Therapists for college students near Portland, OR
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor with over 15 years experience in the field. I earned my Masters in Counseling from George Fox University in 2010 and my Bachelors in Psychology from PSU in 1993. My clinical specialties include trauma, anxiety, depression, grief/loss, life transitions, addictions and burnout. I believe we all have our own inner wisdom and guidance, and therapy is a process of getting in touch with that. Insight is valuable and yet we often need more than that, including a compassionate witness, and skilled guidance through the change process. I value the therapeutic relationship and am an engaged therapist, doing my best to attune to where you are and what can best serve you in our work. I use evidence-based practices that are client-centered and Mind/Body/Spirit oriented. I have been trained in multiple modalities including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Heart-Centered Hypnotherapy and Internal Family Systems (IFS). I am also currently enrolled in the IFS certification program after having completed Level 1 training. Outside of therapy I enjoy the great outdoors, especially hiking and trail running, caring for stray/feral cats, meditating, listening to music and connecting with friends/community. I welcome all races, all religions, all socio-economic status, all sexual orientations, all gender identities and expressions, all abilities, all ethnicities, all bodies, ALL PEOPLE.
Liberation Institute is a community mental health clinic that offers therapeutic services on a sliding scale. It first opened its doors on October 7, 2008, in San Francisco, then expanded to Portland in June 2020. Between the two locations, Liberation Institute helps 600 individuals, couples, and families a week by a staff of therapists, supervisors, artists, activists, meditation teachers and others who are committed to serving the community together.
My practice is guided by the belief that every person strives to do the best they can. The individual or family system may need assistance in developing necessary skills and guidance in solving problems. Working collaboratively with clients I help them to narrate new ways of interacting with their environment. I work with several young adults / young professionals as they navigate major life transitions (college, grad school, careers, families and parenting) and the accompanying challenges (ie: depression, anxiety, ADHD, isolation, imposter syndrome, challenging relationships, perfectionism). A major part of my practice is helping clients with trauma - esp developmental trauma.
Therapy can help us discover new parts of ourselves, challenge barriers to growth, and develop new skills to create our own paths. We as individuals hold these strengths within us already, but at times life can lead us to believe we are lacking. My hope is to help you discover these strengths! My style is direct yet gentle and I speak from an honest heart. I will often bring humor into the session, as life can funny at times or we may just need a bit of laughter to get through the challenges. I pull from various models but most often utilize Narrative Therapy, CBT, and mindfulness based techniques. Through a combination of these modalities, I work to help clients re-write unhealthy narratives and adjust patterns or ways of thinking that reinforce these inaccurate self-views. I believe in assisting clients in better understanding their own emotions and how their bodies can communicate these emotions. Once we are able to understand this, we can slow down and create new habits that are more effective in meeting our needs and managing symptoms.
Sometime we need help with today's stress or past experiences. I worked in college counseling at large state schools and small liberal arts campus for five years. I have knowledge about how to navigate campus systems and some unique aspects of college life. I love walking with folks through life transitions, including entering or exiting college and grad school, and relationships. I work with anxiety, depression, trauma, sexual assault, and dissociation. I was trained as a generalist mental health counselor and have held positions as a trauma specialist. I have a passion for working with queer folks, nonbinary folks, and trans individuals. I enjoy working with neurodivergent clients. I believe that trust and choice are essential to therapy. Therapy can increase understanding of your emotions and mind. This understanding can increase feelings of empowerment and trust in yourself. I am EMDRIA certified in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and trained in Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT). If you are curious if we are a good fit, please reach out for a free 15 minute virtual consultation!
Hello, and thank you for your interest in Aspire Psychology! We are an outpatient mental health clinic. We are passionate and dedicated to mental health and well-being. Our team of highly knowledgeable therapists offer individual therapy for adolescents and adults. We offer in-person and telehealth services with flexible appointment times to meet patient needs. Our compassionate intake team is available to answer your questions, and walk you through the process to become a new patient. You can reach our intake team at 503.994.8811 ext. 101
Matthew is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the State of Oregon. He provides counseling to individual adults, couples and geriatric clients. He is a certified geriatric and dementia expert (U. of Michigan). Matthew utilizes the Rogerian approach to therapy, empowering patients by leaning on nonjudgmental, positive regard, building strong rapport and trust with patients. Matthew incorporates strength-based approaches of Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Narrative Therapy. He wants the patient to explore their strengths and examine their challenges through a self-reflective lens so the patient can recognize why they struggle in certain areas of life. He sees patients that are facing difficulties with anxiety, depression, PTSD, chronic pain, grief and loss and relationship issues with marriage and parenting. He also has experience with crisis training to help military and first responders. Matthew employs several interventions including challenging negative thought patterns, relaxation training, sleep hygiene, and exposure therapy. Matthew earned his Masters in Mental Health Counseling from Wake Forest University. He is a native of New Orleans, has a wife, five children and three dogs. He is an avid walker, fisherman and sports enthusiast.
Hello, I imagine you are here because something isn’t quite right in your life, and you are seeking guidance to make positive changes. As you explore what therapy has to offer you, more clarity emerges that you are embarking on a journey into your inner life. Your inner world is comprised of images, fantasies, dreams, sensations, reflections, feelings – the entire content of your imagination. To know yourself, I encourage you to explore your feeling centers – like your heart and the gut. This brings forth the amazing potential of your life gifts and authentic Self into the world.
I am informal, goofy, sometimes loud, curious, imperfect, and you get all that and more when we start working together. Therapy with me commonly looks like laughing together, sometimes until we cry; actually crying together; laying on the ground; understanding that dark humor is often a necessary coping strategy for whatever life throws at us; talking with my hands; and my facial expressions being apart of the conversation (AKA having real reactions to real shit). Growing up between worlds can get messy, that weird in-between of always trying to fit in. As a transracial/international adoptee, I know how frustrating that pull between cultures and identities can be. Whether you're a fellow adoptee, mixed raced, or 1st gen, we’ll explore those layers - the deep identity stuff, aka the “laugh so you don’t cry” stuff, and find your way back home within the complexity. As a relational, trauma-informed therapist, I believe healing happens through connection. I focus on how your relationships, past and present, shape how you move through the world. My work blends somatic awareness with curiosity and compassion to help you build relationships that feel nourishing, real, and aligned with who you are. Finding the right fit may be time consuming, but shouldn’t be draining. Consults are a brief window into what the therapeutic relationship will look like - like a vibe-check. And if the vibes are right, the hard stuff will come naturally and not feel forced. This is why I offer 25-min consults. Reach out for a consult and let’s take it from there!
Welcome. I'm so glad you're here. I view therapy as a means of achieving personal transformation and a way to navigate the challenges of life. So often, we come to counseling not because we don't know what we "should” or “could" do differently, but because we feel stuck. I am committed to walking alongside you and providing opportunities for you to move through challenges, to heal, and to connect with your inner resilience. My theoretical approach is rooted in mindfulness-based cognitive behavioral and somatic focused therapy. I approach my work through a trauma-informed lens, which means that I prioritize a sense of safety and compassion when I work with clients. I have specialized experience and training in perinatal mental health, meaning your mental and emotional well-being during pregnancy, birth and postpartum stages. I am a certified EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) therapist and have completed training in Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, both are body-centered ways to process emotions and experiences. I am currently studying interpersonal neurobiology and enjoy deepening my understanding of mental health through neuroscience. I am also a registered yoga instructor and often call on the tools of yoga and mindfulness practices. Depending on your needs, we may use some or all of these strategies to achieve your goals. I come to private practice with a background in primary care medical clinics providing integrated behavioral health counseling, and have worked as a child and family therapist and with survivors of domestic and sexual violence. I graduated from Portland State University in 2011 with a Masters in Social Work, during which time I completed internships with a refugee resettlement program and at OHSU’s Center for Women's Health. My work as a therapist is grounded in social justice and I am committed to making my practice welcoming as possible for everybody. I am a queer and trans affirming provider and work from an intersectional and anti-oppressive lens.
I draw from person-centered care, treating anxiety through mindfulness-based therapy, and evidence-based approaches including Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). I especially enjoy working with college students navigating career and life transitions, as well as adults experiencing anxiety, depression, or Bipolar II Disorder. My style as a psychologist is warm, collaborative, and grounded in kindness, while also making space for humor and lightness when appropriate.
Healing is often a journey in which it is best to have good company, and I would love to join you on yours, to help you find hope, and create space for change, growth, and self-expansion. My approach to counseling is collaborative, compassionate, and strengths-based. We focus on growing internal and community resources while decreasing the negative impacts of anxiety, depression, life transitions, relationship challenges, shame, and stigma. I work to be culturally responsive and come from an anti-oppression framework. I seek to invite the cultures, spiritualties, and identities of each of my clients into sessions. I am passionate about working with people within LGBTQ+ communities and specific issues faced by these individuals and their relationships. I also have experience working with people in non-monogamous relationships, kinky folks, people with a history of complex trauma, people living with HIV, and those working to change their relationship with substances. I believe that everyone has the capacity and strength to heal, but that we may need others to help us access these parts of ourselves. It is a brave thing to ask for help and support, you have already done so much! Please contact me by email or phone to set up a free 15-minute phone consultation to see if we might be a good fit.
I specialize in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), an evidence based treatment for specific challenges like OCD, anxiety, panic attacks, phobias, and depression. This requires a collaborative and supportive process tailored to each individual. With the right treatment it is possible to see significant changes in symptoms so you can spend more time pursing what is most important to you. I am offering primarily telehealth based appointments within Oregon and in-person appointments within the Portland area as needed. Treatment is focused on creating behavioral changes, starting with areas where symptoms have had the most significant, and negative life-impacts. Focusing on one small change at a time can lead to greater freedom from symptoms, and more time spent actively pursuing what is most important in your life.
Are you feeling anxious, disconnected, or overwhelmed? Do questions around identity, trauma, or relationships leave you feeling stuck or unseen? I’m here to help. My approach is warm, queer-informed, and collaborative, creating a space where you feel safe to explore and heal. I believe you are the expert in your own life, and together, we’ll work to untangle the challenges you face while building on your strengths. Whether you’re navigating questions of gender, sexual orientation, or systemic pressures, I’m committed to helping you find clarity, connection, and empowerment on your journey. With training in various therapy modalities, I tailor my approach to each client’s unique needs, focusing on what works best for their system. This is where we collaborate to discover what feels right for you. Additionally, I offer pre-surgical assessments for individuals seeking gender-affirming surgery. Finding the right therapist is important, and I’d love to help you determine if we’re a good fit. Our initial 15-minute consultation is free, a chance for you to share your needs and get a feel for my approach. If you’re ready to take the next step, I invite you to schedule through my website.
As a psychologist, Emily supports people to live richer, fuller lives aligned with their personal values. She views her clients as the experts on themselves and sees her role as their collaborator, working together to help bring forward their greatest potential. Emily works with a diverse set of individuals, and with a variety of concerns such as anxiety, depression, ADHD, OCD, trauma, interpersonal relationship challenges, overcoming barriers to goals, and other issues her clients strive to work through. She utilizes an assortment of therapeutic modalities, often blending these approaches, including mindfulness, Jungian analysis, Behavioral Modification, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), Ecopsychology, and relaxation training, always with a focus on the individual needs of the client. Emily believes that an integrated approach to overall well-being is important, including aspects of nutrition, exercise, and sleep hygiene, with an understanding of how these interact with and impact psychological well-being. Over the years, Emily has worked with children, adolescents, young adults, and not-so-young adults, each seeking help with a range of concerns, problem behaviors, and disorders. Emily also enjoys working with couples as they address problematic areas in their relationship, and as they find ways to improve and reconnect with each other. When she works with children, she is also working to make sure parents are appropriately involved, and helping to implement therapeutic assignments beyond the counseling environment and at home. This is especially important as we impart positive parenting approaches to reinforce certain behaviors, and to help a child feel secure as they learn to cope with trauma, anxiety, or depression. Emily completed her Bachelor’s of Science degrees in Biopsychology and Ecology and Evolution at University of California, Santa Barbara, later earning a PhD in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in neuropsychology, and a second PhD in Wildlands and Wildlife Conservation at Brigham Young University. When Emily is not engaging with her clients in psychotherapy, she teaches psychology undergraduate college courses, and enjoys hiking, spending time with her family, connecting with nature, and cooking.
I have experience working with young adults for the past 12 years in both education and therapy settings. I provide mental health and substance use counseling with the goal of helping you better understand yourself, what you need, and how to make that possible.
My counseling style is warm, compassionate, casual and accepting. I want you to know you are seen and heard, and I am curious about what it’s like to be you in the world. I strongly believe that you are the expert on you and that, once given a little time to breathe in a safe space, you will begin to connect to important parts of yourself that will foster healing and growth. I will be your partner in this process, helping you to gain fresh insight, feel self-compassion, and see your strengths.
I believe that anyone can benefit from therapy. Whether you’re facing life’s challenges, experiencing anxiety or depression, or you are just interested in growth and strengthening your sense of self; we all need a neutral person to talk to from time to time. I carry with me a warm, grounded presence. I have a nonjudgmental demeanor and prefer to avoid giving advice, but instead work together to explore options and possible solutions to issues. I have an eclectic approach that is primarily rooted in psychodynamics and tailored to the needs of the individual and their circumstances. I am open to working with anyone interested in pursuing therapy; some examples of challenges I am skilled at working with are anxiety, depression, interpersonal challenges, grief, life transitions, relationships, gender, sexuality, family issues, existential challenges, and individuation. I am LGBTQ+ friendly and poly friendly
I am a social worker, musician, and expressive arts therapist. I believe everyone is innately creative, and each person has within them what they need to heal and change. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Oregon and Louisiana, and a Registered Expressive Arts Therapist (REAT). I use a multi-arts, or intermodal, approach in individual and group therapy and facilitating. This means I use movement, visual art, music, writing, and mindfulness as therapeutic tools to initiate healing and change. Since this work is based on the creative process and not the resulting product, no background or training in the arts is required to benefit.
I have always had a passion for giving back to my community and supporting the creation of positive change in ways that are meaningful and respectful to the unique beliefs, needs, and cultures of others. As a therapist I strive to fulfill this passion by helping folks feel empowered to heal, grow, and live authentically. My work is grounded in the belief of the inherent strength of each person, and I am dedicated to helping clients build resilience, self-compassion, and agency in their lives. The approach we decide is best for you will be tailored to your unique needs. Whether you're navigating major life transitions, processing trauma, or exploring gender and sexual identity, I am here to provide a safe, empathetic, and judgment-free space—with just a touch of humor. Together, we’ll identify meaningful strategies to help you build the skills and confidence to move forward in ways that align with your values and goals. Originally from the Midwest, I earned my Bachelor’s in Social Work from Saginaw Valley State University (2017) before moving to Portland. In 2022, I completed my Masters of Social Work from the University of Denver, with an emphasis on trauma and social justice, and have since had the privilege of providing therapy at a local community mental health agency, serving a wide range of folks struggling with complex generational trauma, major life transitions, relationship issues, grief, and gender/sexual identity exploration. Through this experience, I had the privilege of further developing skills specific to LGBTQIA+ folks, a group of individuals near to my heart, which has allowed me to more meaningfully connect with, and help, my community. When I’m not working, you’ll likely find me running around the city or Forest Park training for the next half-marathon, at the coast or a hiking with my two wiener dogs, and most importantly spending time with my friends and loved ones. How I Can Help If you're looking for LGBTQIA+ affirming therapy in Portland or support for anxiety, trauma, relationships, or life transitions, I’m here to help. My goal is to provide compassionate, trauma-informed care that empowers you to create meaningful change. Whether you're seeking CBT for anxiety, trauma therapy, or support navigating gender identity, I offer a collaborative, affirming, and client-centered approach to help you move forward. I offer both in-person and telehealth therapy, making it easier to access care in a way that fits your needs. Education & Licenses MSW, University of Denver (Trauma & Social Justice Focus) Clinical Social Worker, OR License #L30027