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About Me
My Background
I received my Master's in Social Work (MSW) at Portland State University in Portland, Oregon and trained as a counselor at the National University of Natural Medicine (NUNM). After acquiring my MSW in 2015, I launched a career counseling business called Spark a Career.
I still offer career coaching and career counseling services through Spark a Career but in 2026 I decided to start Solivienne Counseling to do deeper work with clients struggling with imposter syndrome, career burnout, and dramatic life changes like divorce, starting a family, profound loss (like the death of parents and other loved ones), empty nester syndrome, and processing the effects of an ADHD diagnosis.
I've also built a reputation as a career working successfully with navigating career transitions but realized over the years that some people may need to invest in the deeper work of mental health counseling before considering a career change.
My Approach to Therapy
Kristin Schuchman, MSW, CSWA
Supervisor: Amanda Terry, LCSW
I believe that while we cannot always control the story life has handed us, we possess the inherent power to choose how the next chapter is written. My practice is grounded in a humanistic, strengths-based perspective, meaning I view you not as a set of symptoms to be managed, but as a whole person with innate wisdom and the capacity for self-actualization. My goal is to help you move from a state of internal friction and "stuckness" toward a life defined by calm, self-confidence, and clarity.
In addition to my counseling and career coaching background, I earned a master's degree in journalism from the University of Iowa in 1997. I also have more than 20 years experience running successful businesses, including Nervy Girl magazine (2000 - 2004) and Mixed Media Branding (2005 - 2012).
Nervy Girl enjoyed a loyal following in Portland, awarded Best New Magazine Title by Utne magazine in 2001. Mixed Media Branding performed services for over 50 companies, including Portland Adventist Hospital, Classique Floors, Bipartisan Cafe, Five Guys Burgers, Square Deal Remodeling, and Friends of Trees.
I am currently accepting clients and offer individual counseling for adults and teens and couples counseling to not only partnered and married couples but also to business partners, friendship dyads, and familial dyads (i.e., two brothers, a mother and daughter, etc.).
My Areas of Specialization
Grounded in principles of mindfulness, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), narrative theory, motivational interviewing, and internal family systems (IFS), I offer active listening skills paired with expertise and specialization to deliver the best care and support for clients.
I enjoy helping people unlock their full potential to overcome self-limiting doubts and anxieties. I bring a background running a women's magazine, a career coaching practice, and my own branding business. My super power is my ability to help clients see possibilities and develop tools when they feel overly distracted or overwhelmed by major life and career transitions.
I work best with clients interested in achieving a sense of quiet calm and self-confidence while cultivating a truer awareness of themselves. Below is a link to a page that expands on my approach and areas of specialization.