious and are looking for a therapist who understands their experience and offers warm, affirming support. I bring honesty, care, and a collaborative spirit to our work—creating a space where real growth can happen.

Brianna Recklies, MCoun

March 27, 2025

Julie Liszka

Professional Counselor Associate

Current clients can book a therapy session here

I work with:

I specialize in:

Does this sound familiar?

Are you experiencing anxiety, depression, stress, or other issues that are interfering with your day-to-day life?
Are you looking for support in navigating major life transitions, past or present trauma, relationships, or other stressors?
Are you ready to explore questions around identity, gender, or sexuality?

I Can Help…

No person is the same, so why would I work with each client the same way? I have experience working with a variety of issues and will develop an individualized approach that meets you where you currently are so that we can work towards your goals as a team.
I provide a space of unconditional and non-judgmental support that builds self-worth and self-empowerment. I am queer-affirming, sex- and kink-positive, and social justice-oriented. My hopes are always to create a space where clients feel safe to show up authentically and fully be themselves.
Sitting and talking alone does not work for most people, so I enjoy using creative and somatic interventions in my work. You are the expert of your own life, so we will work towards your goals in a way that best suits your needs, interests, and values.

What can you expect?

My goal is to support and empower you so that you can navigate challenges, stressors, and difficult life situations with more confidence and greater ease.
I see connection as one of the most important aspects of our lives and the foundation for effective therapy. We will build a strong and genuine therapeutic relationship together that strengthens your ability to connect with not only others in your life, but with yourself as well.
Through our work together, you will increase self-awareness, self-acceptance, and feel more confident so that you can be more present and authentic in other relationships and aspects of your life.

August Smith, MS

December 18, 2024

Julie Liszka

Marriage and Family Therapist Associate

Current clients can book a therapy session here

I work with:

I Specialize In:

Does this sound familiar?

Struggling with your or a loved one’s gender identity, sexuality, or level of self-acceptance?
Experiencing difficulty in discussing, exploring, or engaging with intimacy, pleasure, or sex tied to shame, trauma, or relational distress?
Grappling with current, past, or generational trauma, seeking a safe space to process and utilize coping tools to expand your emotional capacity?

I Can Help.

I utilize integrative trauma-informed Narrative Therapy, DBT, and Polyvagal Theory to guide clients through understanding their internal beliefs shaped by early life experiences and how those foundations impact tolerance, behavior, and relational dynamics in adulthood.
I believe therapy can assist clients in unlocking their internal resources needed to promote individual and systemic growth, leading to meaningful change.
I implore a liberatory approach by analyzing the client’s context within the systems theory framework and the effects of interpersonal interactions on the client.

What can you expect?

I work on an individual and relational level to build clients’ innate resources, fortify distress tolerance, promote understanding of behavioral functionality, and fine-tune awareness of interacting communicative patterns.
My notable clinical interests include sex therapy, trauma processing, and identity exploration involving gender & sexuality, collectively framed by liberatory practices and systemic thinking.
As a queer and transgender therapist, I have experienced facets of systemic oppression and witnessed its impact on other marginalized communities, driving my own goal to expand the accessibility of mental health services and aim to provide a safe and inclusive therapeutic environment to support client’s mental health regardless of cultural or personal identities.

Wyatt Yurkovich, LPC

November 20, 2024

Julie Liszka

Licensed Professional Counselor

Current clients can book a therapy session here

I work with:

I specialize in:

Does this sound familiar?

Are you feeling worried, anxious, or depressed about major life changes or transitions?
Do you feel like you are stuck or struggling in your relationships with family, friends and loved ones?
Wanting to build a stronger sense of self and identity?

I Can Help.

I’m here to help clients learn and develop skills to better manage their emotions, life stressors, and deepen their relationships with themselves and others.
I create a safe and welcoming space for clients to explore their concerns and experiences through a humanistic and psychodynamic approach.
I help clients identify and work toward their therapeutic goals in a collaborative way, as I believe each client is the expert in their own life.

What can you expect?

A safe and non-judgemental space to freely express your thoughts and emotions.
An increased ability to manage and process your emotions and life stressors.
The opportunity to strengthen and grow your relationships with others and with yourself.

Libby Quinn, MSW

October 23, 2024

Julie Liszka

Clinical Social Worker Associate

Current clients can book a therapy session here

I work with:

I specialize in:

Does this sound familiar?

Are you anticipating or experiencing a major transition and feeling overwhelmed by change?
Are you wanting to explore your fears, desires and anxieties or make better sense of their origins?
Do you find yourself navigating questions about identity and wanting to build a stronger sense of self?

I Can Help.

My approach focuses on understanding the deeper stories that shape our lives, helping clients to reframe their narratives and empower their personal growth.
My experience in social work, public policy and disability justice lead me to encourage clients to consider the larger systems at play, and reclaim agency in a sometimes imperfect, unpredictable world.
Using a strengths-based approach, I work with you to identify, build and reinforce the unique strengths and resources which support your pursuit of self-determination.

What can you expect?

You will be able to utilize your strengths and access your personal sources of power more readily, leaving you feeling grounded and autonomous.
Our work will be collaborative – together, we will explore identities, challenges and aspirations which are important to you, ultimately building resilience and autonomy.
You will be met with respect, patience and curiosity but also be encouraged to explore and expand your comfort zone, as it relates to self-advocacy and self-determination.

As a graduate of Smith College School of Social Work (Northampton, MA), I was trained in a range of modalities, with an emphasis on psychodynamic approaches. I strongly believe in the power – and fun! – of stories, and utilize narrative therapy principles to explore the impact of the stories we tell ourselves, as well as the larger narratives told about the identities we might hold. Having lived with a chronic illness since birth, my own disability experience has shaped how I invite clients to consider the role of social norms and expectations in the development of positive self-esteem. My practice borrows from relational therapy, in which I encourage clients to reflect on the impact of past or current relationships, including the working relationship which we shape together.

Brendan Moore, MSW

September 25, 2024

Julie Liszka

Clinical Social Worker Associate

Current clients can book a therapy session here

I work with:

I Specialize In:

Does this sound familiar?

Are you or your teen navigating questions around identity (such as gender, culture, race, disability)?
Are you struggling with repetitive relationship or career conflicts that don’t make sense?
Are you trying to adapt to and make meaning out of a painful event (breakup, divorce, illness, death, or other loss)?

I Can Help.

I work with clients to identify and change how unconscious patterns from the past show up painfully in the present
My advanced training in psychoanalysis, literature, and feminist theory have taught me to focus not just on symptoms, but on the life story of the person in front of me
Culture and structures of exploitation contribute strengths and vulnerabilities to every person’s life, and I strive to welcome these concerns into the consulting room in a spirit of humility

What can you expect?

You will derive greater satisfaction and meaning from life, work, and relationships
You will experience more clarity on issues of identity, love, and long-term goals
You will find improved resilience in the face of life’s challenges

Mayan McDermott, MA

August 20, 2024

Julie Liszka

Professional Counselor Associate

Current clients can book a therapy session here

I work with:

Older Adults/Seniors Adults

I Specialize In:

ADHD Anxiety Autism Body Image Bipolar Chronic Illness Depression Divorce Domestic Violence Ethical Non-monogamy/Polyamory First Responders Grief/Loss LGBTQ Life Transition OCD Premarital Counseling Relationship Conflict Religious Trauma Self-Esteem Self Harm Transgender Trauma/PTSD

Does this sound familiar?

Difficulty trusting your own needs, boundaries, or instincts?
Wondering why your emotions feel intense, confusing, or hard to regulate at times?
Wanting to live more authentically, but unsure how or where to start?

I Can Help.

My role as a therapist is to facilitate a personalized, collaborative space in which you feel safe, comfortable, and understood. What’s important to you is important to me.
You can expect me to meet you with compassion, authenticity, humor, and openness. I rely heavily on a trauma-informed therapeutic approach that emphasizes the connection between your mind and body.
As a neurodivergent therapist who was diagnosed later in life, I know firsthand the grief, confusion, and internalized ableism that can sometimes come along with this discovery. Together, we can figure out how to soothe your nervous system, heal your relationship with yourself, and get in touch with your innate resources.

What can you expect?

Feeling more calm, curious, clear, compassionate in your relationships – with yourself and with the people that matter most to you.
Make sense of longstanding patterns of behavior and resolve feeling “stuck” in various places in life.
Learn how to express yourself authentically, to experience yourself fully, and to know yourself deeply.

Transgender

I work with:

I specialize in:

Does this sound familiar?

I Can Help

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Eugene

Portland

Bend

Wellness Center

Video Therapy Oregon

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