Get to Know Me

Photo of somatic eco-therapist Sienna ForestMy name is Sienna Forest, and I am an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist based in Santa Cruz, California. I currently work as an associate at Margin to Center Consulting. I feel so alive hiking and climbing in nature, adventuring to new places around the world, and sharing deep conversations. I hope to take these aspects of my life into my therapy practice to help my clients thrive because I believe that nature, play, exercise, and community are vital for mental health and overall well-being.

I believe that my adventurous, excitable spirit contributes to my passion for working with adolescents. I connect with teens because I show up as myself, and not as a “perfect” adult who has everything figured out. Whether we meet online, on a hiking trail, or at one of my therapeutic bouldering groups, I find that teens open up to me because I am willing to be authentic and vulnerable with them. I love the way that teenagers see the world, and I value their trust in me as I help them navigate the confusing, scary, yet exciting and joyful moments of life at their age.

Because I focus on cultivating an authentic and vulnerable therapeutic space, I find that my work with couples and individuals often includes a lot of discussion around the process of therapy and our dynamic together in the therapeutic relationship. I am not an “expert” trying to solve your problems for you, rather, I am a fellow fallible human who has enhanced training and skills in the science and psychology of communication. I can help you zoom out to see the bigger picture of what is causing tension in your relationships, and then zoom in to figure out what you can change in moment-to-moment interactions to facilitate deeper understanding.

Supervised by Dr. Sheila Addison, LMFT #49616

I have found that traditional talk therapy doesn’t always get to the root of the problem, and in my practice, I like to incorporate breathwork, mindfulness, and bodily awareness exercises to help my clients reconnect with their innermost selves. I believe that you are an expert in your own life, and my role is to guide and support you as you work to overcome barriers and build resilience. I truly believe in the power of vulnerability, and I show up to sessions as my authentic self.

My therapy is sex-positive, trauma-informed, LGBTQIA friendly, and inspired by somatic ecotherapy, Gestalt therapy (parts work), mindfulness meditation, and my personal climbing practice. I have also received training in the Gottman Method of couples therapy.

I currently work for the nonprofit Margin to Center Consulting, an organization that strives to make therapy more accessible for marginalized populations. I am supervised by Dr. Sheila Addison, LMFT 49616, a Certified Gottman Therapist who primarily works with couples and focuses on helping clients have more satisfying, healthy romantic and sexual relationships.