About

Hello! My name is Alexandra Runnoe, and I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (license number 7271363) in the state of Idaho.

My Background

My journey into this work started pretty uniquely. After graduating with my bachelor’s degree in Health and Human Performance, I spent seven years as a trauma and eating disorder-informed weightlifting coach. My time spent as a coach truly opened my eyes to the profound connection between our physical and emotional worlds. I witnessed how much moving the body could impact a person’s well-being, and how deeply emotional states could manifest in the body. Inspired, I pursued my Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Northwest Nazarene University where I received an emphasis in trauma, grief, and crisis as well as in acceptance and mindfulness-informed therapies.

Population I am Passionate About Working With

I am particularly passionate about working with individuals who have experienced trauma and even more specifically, those who have experienced prolonged trauma in childhood and are now navigating its impact in adulthood, especially when this manifests as disordered eating, body image concerns, anxiety, perfectionism, and/or struggling to slow down. These traumatic experiences can include ongoing abuse (sexual, physical, verbal, or emotional), neglect, attachment wounding, witnessing violence, or abandonment. The enduring effects of such trauma in adulthood often extend to, but are not limited to, disordered eating, body image issues, perfectionism, disconnection from one's body, over-achievement, anxiety, depression, chronic fatigue, and intense feelings of shame. Living with the impacts of childhood trauma can be incredibly difficult, but I believe that deep healing and a renewed sense of wholeness are truly possible.

My Approach

In sessions, my aim is to walk alongside my clients as a compassionate guide, trusting in their own inner wisdom. I strive to create a warm, gentle, and non-judgmental space where they can gently explore their experiences at their own pace. My approach deeply honors the powerful connection between a client's mind, body, and emotions, facilitating both their ability to listen to what their body is communicating and to gain a deeper understanding of their unique behaviors, thoughts, and emotions. As clients learn to recognize the different parts of themselves and why they've shown up, profound self-compassion and inner acceptance can begin to develop. This helps support clients in creating a powerful foundation that paves the way for lasting positive change.

While we'll certainly delve into serious and meaningful topics, I also believe that healing doesn't have to be solely serious! When appropriate and helpful, I welcome humor and lightness into our sessions. A shared laugh can be incredibly powerful. My aim is for clients to feel fully comfortable to show up as they are, including their capacity for goofiness and lightness. As inclusivity is one of my core values, I am LGBTQIA+ affirming and supportive of diverse relationship structures.

My Theoretical Orientation

My primary approach to therapy is rooted in Somatic Psychotherapy: think of it as tuning into the connection between the mind and body to process trauma, increase nervous system resilience, and create a better relationship with yourself and your body!! While somatic psychotherapy is my core approach, I believe in providing a holistic and personalized approach. To do so, I also integrate aspects of Internal Family Systems (IFS), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT). Please see section called somatic psychotherapy to learn more about this specific approach.

My Commitment to Lifelong Learning

I am committed to being a lifelong learner— I am a big nerd at heart! So, I am currently pursing a post-graduate certification in Eating Disorder Treatment to deepen my knowledge in supporting clients with their relationship with food and their body. I am also undergoing advanced training in the somatic psychotherapy world by working towards obtaining my Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner (SEP) certification. I am now in my advanced year of the SEP training, having completed the Beginning (levels I, II, & III) and Intermediate (levels I, II, & III) years of this trauma training!

Outside of the Office

In my free time, I love spending time with my family, taking my dog on long walks, weight lifting, drinking coffee, reading a good book in cozy socks, baking and cooking, or dancing the night away at a music festival. You can also find me attending my own counseling! Doing my own work is essential in helping me to bring my most grounded self to sessions :)

Qualifications

Education

  • Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Northwest Nazarene University- 2022-2025

    • Emphasis in Trauma and Crisis

    • Emphasis in Acceptance and Mindfulness Informed Therapies

  • Bachelors in Health and Human Performance from The College of Idaho- 2014-2018

Training and Certifications

  • Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor (2022-2023)

Training and Certifications in Progress:

  • Somatic Experiencing Practitioner certification training through Somatic Experiencing International

    • I have completed the beginner and intermediate years of this training and am now in my advanced year.

  • Certification in Eating Disorder Treatment through Lewis & Clark College