Therapists for college students near Portland, OR
With over 12 years experience providing mental health therapy, I pride myself on my ability to connect and build strong relationships with all kinds of people. My therapy is based in our relationship – it’s the vessel for building trust, rapport and from which change emerges. My style is energetic and conversational, using the language of emotion to explore our body’s responses and reactions to issues. I specialize in investigating trauma, relationship difficulties, substance use issues and have many years of experience treating depression, anxiety and other frequently experienced mental health conditions. Equity is a major foundation of both my work and my personal ethic – I have experience treating people from many diverse backgrounds, with recent experience working with folks navigating sexual and gender identity questions. I am open and friendly toward working with individuals exploring kink and other non-traditional relationship styles. Outside of therapy, my passions include music (creating It, listening to it, going to see it!), gardening and preserving food, and spending time with my partner and dog and our friends. I am a keen enjoyer of all things nerdy – from video games to comics and most especially heavy metal music of all kinds. Because I believe in balance, I am also an avid enjoyer of sports, especially soccer and baseball!
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.
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker located in East Portland. Perhaps you are seeking therapy because you are unhappy with something in your life. Your happiness is important and I believe it's possible to feel more joy. Therapy can feel like a scary step, but you are worth the risk. Therapy is a place where you get to talk to someone who is non-judgmental and nurturing and who can offer you a more objective perspective on how to make the changes in your life that you desire. I view therapy as a collaboration, an exchange where we work together to reach your goals. Reach out to me for more information or to see if we would be a good fit. Email is the best way to reach me: kit@kitmurraylcsw.com
As a Licensed Marriage Family Therapist, I specialize in helping students navigate the unique challenges of personal, academic, and social stressors. My approach is built on understanding each individual’s story, and I offer a safe, supportive space for you to explore your thoughts, feelings, and experiences. I believe in the power of self-discovery and transformation through the therapeutic process. Billing Information: I accept OHP, OOP, and offer super bills for out of network. Approach: With a focus on anxiety, depression, self-esteem, stress management, and relationship issues, I offer a variety of therapeutic techniques tailored to your needs. Drawing from Narrative Therapy, we’ll work together to rewrite problematic stories that might be holding you back, empowering you to take control of your narrative and identity. Through Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), we’ll address unhelpful thinking patterns that contribute to anxiety, depression, and stress, and replace them with more balanced, realistic perspectives. I also integrate Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), especially for those facing relationship challenges, helping you understand and improve emotional connections with others. In addition, I incorporate Existential Therapy, which encourages deep exploration of meaning, purpose, and identity, helping you find fulfillment and clarity during the sometimes overwhelming college years. Whether you’re struggling with academic pressure, navigating personal relationships, or seeking to build stronger self-worth, I’m here to help you achieve growth and healing. My approach is collaborative, empathetic, and non-judgmental, focusing on your strengths and potential. Together, we will create practical tools and strategies to build resilience, improve mental well-being, and help you thrive both personally and academically.
If you are new to therapy or returning to it, it's normal to feel anxious or unsure about where to start. It's a big step and also it's an opportunity to grow, develop new insights and increase capacity to feel grounded. I work from a place of deep empathy, understanding, intuition, and humor. In order for therapy to be transformative and healing, a good therapeutic relationship must be built. Together we will identify barriers to your emotional, relational and functional well being. Let's work together.
Do you struggle with stress that affects your day-to-day life, relationships, or school? Do you feel exhausted by the pressure to do more with less? Do you wish that you could experience more balance in your life? Now more than ever, people are feeling overwhelmed and stuck, struggling to craft a more peaceful, positive lifestyle. I believe finding balance between all of life’s demands shouldn’t be just a “maybe one day” dream. I offer individual counseling for adults ready to commit to building their best lives. We’ll start by exploring your current challenges and past experiences to help inform the best approach. We’ll co-create a treatment plan designed to help you build the skills you’ll need on your journey, and I’ll help you navigate the pathway toward your ideal life. I offer a supportive, safe space and virtual appointments to flexibly meet your scheduling needs. As an experienced psychologist who has helped many individuals establish better boundaries and experience more joy in their daily lives, I am passionate about helping others achieve a greater balance between work and play and adapt to shifting environments. Ready to take the first step toward living your best life? Schedule your free consultation today!
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
I specialize in supporting adults with anxiety, OCD, and trauma. I take a collaborative approach to therapy that incorporates individuality and the wisdom clients have about themselves, along with evidence-based approaches. I view my role as walking alongside you in your therapy journey to provide support in setting and accomplishing goals that are aligned with your values. I worked in 3 college counseling centers prior to working in private practice. As a queer, neurodivergent therapist, I particularly enjoy working with individuals also in these communities.
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 have one of the best jobs on the planet! Being asked and invited to be with someone in the process of healing and change is a true privilege and deeply meaningful to me. With over 14 years of experience working with students and young adults, I enjoy working with students from all backgrounds and a wide array of presenting concerns. Some of the areas I specialize in and frequently work with are: - Trauma recovery (particularly complex, developmental, and family trauma) - LGBTQIA2S+ students - Graduate and international students - Relationships (of all kinds) - Men's issues - Identity - Neurodivergence - Family-of-origin - Living in recovery I am passionate about social justice advocacy and supporting students in understanding and navigating their multiple, intersecting social identities. Students who I work with describe me as warm, caring, honest, and authentic. My therapy style is relational, process-focused, and experiential. This means that I will guide us in using the relationship between you and I as a space to support your growth and change. It also means that both the content of therapy (what we are talking about) and the process of therapy (what is happening as we are talking and interacting) are both important for us to engage with. Lastly, it means that I will offer activities ("exploring by doing") that will help you learn more about yourself, develop new choices, and have new experiences in support of your therapy goals. If something here interests you and you’d like to explore working together, I’d love to hear from you!
Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.
Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.
With 26 years of experience, I’ve learned there are many ways to help clients. I welcome clients of all sorts, at any stage of therapy. I use an integrated approach and pull from numerous evidenced based therapeutic practices, based on your individual needs and goals. I can help you work through challenges related to difficult feelings, stress, depression, anxiety, challenging relationships and navigating important life transitions. I also specialize in helping those who have ADHD. The ADHD brain works overtime and can leave one feeling chronically exhausted, overwhelmed, scattered or misunderstood. While working together, we'll develop tools and strategies to better manage the challenges that ADHD can present, so that you can feel more confident and reach your full potential... in your relationships, your work and within yourself.
Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.
As a first generation immigrant, Vivien understands the pain of feeling stuck and not knowing where to start, when there is so much you want to achieve – whether it’s developing more rewarding relationships, making academic and career progression, healing from complex trauma, or gaining a sense of calm, confidence, and fulfillment as you navigate life in a complicated world. Vivien is a clinical psychologist who specializes in providing culturally responsive psychotherapy to adults, with a particular passion for supporting Asian American folks and folks with minoritized identities, college students and early career professionals aged 18 - 35. With Vivien, you are invited to enter a safe, inclusive, non-judgmental and collaborative space to more clearly understand yourself and how personal experiences and societal contexts have shaped you as you embark on a journey of growth and healing. Please e-mail or call to set up a free 15-minute consultation to get started.
Hi! I'm glad you found me here in a sea of so many qualified therapists. What sets me apart from many other providers is the guiding principle that effective therapy is much more art than science. Research has consistently shown that the most influential common factor in effective therapy is a comfortable working relationship with your therapist (as opposed to a specialized treatment protocol or even years of experience). As such, I treat the quality and trust within our therapeutic relationship as the number one priority. I strive to provide a space in which we can engage collaboratively, to gain greater understanding through curiosity and exploration, ultimately working to address the root causes of your struggles. Developing an awareness and insight into your thoughts and decision making is key to attaining greater fulfillment and life satisfaction. You are more than what brings you into therapy and I recognize that the sum total of your lived experience is what makes you 'you'. Therapy allows you to be completely open and honest without fear of judgment, ultimately providing you the capacity to live authentically. I offer a free 15-minute consult; contact me or schedule via my website to see if I'm a good fit for you!
The ValueCore philosophy is that you have absolute value based on your intrinsic worth. This is how we see you; and the core from which we offer treatment. With you, we may utilize talk therapy, medication management, education, evaluation, encouragement, accountability, and self-discovery, which leads to insight, direction, and meaningful change. Together we work to foster the realization that happiness is the rule for you and not the exception. As you accept your personal value and implement the changes you need for yourself, we hope you will be free to grow, relax and recreate, socialize, work and serve others, educate, and live a fulfilling life. Now accepting new patients ages 5-64.
Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.
College can be a lot to juggle, not only are you balancing your classes and course work, but also relationships and expectations. All while trying to figure out what you actually want for yourself. As a first-generation child of immigrants, I understand the pressure that can come with balancing your own goals while staying connected to where you come from. I work with college students who are dealing with anxiety, burnout, identity questions, and major life transitions. You might notice overthinking, procrastination, people pleasing, or feeling like you have to show up differently depending on the space you’re in. A lot of my clients are used to pushing through, even when they feel overwhelmed or unsure of themselves. My approach is trauma-informed, relational, and culturally responsive. I help you make sense of your emotions, understand patterns that may be keeping you stuck, and build tools that actually work in your everyday life. Whether we’re talking through stress, working on anxiety, or exploring identity and relationships, we’ll go at a pace that feels right for you.
Whatever your reasons for seeking therapy or counseling, I assure you when you step into my office, you will be treated with respect, compassion, & validation. I believe everyone is doing the best they can with what they know. And that is typically where we start the therapy process - with acceptance of where you are now. The work I do with my clients is collaborative - we create a treatment plan together, with goals you want to work on. We achieve these goals by building skills, improving understanding & insight into how these behaviors got started in the first place, & increasing resources in your life. I'm a licensed professional counselor, practicing since 2003. I'm trained in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, & use Cognitive-Behavioral, Mindfulness, and Stages of Change strategies in my practice, as well as some somatic strategies, if needed. I specialize in treating depression, anxiety, past trauma & PTSD, alcohol & drug problems, relational issues, life transitions, grief, anger, confidence problems. I love this work! I use these strategies in my own life and will share what I've learned, through my own experiences. Most of my clients appreciate this and don't feel so alone in their struggles. We all struggle! Through acceptance, and a bit of humor, we can achieve change.