Meet RT Therapist, Justin Little

Hello friends!

My name is Justin, and I am delighted to be a part of this amazing RT community. I got into my pain cycle a bit when thinking about writing this bio, because I tend to try and do things perfectly when I feel overwhelmed. Well, the truth is I am beautiful, free, and not alone, so I can just share from the heart.

I started my own therapy just 3 weeks before starting the MSMFT program at Fuller in 2011. Megan and Daniel Lundgren had encouraged me to apply, and I had no idea what I was in for. My therapist, William, mapped out my pain cycle, and I was then confronted with my 8 year old self through a reparenting intervention. I will never forget the way the room looked, William’s tone and face, and the image of my younger self sitting in a rolling desk chair in a tiny little therapy office. That little amazing 8 year old ended up coming with me to my first quarter at Fuller, and has been with me ever since.

When I met Terry that same week, and learned that William was doing RT, I chose it as my framework immediately! I later entered Terry’s training program at Lake Avenue, and though I was extremely anxious for the first few months, I learned to regulate myself and get creative and connected with clients. My wife Kari and I were married that year, and participated in a RelateStrong group with Sharon Hargrave shortly after. We learned our pain and peace cycle as a couple, and it’s still up on the wall in our kitchen today (seeing Tanner and Jet Hargrove’s 4 steps on their kitchen wall in Fall 2011 started to make much more sense…).

I walked into Terry’s office at Fuller one day, after berating and scolding my dad on the eve of our wedding. I was in a lot of pain due to my own controlling behaviors that led me to be angry towards him. Terry heard me out, then asked, “Are you ready to stop walking out on the freeway?” My life changed. I began to learn about forgiveness, and to try and work it in my own life. That was 13 years ago, and I now have a completely different relationship with my dad (and my mom), who recently moved into our neighborhood and have been such a crucial source of love and safety for Kari and I as we raise our 4 children in my hometown of Sisters, Oregon (who all know their parents’ 4 steps very well!).

After graduation, I was a TA for Miyoung Yoon Hammer in her Clinical Skills Lab for new MFT students. I absolutely loved it. I came alive training new(er) therapists! Today, I find myself training student interns and associates in RT, in partnership with Emily Brems at Living Well Counseling Center in Tigard. I am so blessed to go to work every day and focus on live supervision and training in RT. There is too much to be grateful for! And now I feel overwhelmed again, so I’m going to sign off and go say my four steps!

Warmly,

Justin Little, LMFT (OR #T1903, WA #LF60817829), INHC (Integrative Nutrition Health Coach)

Approved Supervisor in Oregon and Washington, AAMFT Approved Supervisor Candidate

Clinical Director and Co-Owner, Forage Wellness Collective (www.foragewc.com)