West Salem Profile: Destree Thompson

Place of birth: Northern California. This is an important distinction - if you know, you know :) 

How long on in West Salem: 22 years 

If you were not brought here as a child, what brought you to the area: I moved to this area from Tuscaloosa, Alabama to live closer to my family and return to the West Coast, and to provide a safe and loving community for my children, who were both under the age of 2 at the time. 

Profession: I am a licensed mental health therapist in private practice, and owner of The Enlighten Healing Collective in West Salem. 

Other professions: Artist and self-proclaimed “‘Community Connector” 

Favorites: 

Movie/and or Musical: My all-time favorite movie is The Wizard of Oz; I have been watching this movie throughout my lifetime. I adore the story of moving from a listless life of routine and longing to a full color adventure of meaning and connection. I often use this story as a metaphor in my therapy office. 

Actress and Actor: I would have to choose Catherine O’Hara and Robin Williams. Both bring sincerity, tenderness, and humor to every role they inhabit. Their work feels deeply human, and I return to it often. Perhaps part of what makes me cherish them is knowing there is a finite body of work, a rich legacy of unforgettable characters, but no new stories yet to come. 

TV show:There have been many favorites over the years, but my current favorites live in the Breaking Bad universe. I’m fascinated by stories that explore moral complexity, consequence, and the quiet ways people become who they are. I’m also rewatching Schitt’s Creek, if only to witness one of my favorite love stories again — for the second (or fourth) time. 

Book: There are several books I love, but I continue to return to Man’s Search for Meaning, by Viktor Frankl and The Dark Tower Series by Stephen King. 

Type of music: My taste in music wanders across genres, depending on my mood. Some days you’ll find me listening to Chopin; on others, Rage Against the Machine will be blasting through my car windows. And then there are the days for Outkast or Kanye West. 

Food: Oddly, this is the hardest question for me to answer because I love such a wide array of foods and flavors that honor different cultures and the people who tell stories through their cooking. With that in mind, my favorite story to savor is probably my husband’s cooking — rich with seasoning, depth, and the unmistakable influence of his East Texas roots. 

Hobbies: I doodle. I paint. I make lists. I rearrange furniture. I stop to smell roses and pet cats. You know, hobby-type stuff. 

If offered a dream vacation, where would you go, and why: The dream vacation I hope to make a reality is a multi-week road trip through Norway, Sweden, and Finland. I want to meander without much of an agenda, tasting local food, drinking in the natural beauty, and

wandering through landscapes that seem almost impossibly green. It feels like an opportunity to experience a quieter corner of the world and learn from the people who call it home. 

Best lesson learned as a child: Stay curious and observant, and even when it is painful, keep an open heart. What appears to be a liability can be our greatest superpower. 

Defining moment in your life or your greatest accomplishment: There have been several poignant moments in my life, and as I reflect, it occurs to me that my greatest accomplishments have often been coupled with challenge — and sometimes pain. In hindsight, I see that each has led me to what feels like my present defining moment: I am here, a work in progress, continuing to understand what it means to be human in this world.

A memorable dinner: A few years ago, for my birthday, I had just one request from my family — who are endlessly patient with my whimsical ideas. I wanted to go to Konditorei in Salem for cake, but instead of buying a single birthday cake, I wanted everyone to choose their own slice. The only condition was that I would be allowed to make the rounds and take one bite from each plate. That day, I achieved a long-held dream: trying nearly every cake at Konditorei without ending the evening with a stomachache. If you've never considered this strategy, I highly recommend it. 

A funny moment from your life that you can share: 

My husband and I were lied to, and it led to us falling in love. 

Some mutual friends decided we’d be a good match but apparently weren’t patient enough to wait for either of us to make the first move. So, without our knowledge, they texted each of us separately, claiming that the other person was interested and would be happy to share their phone number. For the next five years — literally five years — I believed he was the one who initiated that first call. Meanwhile, he believed exactly the same thing about me. We didn’t discover the truth until we talked about it the week before our wedding.Thank goodness we have people in our lives who sometimes know us better than we know ourselves. 

If you could invite anyone (past or present) to dinner, who would it be, and why: I’m mentally assembling an entire dinner party, but if I have to choose just one person, it would be comedian and observer of the human condition Dave Chappelle. I’m fascinated by people who challenge assumptions, tell difficult truths with humor, and reveal the complexities of our shared humanity. I imagine the conversation would be thought-provoking, unexpected, and full of laughter. 

Describe yourself in one word: Reflective 

When you’re not reading The West Side News, what book/author/magazine/other do you read: My favorite author is Irvin Yalom, who has written both fiction and non-fiction, about philosophy, meaning, and human-centered psychotherapy. He is a beautiful writer, and his works inform how I show up and hold space for my therapy clients. I am also a long time “Constant Reader” of Stephen King’s novels. I have read ALMOST all of his written work, including those under the pseudonym Richard Bachman.I believe it was his writing that awakened in me a deep curiosity about people’s internal landscapes and the interplay between individuals and their communities.

If your life were made into a play or movie, what would the title be: The Practice of Becoming: a Story of Intentional (and Unintentional!) Growth and Purpose 

Pet peeve: loud, crunchy chewing in a quiet room - ooph! 

Bad habit you’d like to break: Unintentional scrolling on social media. I set intentional app timers to curb the habit, then find myself intentionally changing those intentional limits so I can keep scrolling. 

Famous person(s) you have met, and the circumstances: As a former college basketball player, I’ve had the opportunity to meet — and in some cases compete against — several remarkable athletes, including Becky Hammon, Marion Jones, Ann Meyers Drysdale, Lisa Leslie, Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant, and Shaquille O’Neal. It’s one of those experiences that still feels a little surreal when I look back on it. 

Favorite quote: “Let's not wait to be prompted. Let us go out today, tomorrow, and the days that follow, and let us demonstrate our humanity.” — Diana, Princess of Wales 

Favorite part of The West Side News: I adore the analog pleasure in opening up our very own community newspaper, feeling the paper in my hands and hearing the crinkle as I turn the pages. It gives me so much pleasure to learn about community members and events, and to know that we all share the same home. The rebirth of the West Side News has been such a joy to witness and to be a part of in my own way.