Tara Herrick, Editor-in-Chief

Intentionally Urban Magazine began when Tara Herrick, M.S., an integrative counselor, wanted to offer the intentional living approach she took in her private practice to a larger audience. From this desire, in 2008 Intentionally Urban Magazine was born.

The purpose of in|ur magazine is to intentionally build and enhance connections to self, others, and the planet, while celebrating all that urban life has to offer. This publication tries to meet readers in the middle by not adopting extremist views; rather its purpose is to demonstrate and discuss attainable, sustainable urban living. There are several cities in the U.S. promoting “greener” lifestyles, and in Herrick’s opinion, there’s no better place to start than from the most sustainable city in America—Portland, Oregon.

Biography:
Tara Herrick grew up in a small town on Lake Superior in Northern Wisconsin. Wanting to explore a world beyond freezing temperatures and the Green Bay Packers, she headed to college in East Tennessee. At ETSU she was introduced to ecopsychology—the study of one’s psychological connection to the planet. It was a defining moment, through which she discovered her own spirituality.

After receiving her Bachelor of Science degree, she headed to the Pacific Northwest in 1999 to pursue her Master of Science degree in psychology at Portland State. While completing her degree, she worked at the National College of Natural Medicine (NCNM) studying Complementary and Alternative Medicine. It was during this time that Herrick honed her technical writing and editing skills, assisted with countless research grant submissions at NCNM, and completed her graduate thesis. Along with her master’s degree and a budding career in research, she broadened her studies to include various realms of energy medicine. She became a traditional Usui Reiki Master and Certified Resonance Repatterning Practitioner along the way. In 2005, she left the world of research and started her private practice in integrative counseling (a term she coined, which refers to the merging of psychology and energy medicine for interpersonal change).

As a counselor, Herrick held discussion groups for conscious parenting; gave talks in the areas of ecopsychology, energy medicine, and research; and wrote for trade publications in her field. In 2007, Herrick felt the pull to offer her work and give advice to those who might not be able to afford private sessions, so she began an advice column on the internet entitled “What I Suggest (e)zine,” a.k.a. WIS(e) Advice. After a few months of WIS(e) Advice postings, she was ready to go national. Herrick wanted an outlet that could incorporate the array of her personal and professional interests. Beginning a magazine was the obvious choice, and in June 2008 Intentionally Urban Magazine was introduced to the world. Now, as the Editor-in-Chief of a well-balanced, progressive publication, Herrick is living her dream.