Julia "Joules" Perretta
LMFT in Oregon & California
(Oregon Lic. # T1311, California, BBS #152800)
Background & Training
I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist practicing in Oregon and California, specializing in couples therapy, relationships, trauma, and personal growth.
I earned my Master of Science degree from Lewis & Clark Graduate School in 2012 and completed my postgraduate clinical training and supervision in Austin, Texas in 2014.
My work is grounded in attachment theory, interpersonal neurobiology, and the understanding that meaningful change happens through both emotional insight and lived experience.
I draw from Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), somatic approaches, and other experiential modalities to help individuals and couples better understand themselves, navigate challenges, and create more fulfilling relationships.
My additional training includes Internal Family Systems (IFS), Intimacy from the Inside Out (IFIO), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and the Gottman Method. I practice from a trauma-informed, body-positive perspective and embrace the principles of Health at Every Size (HAES).
Why I Do This Work
I believe that greater awareness creates greater possibility.
When we become curious about our patterns, understand how our past experiences shape our present, and learn to engage with ourselves and others more intentionally, we create opportunities for meaningful change.
Therapy offers a space to explore these possibilities—not simply to reduce suffering, but to cultivate more connection, freedom, authenticity, and joy.
I believe that healing extends beyond the individual. The ways we grow and change influence our relationships, our families, and the communities we're part of.
My Approach to Healing
Healing isn't linear, and there's no single approach that works for everyone.
I integrate attachment-based, somatic, experiential, and trauma-informed approaches to create a therapeutic process that is both thoughtful and collaborative.
Our work may involve exploring longstanding relational patterns, developing emotional awareness, understanding the nervous system, or finding new ways to communicate and connect.
I bring compassion, curiosity, directness, and humor into the therapy room. My goal is to create a relationship where you feel supported enough to explore difficult experiences, challenged enough to grow, and empowered to make meaningful changes in your life.
Who I Work With
I work with couples and individuals who want to better understand themselves, strengthen their relationships, and change patterns that no longer serve them.
You don't need to be in crisis to benefit from therapy. Sometimes the desire for deeper connection, greater authenticity, or a more satisfying life is reason enough to begin.
Areas of Focus
My clinical work includes:
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Relationships and couples therapy: Communication challenges, recurring conflict, infidelity, rebuilding trust, separation, divorce, and co-parenting. I also specialize in working with non-traditional and non monogamous relationships (e.g. poly couples and families).
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Trauma and attachment: Understanding the impact of past experiences, healing relational wounds, and developing greater emotional safety.
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Anxiety and mood: Anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and emotional regulation.
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Eating disorders and body image: Supporting a more compassionate relationship with food, body, and self through body-positive and HAES-aligned care.
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Substance use and behavioral patterns: Exploring the habits and coping strategies that interfere with well-being.
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Attention and executive functioning: Navigating the emotional and relational challenges associated with ADHD.
Beyond the Therapy Room
When I'm not working, you'll often find me outside—trail running, hiking, camping, and soaking in cool mountain waters. I'm also a musician, cartoonist, yogi and meditation practitioner, enthusiastic gratitude-list maker, and cribbage afficionado.
I value curiosity, creativity, movement, connection, and finding humor in the human experience.