Judith Sadora, Therapist at Evoke Cascades. Judith shares her story of being the first black woman therapist in a program that is part of the Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Council, and perhaps, the first-ever black woman therapist in wilderness therapy. She shares her challenges in the field and how she connected with allies who encouraged her along the way. Judith also educates the listener on how racism should be seen through a mental health lens and how she works with teens of color in wilderness.

Judith's bio from Evoke Website:

Judith has worked with those who struggle with trauma, depression, anxiety, racial identity, substance abuse, attachment, suicide or self-harm, and process addictions (i.e video games, technology). Judith has the ability to find and help develop strengths that each individual and family possess. She then builds on these strengths to help families create new patterns of individual and relational success. She works to create change and build healthy perspectives and attachments in teens that strengthen family and parent/child relationships.

Judith has experience identifying cultural differences and contextual factors in individuals and is passionate about providing counseling for multicultural and diverse populations in adolescents and families. Judith is a strong advocate of 12-step recovery and uses a combination of CBT, Trans-generational, Existential, and Narrative interventions.

Education & Prior Work Experience

Judith was born and raised on the east coast in New Jersey and New York until she moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 2009 where she completed her bachelor's in Psychology and her master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy. Judith is now a doctoral student of Marriage and Family Therapy at North Central University with a primary focus on applied research in outdoor adventure therapy and diversity inclusion.

Prior to joining the Evoke team, Judith worked with adolescents as a Middle School Counselor and at a Residential Treatment Center in Nevada. Judith is a family therapist that has experience facilitating family & parenting workshops while also balancing a full caseload.

Strengths

Judith’s hope is to help change and build healthy perspectives towards self, others, and life’s challenges. She encourages her students through her work, to think for themselves and embark on a journey towards self-understanding and self-actualization by constructing their own narrative that promotes health. Judith's passion for primarily working in an outdoor therapeutic environment is driven by her belief that nature provides opportunities that motivate individuals towards health in their mind, body, spirit journey. 

Interests

Judith lives with her husband in Redmond, Oregon and when she is not working, she enjoys outdoor adventures such as camping, hiking, backpacking, and kayaking. Judith enjoys weightlifting and CrossFit as a personal challenge and physical hobby. Judith and her husband also love being involved in their church community.