Therapists for college students near Portland, OR
Are you struggling to engage or enjoy activities you once used to, or to make healthy friendships, connect, stay focused on studies? Perhaps you are noticing that acute or past traumas are getting in the way of feeling safe in your own body and coping is or has become very difficult. I specialize in working with emerging, young adults who battle anxiety, depression, PTSD, complex childhood trauma, addiction, suicidal thoughts and more. Counseling with me will be a warm, authentic and safe experience where together, we can gently process the thoughts, fears and doubts that keep you feeling stuck and perhaps miserable. Therapy may involve processing trauma, helping you develop increased awareness, exploring thought processes, relationships and behavior patterns, as well as learning new skills to manage your symptoms and relationships.
I hope to support you on your journey toward healing. I believe people have strength to endure life's challenges, and hold the wisdom within to nurture wounds and thrive. I bring over a decade of experience working with children, adults and families, where I served people with needs including anxiety, depression, exposure to trauma, life transitions and more. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). My therapy style is strengths-based, collaborative and compassionate, with a sense of humor and creativity. I desire to nurture strong attachments, support individual goals for wellness, and enhance meaningful connections. I am certified in foster and adoptive family therapy, trained in EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing), trauma focused-cognitive behavioral therapy, DBT, family systems work, and more. I specialize in treating PTSD and other traumatic stress. Feel free to contact me for a free consult to see if we are a fit.
My style as a therapist is grounded in mindfulness, genuine care, non-judgmental stance, and being fully present for my clients. I work transparently and collaboratively with my clients to achieve their therapy goals. My specialities include general anxiety, stress management, performance anxiety, social anxiety, panic attacks, depression, relationship issues, and PTSD, and my work with clients are centered on embracing culture and identity. I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness skills, iRest Yoga Nidra, ACT, IFS interventions, and Motivational Interviewing.
At Assert Your Boundaries Counseling, we provide trauma-informed therapy for adults, couples, and professionals across Oregon and Washington. We specialize in EMDR therapy, anxiety, depression, relationship issues, burnout, life transitions, and culturally responsive mental health care. Led by Dr. Pauline Botchway, our practice offers compassionate, evidence-based support for individuals seeking healing, growth, and healthier boundaries. We work with clients navigating trauma, stress, identity concerns, workplace challenges, and emotional overwhelm. Our practice also provides clinical supervision for LPC associates and supports clients seeking accessible, inclusive care in a welcoming environment. We offer both in-person and telehealth therapy sessions.
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
By developing insight into your emotions, thoughts, and behaviors, and by practicing new skills and ways of relating to yourself and others, our work together will help you heal emotional pain, increase self-understanding, improve relationships, and cope more effectively with future challenges. Offering therapy, psychiatry and medication services.
Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.
I work dynamically and intuitively with a focus on mind body awareness. I combine my knowledge from natural medicine, energy healing, authentic relating, social justice work, ecofeminism, conscious philosophy, yoga, meditation, nonviolent communication, to serve in a holistic and transpersonal approach. I believe that we are all whole and complete. I believe learning is remembering. I believe that each person deserves to be seen, heard, held and loved. I have worked intimately with the concepts of being and belonging. I take into account systemic issues and intersectionality with every client I work with. Some of these populations include: LGBTQI+, BIPOC, Buddhist contemplative, kink/sex positive, body positive communities. I have also worked intimately with survivors of domestic abuse, those dealing with codependent tendencies, eating disorders, chronic illness/pain, developmental trauma and grief. Overall, I work best with those who are curious about being more in their bodies and are dedicated to the growth and learning process.
Hi there! Starting your healing journey can be a daunting process, and you have already taken a tremendous first step by searching for a therapist. I strive to create a therapeutic space where you feel empowered to navigate concerns related to anxiety, depression, insomnia, trauma, and identity issues. Additionally, I am a BIPOC and queer therapist and enjoy working with BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ clients. To help you develop effective coping skills, we may use tools from CBT and solution-focused therapy. I also use a person-centered stance to ensure you feel accepted and our relationship feels authentic. Finally, I incorporate cultural humility and relational-cultural therapy to ensure our work is sensitive to your experiences. I appreciate you reading my bio. I currently have openings for in-person and telehealth sessions. If you are interested in booking a free, initial consultation, please feel free to contact me. I look forward to connecting with you!
Do you beat yourself up? Do you have a hard time feeling like everything is okay, even when nothing particularly bad is going on? I have specialized training in helping people with their self-attack. You will have more understanding about why you do this to yourself and more freedom to be develop as a person in all areas of your life.
Hello, We can start with what is your immediate concern. That is likely to open the possibility of changes within you, that can open new possibilities for satisfaction and broader changes. Our goals will include more satisfying and close relationships for you.
You feel alone, prioritize the needs of others, and wonder if things will change, asking: "What am I protecting? Who am I trying to be? What do I want?" Relationships (breakups, separation, dating, divorce) can bring up anxiety, regret, fear and self-judgment. These effect the relationship we have with ourselves. Resentments, anger, and guilt - toward others and within ourselves make us feel disconnected and alone. As a therapist, my aim is to help you reconnect with your SELF. Everyone is different. Our expectations and ideals are influenced by family history, surrounding cultural expectations, and unique experiences. Our therapy sessions help you develop tools to define relationships you want, conquer anxiety, past regrets, self doubt, negative self-image, and slowly dispose of the negative loud inner-monologue (which comes up frequently, when you are trying to navigate your road ahead.) I am an Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapist using Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT), Gottman therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) tools to develop a solid foundation of self - (via telehealth, online) in both Oregon and Washington State. Specialties: Individuals dealing with sleep issues/insomnia, difficulty with focus (ADHD); folks going through separation/divorce to develop purpose, motivation and intention; individuals in relationships cultivate/improve connection; single individuals build a sense of self (aligned with values) which can be applied toward dating and future relationships. __________________________________________ Interested in seeing if we connect? Feel free to text me/call me at 503-498-6879 for free consultation. Want to learn more about me? Check out my website: https://heatherackles.com/ _______________________________________________________
COMMON CONDITIONS TREATED: • Anxiety • Bipolar Disorder • Depression • Alcohol Use Disorder • Trauma and Stress-Related Disorders • Schizophrenia • ADHD • Schizophrenia • Psychosis • Anger management • Military trauma • grief Session Our first session will be scheduled for around 50-60 mins. Our goal will be to systematically explore the past and present elements affecting your life so we can establish and/or confirm a diagnosis and the appropriate level of care for you. Before our session, you will receive documents for you to fill out. Assessment can be lengthily at times and prefilled documents can ease us into a more enjoyable conversation. We will also go over the rules and regulations to preserve safety and lay the framework for your treatment. After our first session, follow up appointments are usually between 25-30 mins long and the frequency of the sessions can be decided by medication management and therapeutic outcomes. Because every case can be different from the next one, your treatment will be tailored to your need. The complexity of your case will determine the adjustments to your treatment plan. When pertinent, we will do our best to provide you with complementary services from around your community. I hope to do this all while helping you feel as comfortable as possible. Given that some topics can be challenging, some questions can be addressed in more detail in following sessions as you become more acquainted with me and the rest of our team. We will treat you, not just your symptoms and diagnos
The therapeutic relationship is the key to my approach. Together we will build strong therapeutic relationship through mutual trust and understanding. This creates a safe environment for self-exploration, growth and development. I believe that if we work collaboratively we can identify problems and personalize treatment direction. My goal is to help you cope with your daily struggles, improve resiliency and create lasting change. With the right skills, each individual has the capacity to accomplish their goals. I specialize in effective therapy for individuals who are suffering from depression, anxiety, difficulty maintaining healthy relationships, low self-esteem and assertiveness issues as well as survivors of trauma, and domestic violence.
I love supporting people in better understanding themselves. I value a collaborative relationship with clients as well as crafting the therapeutic experience to meet the needs of each individual I work with. I welcome members of the LGBTQIA2S+ community and provide affirming care for folks on the gender spectrum and/or amid gender transition. I have experience treating anxiety disorders, depression, trauma, life transition issues, and relationship concerns (family, partners, social) and have specific training in DBT, CBT, and post-modern models. I am a systemic therapist and will often bring larger systems, identity intersections, and relationships into our conversations.
College can feel like a lot to manage at once. Classes, friendships, dating, family expectations, and trying to figure out who you are and what you’re doing with your life. I work with students who are dealing with anxiety, self-doubt, and relationship stress. A lot of the people I see are functioning well on the outside, but internally feel overwhelmed, stuck, or like they’re constantly overthinking everything. Therapy can help you quiet the mental noise, understand your emotions without getting taken over by them, and feel more grounded in your decisions and relationships. You get to slow down, sort through what’s actually going on, and focus on what matters to you. My approach is practical and collaborative. We start with your goals and what’s not working right now, then build clear, research-based strategies to help you feel better. I also pay attention to patterns, like overthinking, people-pleasing, or relationship dynamics that keep repeating, so you can understand them and shift them long-term. You know your life better than anyone. My role is to help you make sense of it and move forward in a way that feels right to you. I provide out of pocket sessions at a reduced rate with limited pro bono sessions available. If you’re curious about working together, you can reach out for a quick consultation and see if it feels like a good fit.
Are you struggling with irritability, anxiety, low mood, poor focus, substance use, or lack of motivation that is impairing your relationships, your career, or your overall quality of life? Have you perhaps tried therapy, but found that your problems persisted? Have you tried medications, but found that psychiatric appointments were too impersonal or that your concerns about possible side effects or worsening symptoms were met with indifference? I provide evidence-based mental health treatment via telemedicine to residents of Oregon. I strive to create a warm, welcoming environment for clients. I offer a free ten-minute initial phone consultation to determine if we are a good fit for each other.
Among all the uncertainties of life, making the choice to start therapy is yet another risky plunge into the unknown. Before you decide to give me a call I’d like to try and give you a sense of who I am and what it might be like for us to sit together. Although my title is doctor, my clients call me Sarah. I think of my role as one of accompaniment, you’re the lead and it’s my job to follow your pace, your volume, your moments of free expression. Together we get curious in a way that is, open, receptive, and non-judgmental. Sometimes this process is playful, and sometimes I encourage us to look deeper at the hard things. I am always holding your experience with profound respect and the certainty that you have been doing your best to survive in a world that challenges your flexibility. Whether you’re somewhere along the path of higher education or starting off your career, the challenges of young adult life are uniquely complex and ripe for psychological distress. At this stage in life, you may find yourself with more questions than answers and more pressures than solutions. Stressors and concerns may run the gamut from challenges in relationships, family conflict, financial/housing/food insecurity, or answering questions like, “Who am I” and “What do I want in life?” I can appreciate the need for a space to unpack it all, take a step back, and find more clarity.
While I’ve worked with clients from all different kinds of communities, I’m particularly passionate about supporting young adults who are working through sexual shame, sexual trauma, social anxiety, neurodivergence, ethical non-monogamy, and those who identify as queer/BIPOC and/or men. I focus on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with a strengths-based and healing focus & Narrative Therapy. Because pain and trauma are realities of our world, our past selves often inform our present relationships, even when we don’t want them to. Together we’ll work to help you understand and identify what parts of yourself show up in your life today. We’ll unpack your history and upbringing to discern how they’re potentially impacting your current relationships. We often feel like we’re “missing the mark” in our relationships - that despite all our efforts, we’re still falling short. Effectively communicating with your partner or other people in your life is a skill I’ll help you develop. Generally, my style of work is a mixture of collaborating with clients, while also challenging them to dig deeper. But above all, I approach my clients with gentleness, compassion, and I will always keep our focus on healing. I was raised in a conservative Christian environment where sex, sexuality, and gender were defined by my religion. This in turn created internalized feelings of shame about who I was. Since then, I’ve done a lot of educating and relearning to shape my identity into who I am today. As a black, brown, and queer woman, my identities inform my work and the way I show up for my clients and community. My desire is for you to feel empowered to be your authentic self and transform your relationship with sex and sexuality into a positive one. Cultivating a relationship built on trust with the people I collaborate with is something I value deeply. Having the ability to trust your therapist allows you to bring more of your true self to the table, which directly affects the quality of the work we’ll do together. I’ll work with you to build a mutual and trusting relationship, because a therapeutic relationship models relationships out in the world.
As a Licensed Professional Counselor, I value creating a space where people feel supported, connected, and empowered. I’m excited to help you explore your values, deepen your self-understanding, and identify the shifts you want to make in your life. With seven years of experience in the field, I work with diverse clients and have developed a particular focus on college students and LGBTQIA+ young adults.