EMMAUS COUNSELING

WHITNEY MACHADO | LMFT

Sometimes the first step to healing is admitting that we are broken, and the turning point is finding a safe place where we can be real and are met with love, compassion, and understanding. My hope is to provide that non-judgmental, safe place where those who are hurting can find connection, hope, and direction. As a Christian, I believe God is the ultimate healer and author of redemption, while also believing that there is power in gaining personal insight and self-awareness in order to make change possible. Though we can’t change our past, we do have the power in changing our future and rewriting our narrative. As a licensed marriage and family therapist, I have a passion for helping individuals, couples, and families understand what is keeping them stuck, teaching tools to help provide break through, and empowering others to unlock their full potential and live life with meaning and purpose.

Kimberly Thompson | AMFT

Everybody gets stuck at some point; just don't let yourself stay there. We can work through these things together to get you unstuck. We were never intended to walk through life alone, and sometimes we need a trained professional to give us new “tools for our life-skills toolbox.” 

Life is full of relationships and relationships are all about connection. We all want to feel connected and truly known by the ones we love. At times we find that we have tried so hard to show our love to someone, but they just didn't see it or feel it the way we intended it – or they can't or won't reciprocate in the way that we need it. Families form our very foundation where we learn how to love and be loved, even if some of what we learned was less than ideal. Our family is what shapes us and our ideas about love and relationships. Therefore, if we want to have healthy and happy relationships, and who doesn't, then we often need help understanding the family dynamics of our past. Together, we can look at family systems that were helpful, identify harmful patterns, and learn how those impact you today.

As a therapist, it will be my joy and honor to assist you with whatever struggles you are experiencing. As a wife of over twenty-seven years and a mother of three children, I have a lot of life experience. With curiosity and compassion, I am here to walk alongside you. My goal is to provide a space for you to feel accepted and valued. It is in that place of expressing your true thoughts and feelings that healing can begin.

Let’s walk through it together. I look forward to speaking with you soon. 

Jordan Ankenman | LMFT

My commitment to my own personal development reflects in my dedication to offering the highest quality therapeutic support. Having trained in various therapeutic modalities, I lean heavily on the therapeutic relationship and the transformative power of authentic connection.

My therapeutic philosophy focuses on the importance of exploring existential themes such as life purpose, meaning, and mortality. I am passionate about creating a safe and collaborative space where individuals can explore their unique life challenges and cultivate a deeper understanding of themselves, God, others, and life itself.

Through our work together, I aim to assist in the development of greater self-awareness and empower clients to embrace personal agency in shaping their lives. In the spirit of collaboration, I see therapy as a joint exploration where we work together to uncover insights, develop new coping strategies, and facilitate positive change. I believe in the transformative power of the therapeutic relationship and the potential for growth that lies within every individual.

Committed to growing in wisdom, I regularly attend webinars, listen to podcasts, and read a variety of literature from multiple domains of knowledge. I also arrange time to engage in ongoing collaborative consultation with my colleagues to enhance my skills and understanding and enrich the therapeutic experience for my clients.

Embarking on the therapeutic journey requires courage, and I am honored to accompany individuals on their path toward self-discovery, healing, and personal growth. If you are seeking a therapist who combines a compassionate approach with the principles of existential therapy, I invite you to reach out and explore the possibilities of our collaborative work together.

I look forward to the opportunity to support you on your journey.

April Ispas | MA, Counselor

We all have a story to tell. Some stories are difficult from the start and others have moments of heartache and difficulty. My heart when sitting with anyone is that they would become present to their story in such a way that past and present difficulty and trauma are seen and grieved and new patterns are established in order to move forward in life in a more emotionally and spiritually healthy way.

I am April Ispas and in my own story I’ve known singleness and marriage, the struggle to become pregnant, the loss of my mom, years on the mission-field, foster-adopt social work, and motherhood. I am a sister, a daughter, a wife, and a friend. I have a BS in Bible from Multnomah University and an MA in Counseling from Western Seminary. I am trained in Allendarian Theory, spiritual direction, and sand-tray therapy. 

It is my great hope that after sitting together, you will see how your story has shaped you and is being used to create growth and purpose for your life.