Madeline Cunningham

Madeline Cunningham (She/They)

I am a graduate student in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Oregon State University–Cascades. I identify as a member of the LGBTQ+ community and am passionate about offering affirming, inclusive care while supporting individuals in reconnecting with themselves and moving toward a more grounded, compassionate way of being. I seek to provide nonjudgmental and thoughtful awareness to the therapeutic process in order to create a space that is both affirming and compassionate, while also inviting reflection and meaningful challenge. As someone who values authenticity, reflection, and relational depth, I bring both my professional training and my lived experience into the room with care and intention.

Connect with Madeline

The Counseling Process

I view therapy as a collaborative and relational process, where healing happens through connection, curiosity, and compassion. I don’t see myself as the expert on your life, rather I believe you already carry a deep understanding and wisdom of your own experience. My role is to walk alongside you, helping you slow down, make meaning of your experiences, and reconnect with the insight already within you.

I believe that all people experience pain, loss, and moments of disconnection, and that healing is not about fixing what is broken, but about creating space for understanding, integration, and reconnection. I hold a holistic view of the therapeutic process that considers how our experiences live in our bodies, are shaped by culture and identity, and are influenced by the systems we move through. I support clients in exploring patterns, deepening self-understanding, and cultivating a more compassionate relationship with themselves.

I am trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), and my work is a influenced by contemplative perspectives focused on slowing down, turning inward, and meeting ourselves with curiosity and compassion. I draw from approaches such as Internal Family Systems (IFS), existential therapy, somatic work, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), and nature bases healing approaches, to support each client in a way that feels meaningful and individualized.

Practice Areas

I specialize in working with LGBTQ+ individuals across the lifespan, as well as adolescents, young adults, and adults navigating:

Trauma and the lasting impact of difficult experiences
Relationship challenges
Identity exploration and questions of belonging
Shame, self-worth, and inner critical patterns
Spiritual Trauma
Greif and Loss

I also have a special interest in supporting individuals who are interested in integrating eco-wellness and nature-based healing practices into their healing process.

Professional Experience

Madeline is currently completing her graduate education in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Oregon State University–Cascades, where she continues to grow into her work through supervision, reflection, and ongoing learning. She is also receiving training and supervision in EMDR through Oregon EMDR, an EMDRIA certified program.

Madeline’s career path includes work in nonprofit and community-based settings supporting adolescents and young adults through career development and environmental conservation work, as well as helping create LGBTQ+ affinity spaces outdoors and offering Youth Mental Health First Aid trainings to community members. She has worked alongside both adults and youth navigating acute mental health challenges within rehabilitation and partial hospitalization settings in multiple programs throughout Central Oregon.