About Kaiun Wellness
Kaiun (開運) is a Japanese word that means “opening a path to good fortune” or “inviting positive change.” It comprises two characters:
• Kai (開) – to open
• Un (運) – luck, fortune, or destiny
At Kaiun Wellness, we believe that healing, clarity, and transformation begin when we take courageous steps to open ourselves to change. Fortune and destiny, in this sense, are not passive. We create them through intention, reflection, and support.
We are Katherine and Heather, and we started Kaiun Wellness together to provide an integrated approach to whole-body healing by offering a range of wellness resources under one roof. We support individuals in embracing a healthier, more fulfilling path.
Dr. Katherine Nordell Fort
Katherine offers individual and couples counseling, supervision, consultation, and nutrition and wellness coaching.
Katherine is fascinated by the mind-body connection and keenly aware of the brain’s ability to help or hinder the connection with one’s physical, mental, and emotional strength. Katherine’s approach to counseling is to listen, see, and connect with her clients. By deeply listening to their lived experience, she is able to identify internal strength and resilience – and foster growth. Learn more about Katherine here.
CO-FOUNDER AND PARTNER
Our team
Credentials
Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC)
Washington State Approved LMHCA Supervisor
PhD, Counselor Education and Supervision, Oregon State University
MAEd, Clinical Counseling with Post-Secondary Counseling Specialization, Seattle University
BA, Politics & International Relations; Asian Studies, Scripps College
License #LH60160347
Dr. Heather Huckett
Heather offers individual and couples therapy, sex therapy, and nutrition and wellness coaching.
Heather’s work integrates emotional insight, relational depth, nutritional awareness, and stress regulation. She supports clients in recognizing how daily habits—what we eat, how we move, how we rest—are inseparable from how we feel and connect. Her vision is to create a space where healing is comprehensive, grounded, and sustainable—where people feel empowered to care for the whole of who they are. Learn more about Heather here.
CO-FOUNDER AND PARTNER
Credentials
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)
AASECT certified sex therapist
PhD, Clinical Sexology, Modern Sex Therapy Institutes
MA, Couple and Family Therapy with a Certificate in Sex Therapy, Antioch University Seattle
BS, Psychology, Washington State University
License #LF61569010
Melissa Myers, LMHC, RYT
LICENSED MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELOR, REGISTERED YOGA TEACHER
Rate $200/50 min session
Credentials
LMHC, RYT
MA, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Antioch University Seattle
Melissa joins Kaiun Wellness as a licensed mental health counselor. She has been in practice sine 2018 and graduated from Antioch University Seattle in 2017.
In her own words:
Hi there, I’m Melissa — and I’m here to listen.
With me, you’ll find empathetic, compassionate care grounded in a holistic, whole-body approach. This includes learning to pay attention to how your body is breathing, where you notice or feel sensations/emotions, and what’s happening without your conscious thought. Sometimes, talk therapy alone just isn’t enough. Trauma, anxiety, and depression are also experienced and stored in the body. That low back pain, quick startle response, digestive issues, and/or trouble sleeping? No, it’s not “all in your head”. It might be your body’s way of telling its story.
Maybe you’re feeling big emotions — or an overwhelming numbness — and can’t quite make sense of why. Perhaps you find yourself reacting in ways that don’t feel like “you,” caught in a confusing emotional loop. Or maybe that internal shame spiral of, “I should be over this by now,” is leaving you feeling stuck and alone. You might even wonder if anyone truly knows the real you. If this sounds familiar, let’s talk about it together. In my own way, I’ve been there too.
It’s not about, “what’s wrong with you” but rather, “what happened to you”.
How we experience life becomes part of our body’s working memory through the nervous system. Creating automatic patterns — once essential for survival, but now perhaps keeping you from the life you want. Especially when experiences have been overwhelming or frightening, the body remembers. This is natural and protective, but it can also feel confusing or frustrating.
I believe feeling seen and heard are essential to wellbeing and connection. My approach is client-centered — you set the pace, direction, and focus of our work together. I also integrate elements of CBT, somatic therapy, narrative therapy, attachment theory, and yoga therapy. I worked individually with adolescents (13+) and adults since 2018. My areas of focus include sexual trauma and abuse, PTSD, ADHD, depression, and anxiety.
As an ADHD’er myself, I bring both personal understanding and clinical insight to my work. I listen closely not only to your words, but also to the subtle patterns and connections that shape your story. Together, we’ll explore how you came to be who you are and the many layers that inform your current experience.
When we observe our thoughts and sensations with awareness, we open the door to choice — and I believe that choice belongs to you.
Gee Mi L. Jorde
COUNSELING INTERN, supervised by Katherine
Rate $125/50 min session OR pay what you can*
Email intern@kaiunwellness.com
Credentials
Intern
MA, Counseling for Mental Health and Wellness, Northwestern University (expected January 2027)
MBA, Columbia Business School
BS, International Relations, United States Naval Academy
Gee Mi joins Kaiun Wellness as a counseling intern and is supervised by Dr. Katherine Nordell Fort. Gee Mi is a student at Northwestern University, where she will receive her MA in Counseling for Mental Health and Wellness in January 2027.
In her own words:
I understand the struggles of life transitions, anxiety, depression, trauma and grief. Through therapy, we will work through the complexities to cultivate inner peace and the confidence to navigate life’s challenges. Recognizing today’s unique modern day stressors (e.g., attention economy, cancel culture, etc.), my goal is to provide a safe and compassionate environment to engage and reflect on your personal journey. Through a holistic approach, we can work towards developing healthy thought patterns and emotional regulation.
As a half-Korean and half-Scandinavian growing up in Japan, I learned to embrace cultural humility from an early age. Meanwhile, my decade of experience across both the military and management consulting offered firsthand insight into the generational and societal challenges that women, in particular, face. In my free time, I enjoy spending time in nature, reading and practicing yoga.
Credentials
L.Ac., Dipl. O.M., (NCBAHM), EAMP.
MS, Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, Bastyr University
BA, Art History/Arts Management, University of San Francisco
Ashley’s work is rooted in the understanding that emotional experience and somatic patterns are deeply interconnected. Many people earnestly engage in inner work to better understand their emotional experience, yet still navigate a sense of residual discomfort within the body. Ashley utilizes acupuncture, herbs, and other Traditional Chinese Medicine modalities to support the body in shifting out of dysregulation and pain, creating a physiological foundation that allows emotional and psychological healing to integrate more fully.
Ashley’s patients consistently commend her for her ability to identify and address the root cause of imbalance rather than focusing solely on symptom presentation. Through individualized treatment planning, patient education, and lifestyle guidance, Ashley supports patients in cultivating greater vitality, resilience, and functional ease.
Before joining Kaiun Wellness, Ashley worked closely with renowned teacher and practitioner Bob Doane, where Distal Needling Acupuncture® (DNA®) and Medical Pulse Diagnosis® (MPD®) techniques became an integral part of her clinical approach.
Ashley’s clinical experience includes working with patients in a skilled nursing and rehabilitative care setting at Providence Mount St. Vincent, integrative clinical observation under Daniel L. Altschuler at Seattle Institute of East Asian Medicine, and community-based care at Neighborcare Health at High Point, where Ashley supported diverse patient populations experiencing complex medical conditions, trauma, and mental health concerns.
Known for compassionate, patient-centered care, Ashley considers it both an honor and a privilege to walk alongside patients through every stage of healing. Ashley strives to build strong therapeutic relationships rooted in trust, empathy, and advocacy while supporting each individual on their unique path toward wellness.
Inspired by the richness and complexity of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ashley remains committed to lifelong learning, continual growth, and serving patients at the highest level.
Ashley received her Master of Science in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine from Bastyr University in the greater Seattle area. She is licensed in the state of Washington and board-certified through the National Certification Board for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (NCBAHM) in both acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine. She also holds a degree in humanities and liberal arts from the University of San Francisco.
Ashley lives on Bainbridge Island with her husband and their two children. Outside the clinic, she enjoys traveling, spending time in nature, and making new memories with her family.