Finding Our Inner Wolf with Shanon
Personal Background
Can you tell us a bit about your background and what brought you to Portland?
I was living in Seattle when I visited some friends who had just moved to Portland. As soon as I arrived, I felt an immediate connection to the city and realized this was the perfect place to raise my kids, who were just 1 and 3 at the time.
How did you first become involved in your current field or community?
I’ve spent much of my career as a freelance writer, which naturally expanded into creative and marketing work. But I always felt a pull to work with people, not just words. About seven years ago, I began working with a teacher who introduced me to somatic work. The healing and transformation I experienced through this practice inspired me to dive deeper, studying somatic therapy and depth psychology. This journey ultimately led me to start my own business as a somatic coach, where I help others connect with themselves in meaningful and healing ways.
Achievements and Contributions
What are some of your proudest achievements or milestones?
I like to say I’ll try anything once—and that mindset has shaped a rich and interesting life. I prioritize creativity and personal growth over a traditional career path, which means I’m often a beginner, starting fresh and learning something new. While mastery in one area has never appealed to me, the breadth of experiences I’ve gained is what I’m most proud of. It’s through this willingness to explore and evolve that I’ve built a life full of meaningful milestones.
How has your identity influenced your work and contributions to the community?
Being part of the LGBTQ+ community has taught me the power of creating spaces where people feel seen and safe, which is something I strive to do in every aspect of my work. Whether I’m coaching, collaborating on creative projects, or engaging with the community, I’m always focused on fostering connection and helping others grow into their fullest, most authentic selves
Challenges and Overcoming Them
What challenges have you faced, and how have you overcome them?
One of my greatest challenges has been unlearning the conditioning instilled by culture, family, and society—those external forces that try to dictate who we’re supposed to be. Growing up in the Midwest in the '70s and '80s, I absorbed the belief that kids should be seen and not heard, and that a woman’s role was to care for everyone else, both physically and emotionally. These messages shaped patterns in my life that didn’t serve me or align with my goals.
I always had an inner knowing that this wasn’t right, but it took time to trust that voice and start dismantling those beliefs. That journey of self-discovery and reclamation has been transformative, and it’s the foundation for the work I do now—helping others break free from limiting patterns and connect with their authentic selves.
What advice would you give to others facing similar challenges?
My advice is to start by listening to the quiet, persistent voice inside you—the one that knows when something doesn’t feel right or aligned with who you truly are. Trust that voice, even if it’s faint at first.
Give yourself permission to question the beliefs and patterns you’ve inherited from culture, family, and society. Ask yourself: ‘Is this really mine? Does this serve me?’ Surround yourself with people who support your growth and celebrate your authenticity.
And find a trusted teacher or a community of like-minded people. Having consistent support can help sustain new patterns until they become steady and fully embodied.
Finally, be patient with yourself. Change doesn’t happen overnight. And know that old patterns never fully go away so have a sense of humor when they show up to the party. Remember, it’s never too late to rewrite your story.
Community Involvement
How do you stay connected with the local LGBTQ+ community?
Lesbian Culture Club, queer events around town, and my Portland network!
Are there any specific causes or organizations you are passionate about supporting?
Organizations like p:ear, which is doing incredible work in creating community and connection for young people experiencing homelessness. What stands out to me is that they provide a supportive atmosphere where individuals are not asked to become anything other than who they truly are. It’s about honoring their uniqueness and giving them the space to heal and grow, and I truly admire that approach.
Inspiration and Impact
Who or what inspires you the most in your personal and professional life?
I’m deeply inspired by people who dare to live authentically and embrace the messiness of growth. Whether it’s an artist expressing their truth, a client taking courageous steps toward self-discovery, or someone simply choosing to show up fully in their life—it all fuels my passion for the work I do.
On a more personal level, nature is a constant source of inspiration for me. The cycles of growth, rest, and renewal remind me to trust the timing of my own process and to honor the same in others.
In my professional life, I also draw inspiration from the teachers and mentors who’ve guided me on my somatic journey. Their wisdom and commitment to healing and transformation have profoundly shaped my path and continue to inspire me to offer the same to others.
How do you hope to impact the community through your work and actions?
I hope to inspire others to believe that healing is not only possible but accessible. I want people to trust that what the world needs most from them is an authentic expression of who they truly are. We can’t make meaningful change if we’re all the same; it’s our individuality and uniqueness that allow us to create a richer, more diverse, and impactful community.
Future Goals and Aspirations
What are your future goals, both personally and professionally?
For me, personal and professional goals are deeply intertwined. One of my dreams is to write a book that’s meant to be experienced by the body, though I’m still exploring what that even means. I’m currently envisioning it as something unbound, possibly even shuffled, allowing the reader to experience it in a fluid and embodied way.
I also want to create a short film that captures the tension between knowing what time it is and the need to wander off into beauty, exploring the balance of purpose and spontaneity.
Another goal is to return to a graduate program I had to pause a couple years ago, where I was studying depth psychology and creativity. I believe all of these goals are deeply connected—each one feeds into my desire to explore the depths of human experience and artistic expression, both in my own life and in the work I do with others.
How do you see the community evolving, and what role do you hope to play in that evolution?
I believe the evolution of community is less about specific changes and more about its reliability. A community that is safe, fulfilling, and joyful is what will help sustain us through challenging times. By choosing not to center fear, judgment, and power over others, we create space for all.
Fun and Personal Interests
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
In my free time, I’m often juggling 3-5 non-fiction books at once, which I find is the perfect way to keep learning. This year, I started a 1,200-mile annual walking challenge, so you might spot me urban hiking around NE Portland, likely with a non-fiction book or podcast in my ear, or singing along to Waxahatchee for the enjoyment of all those dog walkers out there. I’ve also been playing with the idea of transforming my garage into a tea tavern and a space to offer workshops, comedy shows, storytelling shows, and maybe live podcast recordings.
Can you share a fun fact or something people might not know about you?
A fun fact about me is that I grew up on a dairy farm in Ohio, where I’m the 5th generation of my family to farm that land. The amount of cow sh*t I’ve encountered is off the charts, but I’m grateful for every bit of it. (Well, most of it anyway.) There’s something incredible about walking the same ground my great-great-grandmother once walked. My parents still live there, so I’ve been able to take my kids there every year since they were babies, which has given them some of that deep ancestral experience too.
Where can people connect with you or learn more about your work?
You can go to my website, Somatic Wolf or follow me on instagram at @shanonwithonen.
