We exist to ignite, equip, and connect helping professionals to stay well while helping others. 

Many humans express a desire to "do good" in the world, but common experiences and mindsets among these helpers can instead lead to burnout and harm. 

Our vision is to see helping professionals and volunteers on clearer paths to health while serving others: providing equitable and sustainable services with warmth and resilience across the Pacific Northwest and beyond. 

I'm Teresa. I started Therapy Spark to address a need: as a counselor and mother I've seen firsthand the unique challenges facing helping professionals including compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma, and burnout.

WE ARE FEW 

I first became curious about "burnout" as I began grad school. Despite months of professors going over the importance of personal wellness and "self-care," my cohort began dropping like flies. For a variety of reasons, many of my colleagues were burnt out before they even had a chance to begin. 

WE ARE WEARY 

Then in early 2020, as I began to work in my first group counseling practice in Portland, I watched it happen again as the pandemic dragged on: at times, our team struggled to thrive. These experiences begged the question: how many other helping professionals sometimes struggle to thrive ... and how might that impact the communities we serve? This was a wake up call. As servant leaders in our fields, we are notoriously BAD at taking care of ourselves, and we need to do better. 

WE WON'T GIVE UP!

So "Therapy Spark" began: to ignite, equip and connect "helpers" and other humans to better practice what we preach about "self-care," community, and truly trauma-informed care. And while I'm all for vacations or bubble baths, I hold firm to the crazy notion that it IS possible to remain hopeful and energized even during business hours. I don't know about you, but I don't want to see ONE more person "dropping out" of caring for others because of personal stressors, health issues, or burnout. 

If you support the physical, emotional, or spiritual wellbeing of others, here's your wake up call: your clients, family, friends, and community need you to be your best you. Most of all, you deserve to be your best you! 

JOIN THE MOVEMENT!

Are you with us? The task is simple but sincere: "Stay well. Do good." 

Wherever you're at in your journey, we're rooting for you! 

We need warmth and resilience more than ever, and here's why: 

OUR NEIGHBORS NEED SUPPORT

- <30% of adults across Oregon and Washington report struggling with their mental health (SAMHSA) - <40% of adults across the U.S. report symptoms of anxiety or depression. 

- Across Oregon and Washington, there are consistently long waitlists for getting mental health serves across the board, and for some folks, this can mean a difference of life or death. 

HELPING PROFESSIONALS NEED SUPPORT

- <23% of pastors report struggling with their own mental health as of 2021. 

- <25% of mental health providers reported increased anxiety and depression. 

WE NEED HEALTHY HELPERS

- The turnover rate for mental health professionals is now between 20-40%

- 52% of ministry staff reported considering finding new jobs in 2021

- <70% of lead pastors report considering leaving their primary role as of 2021

Mental health impacts all of us, but on the front lines of trauma, helping professionals are often at greater risk. Many folks turn to faith leaders first when experiencing a crisis, but those leaders are not always well equipped to identify nor address many types of mental illness. Understandably, this takes a toll. When community leaders struggle to thrive, it impacts many others. 

In short, mental wellness matters for everyone, and we want our leaders and providers to stay well!