White water rushing over rocks, ponderosa pines on the bank — Rushing

A calm blue river running past a line of pines — Still

For the thresholds in life

Counseling, yoga, and time outside in Bend, Oregon, with Natalie Bowker. Come as you are.

GriefandPlay
StillnessandMovement
EndingsandBeginnings

When it all falls apart

A divorce. A diagnosis. A death, or a loss that never really ends. A faith or a job you've walked away from. The ground shifts, and nothing fits the way it used to.

Or when you're just a little stuck

Nothing dramatic happened. You just feel foggy, sad, or a little lost, like you're going through the motions. You're tired of carrying it alone.

You don't have to.

Two women sitting together on a rock beside a clear, rushing river

Tall pines with evening sun breaking through between the trunks

Every threshold is an invitation. And I'll meet you where you are.

Whether you're navigating a major life change or a quieter sense of uncertainty, I believe there's possibility in these moments—not just challenges to get through, but opportunities to discover what comes next. And we can explore that together, by the river, on the mat, or in my office downtown.

What is this fertile ground for?

Let's talk about where you are

Two things, side by side

Kids know how to grieve. They cry, then they go play, then they cry a little more. Somewhere along the way, most of us grown-ups forget how. Together, we'll put the hard thing right next to something that helps, so you can find your balance again.

There are three ways in, and we'll find the mix that fits you.

Move
Gentle, intentional yoga and breathwork that start with what your body needs today. No flexibility required. Just a willingness to show up.
Learn more
Talk
Honest conversation with a licensed therapist who listens deeply, laughs easily, and never rushes you.
Learn more
Go outside
Time on the trails and rivers around Bend for stillness, ritual, and the kind of quiet that helps you hear yourself again.
Learn more

Black and white photo of Natalie standing inside a huge hollow tree trunk, arms out, looking up

“I help people move from their old version of self into a bigger version of themselves. Not in a phony way, but in a very authentic, deeply personal way.”
Natalie

Find your mix

Pick your path

There's no wrong door here. Some people start with counseling, some with a yoga class, some with a morning by the river. Many end up with a little of each. Wherever you start, I'll help you shape a path that feels like yours.

Golden evening light over a high desert canyon and river

Natalie smiling as she kneels beside a mountain creek, one hand on a rock in the water, tall firs behind her

Private and small-group sessions outdoors, with me directly

Nature-based guidance

This is the heart of Juxtapose. We head out to the trails and rivers around Bend, slow way down, and make room for whatever you're carrying. Some days that looks like ritual and ceremony. Some days it's a long walk and an honest conversation. Every session is shaped around you.

A session can include:

Private ritual and ceremony
Quiet time to sit and commune with nature
Deep, honest conversation
Guided yoga or meditation
Forest bathing
A group altar and ceremony
Intuitive and energetic reading
Tea and light snacks

People come to:

Grieve a death, or a loss that has no name
Mark a divorce, a job ending, or a change in health
Release an old identity or a pattern that no longer serves them
Bring their yoga practice to the river with an intention of healing or letting go

Sessions and pricing

One-on-one

A little time or a lot, whatever you need.

Half day (2–3 hours): $250
Full day (5–6 hours): $400

Small groups (2–5 people)

Come together and share the experience.

Half day (2–3 hours): $450
Full day (5–6 hours): $750

Group pricing covers everyone.

Nature-based guidance is a wellness experience, not psychotherapy. For counseling, book through East Cascade Counseling.

Plan a session

Two people sitting close in conversation, one in a denim jacket with her hands clasped in her lap

Mount Bachelor reflected in the still water of Hosmer Lake

Individual, family, and group therapy through East Cascade Counseling Services

Counseling

Sometimes you need a steady, experienced guide in your corner. My approach is relational and somatic, which means we pay attention to your story and how it lives in your body. I work with adults and families navigating grief, trauma, chronic illness, and ambiguous loss—the kind that doesn't have a clear ending, yet changes you forever.

What I bring:

Narrative therapy (certified): Exploring the stories we tell ourselves and how they shape our lives
Parts work (Internal Family Systems, or IFS): Understanding the different parts of ourselves, with visualization to support the process
Breathwork and polyvagal practices: Using breath and an understanding of the nervous system to support regulation and a sense of safety
A trauma-informed, unhurried approach: Making space for your experience at your own pace

Book through East Cascade

Natalie leading an outdoor yoga class on the grass, arms raised in a low lunge

Natalie doing a headstand on a wet beach in a raincoat and hiking boots

Group classes around Bend, plus private and specialty classes

Yoga classes

Yoga is how I learned to trust my body again after a Crohn's diagnosis at 20. So my classes are gentle, trauma-informed, and built around an intention, whether that's healing, letting go, or simply breathing a little easier. And yes, sometimes we play. Headstands are optional.

Where to find me:

Group classes at Free Spirit Bend
Classes at Oregon State University-Cascades
Wounded Warrior yoga class for veterans
Private sessions, specialty classes, and retreats

I've taught:

Prenatal and postnatal yoga (Blooma certified)
Mindfulness yoga for teens
A breast cancer survivor series
Beginning yoga and meditation for college students

See the current class schedule

Natalie speaking on stage at i4Education's The Shared Experience

For schools, colleges, nonprofits, and businesses

Talks and team building

I've worked with nonprofits, corporations, colleges, and schools to bring people together, build trust, and strengthen teams. I also offer short keynotes and psychoeducational talks (under 30 minutes) on topics ranging from ambiguous loss to girls' empowerment.

Expect real stories, a few laughs, and something people can actually use on Monday.

Recent talks:

"Embracing Ambiguity," TEDxMcMinnville
"From Fawn to Fang: a paradigm shift for girl empowerment," The Shared Experience, i4Education

Book a talk or team session Watch my TEDx talk

Black and white close-up of Natalie laughing, her hair blowing across her face

Hi, I'm Natalie

I first stepped onto a yoga mat in college, as a competitive figure skater chasing that familiar flow state. Then, at 20, I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease, and yoga became how I learned to trust my body again. That diagnosis also taught me about losses nobody sends a card for, which became the center of my work.

I've been a licensed marriage and family therapist since 2009 and a yoga teacher since 2016. Along the way, I guided teenagers through the Boundary Waters, worked with kids in Southeast Alaska, taught yoga to children living with gastrointestinal diseases, and started free prenatal and postnatal classes for families in rural Yamhill County.

People tell me I'm a natural connector. I'll help bring out your authentic self while we play with different ways of healing, and I promise we'll laugh along the way. When I'm not working, you'll find me with a latte, on a trail, or out with my two daughters and our dog Mochi.

LMFT · Master of Spiritual Care (in progress) · Nature‑based chaplain‑in‑training · Certified in Narrative Therapy · Trauma‑informed · RYT‑500 · Reiki Level 2 practitioner · Prenatal yoga (Blooma) · TEDx speaker

Say hello

Embracing Ambiguity

“Grief will patiently wait for you to unpack it.”

Not every loss ends with a funeral. A parent's dementia, a child's diagnosis, a marriage that's over but not gone. We can't get a greeting card for that, so we rarely grieve it. In my TEDxMcMinnville talk, I share what kids get right about grief, how to name your losses, and why a productive pity party might be the healthiest thing you do this year.

Then come say hi

The unknown is where all outcomes are possible; enter it with grace.

Not sure where to start? Start here.

You don't need the right words or a plan. Just tell me a little about what's going on, and I'll write back personally. We'll figure out the best fit together, with no pressure.

1Send me a note about where you are.
2We'll talk it through, at your pace.
3You leave with a path built around you.