Nance Reynolds began her career as an RN and worked in Women’s Services, Neonatal Intensive care, and Psychiatric Services for many years. Nance’s work with people through significant and life changing events and witnessing the joys, losses, struggles and pain motivated her to delve further into psychology.

Nance is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and graduated from Portland State University. After graduation Nance worked at PSU in the counseling center, at St. Vincent’s Hospital Psychiatric Output. and eating disorder clinic. Eventually, she started a private practice in Portland, and currently has an in NW Portland, Oregon. During this time she trained in EFT- Emotionally Focused Therapy for couples and also, in Gestalt therapy. Nance was involved with EHNW (Existential Humanistic NorthWest) and served on the board in Portland.

While earning a doctorate in Existential Humanistic Psychology from Saybrook University Nance became an avid reader of existential philosophy and the application in the therapeutic relationship. In particular, the work of Rollo May, Paul Tillich, Edmund Husserl, and Kirk Schneider speak to her sensibilities and interest in phenomenology.

The intersection of creativity and poetry with our human existence throughout time is an area of keen interest. The potential of poetry to light the way is a strong passion for exploration and sharing currently. Nance is writing and utilizing poetry in a therapeutic context to enhance empathy, understanding and belonging, and in the creation of meaning.

Several of Nance’s poems have been published in the following books of the Poetry and Growth series authored by Louis Hoffman: Capturing Shadows: Poetic Encounters Along the Path of Grief and Loss; Stay Awhile: Poetic Narratives about Multiculturalism and Diversity; Our Last Walk: Using Poetry for Grieving and Remembering Our Pets; and Journey of the Wounded Soul: Poetic Companions for Spiritual Struggles.z