Radiance Intergrative Health and Wellness Grand Opening

Assembled by Fayra Teeters

Saturday, June 28th , early afternoon. Imagine the perfect summer’s day: warm, light breeze, clear skies in Portland, Oregon. My husband Don and I easily found parking around the corner from our destination: a newly renovated house built in the 1930’s, most recently used as a Zen Buddhist Meditation Center. Don recognized it instantly and felt comfortably at home.

As we approached the stairs to the front porch entry, we were greeted with the squeals of a teenage girl, overly reacting to the presence of a spider web in the rafters above her head. Turns out she is the ebullient granddaughter of Lusijah Marx, founder of Quest Center and current CEO of Radiance, the newest wellness
center on the block.

The place is packed within the house and on the grounds with what looks to be close to 75 well-wishing supporters. We make our way to the kitchen with scores of healthy goodies and drinks. I opt for a strawberr lemonade and head downstairs on my very own “quest” to find Lusijah. She greets me warmly, including me in her “spiel” about how the house evolved into its current grace. “A year ago, we were given this house that’s commercially zoned to be the home of our new small non-profit. Subud brother Marius Harold, professional building contractor, took out the very ugly cement platform here in the basement, remodeled the bathroom, and put in these paneled windows. In fact, he just finished this morning!”

Lusijah explained that we were gathered in the Community Room, where patients could gather to play cards, board games, or foment other community-based activities. The room is brightly painted in colors found in most zocalos (plazas) throughout Mexico – in fact, the color scheme throughout the house is reminiscent of South-of-the-Border vitality.

Quoting from their website: “Radiance Integrative Health & Wellness is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit health clinic. We provide integrative healthcare, supportive community, and insightful education for everyone seeking a wellness-centered path through all stages of life. All backgrounds and socioeconomic groups are welcome.Our caring approach is designed to support you in healing, fostering personal growth, achieving your goals, and cultivating meaningful connections with yourself and others. Our multidisciplinary team of providers focuses on understanding each patient’s unique needs and circumstances to help achieve their healthcare goals. At Radiance, our providers practice holistic and integrative healthcare. They collaborate with each other and the patient to address the many interconnected factors (physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual) that influence overall health and wellbeing.”

Now meet the wellness practitioners:

Lusijah Marx, RN, PsyD

Lusijah Marx is a registered nurse and clinical psychologist with decades of experience in integrative health care and trauma-informed therapy. She is a co-founder of Radiance Integrative Health & Wellness, where she brings her holistic approach to mental health, blending traditional and alternative modalities to support deep healing. With a background in mindfulness, body-based practices, and psychodrama, Lusijah believes in the power of community and connection as essential elements in the healing process. She has been a leader in mental health since the AIDS crisis, founding Quest Center for Integrative Health in the 1980s and continuing her legacy of compassionate, accessible care.

Dr. Wendy Neal, DO, ND, CP

Dr. Wendy Neal is a dual board-certified osteopathic and naturopathic physician, specializing in osteopathic manipulation and neuromusculoskeletal medicine. With over 30 years of experience, Wendy’s approach emphasizes gentle, low-force techniques such as cranial osteopathy, biodynamics, and myofascial release. She has a special interest in working with patients across the lifespan, from children to individuals receiving palliative care. As a Certified Practitioner in Psychodrama, Sociometry, and Group Psychotherapy, Wendy integrates mental, emotional, and physical health in her practice. She co-founded Radiance Integrative Health & Wellness, where she brings her unique blend of expertise to support holistic healing for all individuals.

Sundaura Lithman, MSW, LCSW

Sundaura Lithman, also known as Sunny, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Level 3 trained Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapist, and co-founder of Radiance Integrative Health & Wellness. With over a decade of experience in mental health, group facilitation, community outreach, and advocacy roles, she specializes in working with the LGBTQ community, individuals with complex trauma and attachment issues, chronic pain,
and providing training and consultation to other providers. She is passionate about using Internal Family Systems to help clients explore their inner landscapes, heal deep emotional wounds, and reclaim their gifts and inner guidance. As a transgender woman, she brings both professional expertise and lived experience to her work, advocating for gender liberation and social justice in mental health care.

Penelope Rose Miller, CPCC

Penelope Rose Miller is grateful to be practicing at Radiance Wellness while she completes her MA in mental health counseling. With over a decade of experience in private practice as a certified coach, she brings a deeply integrative and trauma-informed approach to healing and personal growth. She is committed to holding space for others with compassion, humility, and authenticity. Her work is shaped by a lifelong journey of unmasking, softening, and growing. She has been mentored in Internal Family Systems (IFS) and skillfully integrates this modality to support folx with attachment injuries in unburdening past wounds and cultivating a more secure, connected, and fulfilling sense of self.

Visit Radiance Integrative Health & Wellness here!