About Out of the Woods Therapy
by practice owner, Jamie Zane Brazell
Where did the name come from?
The name of this practice was inspired by Dr. Jim Rentz. He was an incredible teacher, clinical supervisor, and one of my greatest influences as a therapist.
During his lectures, Dr. Rentz often used the phrase, “We’re not out of the woods yet” when talking about the importance of the work we do in the field of mental health. The irony was that there were few places Dr. Rentz would rather be than in the middle of a forest. It's kind of like that for a lot of us Asheville residents - we may love being outdoors and in the woods, but not in that metaphorical sense of feeling lost.
The name Out of the Woods Therapy makes me think about how things can happen sometimes in life that feel overwhelming and a person can start to feel lost and really stuck. We all have moments when we could use an ally, a guide, or someone to simply accept us for who we are and where we are in our lives. We may need someone to help us find the way back to movement and stability during those times and to remind us that post-traumatic growth is possible.
Dr. Rentz and Jamie, visiting West Gate Family Therapy Institute in 2015
Expansion of Out of the Woods Therapy:
I founded this practice in July of 2015 as one of the only certified sex therapists in the Asheville area. In 2021, I began to expand the practice by hiring therapists who align with my values of sex-positivity as well as feminist-informed & trauma-informed care. You can read it more about the decision to grow here.
Cultural Humility - We honor and celebrate the diversity of human beings. Our practice is committed to values of anti-racism and promotes a space that is LGBTQIA-friendly, kink-aware, poly-friendly, and all-around sex-positive. We approach others with curiosity and desire to learn about each person from their own experience and perspective.
Strength-based and Person-centered approaches to therapy (This means that you can expect your therapist to spend a good amount of time talking with you about what you do well and how you can build upon your strengths to reduce unwanted symptoms and to increase the quality of your life). We center people - not pathology - in our work.
Integrating various theories into practice – Attachment Theory, Systems Theory, Intersectional Feminist and Humanist Perspectives. Our therapists each have their own unique approaches and we invest in continuing education for our team. We are life-long learners.
Relational-based therapy - The most important part of therapy (aside from what happens in between sessions) is the relationship that is formed between client and therapist. Each relationship is unique and offers opportunities for growth. Many people think that therapy is only for talking about problems, but we believe therapy provides a space to explore more about themselves and their relationships. We will be here to hear about the hard times as well as celebrate your growth and joy.