Our Ocean Theme
Photo by Shawnmarie Carpenter on her beach in Ketchikan after a huge storm
Why an Ocean Theme when you are located in Anchorage, Alaska?
Three reasons for our Ocean Theme:
1. We are all connected by the ocean. Oceans touch almost every country. The ocean is a powerful symbol for how we are all in relationship, not only with each other but with the natural world.
2. Shawnmarie and Douglas are originally from Ketchikan, Alaska. There they spent many hours interacting with the ocean and the wildlife that lives on and around the ocean. They wanted to bring a little piece of their home with them when they moved to the 'big city' of Anchorage.
3. The ocean itself holds many metaphors that represent the way we all grow and develop. For example, the storms of the ocean are mighty and fierce and have the power to destroy, much like the adversities some of us have experienced. As well as that powerful force being able to destroy it also can create new life much like the resiliency that happens with adverse experiences.
Why is your logo two starfish?
We have two starfish as our logo as a reference to the story of the starfish thrower. This story, written by Loren Eiseley, teaches a core value of AKMFT.
One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed a boy picking something up and gently throwing it back into the ocean.
Approaching the boy he asked, "What are you doing?"
The boy replied, "Throwing starfish back into the ocean. The surf is up and the tide is going out. If I don't throw them back, they'll die."
"Son," the man said, "don't you realize there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish? You can't make a difference!"
After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish, and threw it back into the surf. Then smiling at the man, he said "It made a difference for that one."
Our Clinic Offices
All of our offices have ocean animal and bird names in both English and a Native language.
Since the ocean touches so many different cultures, much like the many different cultures living in and around the Anchorage area, we have incorporated several different languages.
Here are some offices you may see around our clinic:
