Therapists for college students near Portland, OR
A therapist who is also a sensitive soul helping my fellow nerds and weirdos find their truth and thrive. I love working with the queer community, ADHDers, artists and theater kids!
I use relationship building as the foundation of my therapy practice. I believe feeling seen, held, and safe are vital components of being able to grow. My hope is to create an atmosphere where the people I meet with feel met and known which will allow us to walk together through vulnerability. With all my clients I take a Neurobiological approach, which is a fancy way to say I think a lot about nervous systems and how to regulate them. Our nervous systems need co-regulation before they can learn to self-regulate. Together we will explore what feels soothing to your particular system and build strategies from there. I pull Internal Family Systems (IFS) or parts work and Narrative Therapy techniques. My style is client centered, collaborative, affirming, and trauma informed.
I especially enjoy working with teens and young adults, while also welcoming adults of all ages. Whether you're navigating anxiety, OCD, ADHD, self-esteem, life transitions, identity, relationship challenges, or just feeling overwhelmed, therapy can be a place to we can slow down and reconnect with ourselves. We'll collaborate together to build practical skills, better understand the patterns keeping you stuck, and create meaningful and lasting change! My approach is collaborative, compassionate, and grounded in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). I believe growth often begins in moments of discomfort, and you don't have to face that alone. We'll explore what's worked and what hasn't, and try new approaches that align with your values, goals, and strengths. Starting therapy can feel pretty intimidating, and it's okay if you're unsure where to begin! You don't need to have everything figured out before reaching out. If you're ready to approach life's challenges with curiosity and support, I'd be honored to work alongside you as we take that next step together.
Are you caught in an unending cycle of feeling insufficient, regardless of your achievements or efforts? As you navigate various roles in your life – partner, friend, caregiver, parent/child, coworker, or manager do you constantly feel like you're falling short, despite your best efforts? Anxiety, depression, grief, burnout, and fear can be an overwhelming experience. You are “fine” and you’re waiting for that other shoe to drop. I specialize in helping adults struggling with trauma, grief, and life transitions by navigating intense emotions, finding peace, and rebuilding connections with themselves and others. As a multiracial therapist, I am deeply committed to supporting BIPOC individuals, particularly in addressing family of origin and ethnic identity/cultural concerns. I also enjoy working with military families. My approach is grounded in scientific principles, tailored to help you break free from a cycle that keeps you from the life you want. Whether stemming from past trauma, intricate learning histories, or the pressures of daily life, these challenges may make you feel like you're merely existing rather than truly living. If you're ready to move beyond survival mode and embrace a life that aligns with your true self, I'm here to support you every step of the way.
Feeling foggy or like you're in a dream (in a bad way)? Feeling detached from your body or your joy? At the risk of sounding like an infomercial, I'm passionate about helping clients feel more present, embodied, and connected whether they're experiencing grief, dissociation (depersonalization or derealization), or burn out. I work best with folks who are motivated to put in work inside and outside of session in order to inch closer to change. There is so much to grieve in the world right now but I'll be alongside you to sit in the messy feelings and cheer on your wins. I use experiential (creative) and somatic (body-focused) techniques for additional ways of processing grief, loss, or disconnection. Experientially, we might write, make art, use music, or create a tangible coping tool you can use. Somatically, this might mean grounding exercises, movement, guided visualizations, or just pausing and noticing the body. Your healing process is important and I don’t believe in taking away coping mechanisms that have allowed you to survive until now. Instead, the idea is to explore different options to help you sift through complicated situations or feelings and help you evaluate what's no longer serving you. Reach out if we might be a good fit. I'd love to hear from you!
The lifelong journey of personal growth and healing creates many opportunities for creativity and connecting with a deeper sense of empowerment. The path to self-realization is an exciting journey. I provide a safe place to explore and break down personal barriers for you enjoy your journey of thriving and living your true self. This is your life. You are worthy! My treatment focus is person-centered and holistic recognizing each person’s identity and culture. I work with struggles related to trauma, grief and loss, anxiety, depression, existential and identity concerns, relationship concerns, and life changes. I incorporate a variety of therapeutic approaches, including Creative Therapy, Positive Self-talk, Grief Therapy, CBT, DBT, EMDR with tapping, Motivational Interviewing, and Mindfulness Practice while focusing on a personal approach. I provide individual therapy for adults. I will work collaboratively with you to support your self-exploration. It is very important that you have a good match with the person you are working within your journey. It is your best chance to find therapy that works for you. Before we decide to work together, I offer a 15-minute consultation at no cost to you. Finding someone who is a good fit for you is the most important step in your journey.
Are you struggling with burnout, feeling stressed and overwhelmed by big decisions in your life? Do you dream about living a more wholehearted, vibrant, and meaningful life? I support folks on a path towards developing more nourishing relationships, a better understanding their emotions, and living a life aligned with their values. My clients are people who are dealing with burnout, anxiety, depression, or are facing big life transitions. I look forward to supporting you in developing skills and insight to lead a fulfilling life.
In-person and video sessions. College life can be difficult at times, even more so lately. You have what it takes to get through it and I am here to help you recognize and develop your strength and capability. You may feel lost, alone, confused, conflicted, indecisive, anxious and that's an okay place to start. I have experience working at colleges and universities both in Portland and New York City. My hourly rates are lower than many since I am not accepting insurance but I can give you a receipt and/or statement that you might use for some reimbursement.
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.
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.
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 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.
I specialize in working with college students, graduate students and early career professionals who struggle with anxiety, perfectionism, trauma, depression, burn out and more. If you're asking yourself "how am I supposed to balance school/work, having a social life, eating healthy, exercising, having hobbies and taking care of my mental health?!" you are not alone. Adulting is hard, especially when you still feel like you're new to it. You might feel like your thoughts are always negative or spiraling out of control or you're always tense or can't seem to stay in the moment for things that are "supposed" to be fun. My approach to therapy focuses on helping you learn to relax, reduce the impact of negative thoughts, savor the joyful things in life, and live in alignment with your values. In therapy with me you will learn concrete strategies to improve your life while also having time to just "talk it out" in a warm and supportive environment. I offer a free, 15-minute phone consultation prior to scheduling our first session to determine if I am the best fit for your care. Please call, text or email now to schedule a consultation. Looking forward to speaking with you!
Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.
We here at Brave Acorn help people in the greater Portland area align body, mind, and emotions in their daily lives. We are trauma-trained, take a Health at Every Size approach to food and weight issues, and encourage people to work with their body and emotions as allies (rather than enemies) on their journey towards growth and healing.
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.
You may be coming to sex therapy now because you are needing a bit more expertise around how to talk about and process the sexual relationship with yourself or partner. You may be tired of not feeling good in your body or in your relationship and can remember a time when it felt better. You are ready to find out why you feel so disconnected from yourself and from the person or people you care about most. You’ve been having the same conversations over and over again, arriving at the same destination, and feeling as though you can’t get out of the spiral. You want to feel safe. You want to feel heard. You want to be seen. You are ready to make the commitment to know yourself in a deeper way. We will start by figuring out when you noticed there was a problem. Did something happen? How are you making sense of the problem? What have you tried to fix the problem? At times, getting good information and experimenting is all you need to start feeling good. Sometimes we need to keep digging.
Do you say mean things to yourself, like "I'm a loser," "annoying," “dumb,” and struggle to make decisions, and trust yourself? If yes, then we might be a good fit. I work with people that struggle with shame and self-criticism and often feel “not good enough.” I particularly work well with people wanting to get unstuck from the cycle of anxiety/avoidance, and “self-sabotage”, and start moving towards their goals and values while building self-acceptance. My name is Jeannie (like “in a bottle”) I grew up in outer east Portland/Rockwood and Like many clients, I faced life challenges and adversities growing up, such as a single parent home, delinquency issues, and parental addiction, incarceration, and death. Before working as a therapist, I worked in the restaurant industry for several years and in higher education doing career counseling, academic advising, and college admissions. My role is not to tell you what is best for you but to listen to you, understand you, and provide a genuine and empathetic space that helps you trust your intuition. If we work together, you can expect a collaborative partnership built on trust, empathy, authenticity, a healthy amount of swearing and humor sprinkled in the mix. Areas of Focus: Shame/guilt College Student Stress Mens issues Internet use concerns (gaming, pornography, Gambling) People pleasing Complex trauma/relational trauma Work and societal issues Chronic pain/illness/disability Grief/loss Low self-esteem/self-worth Anxiety/Avoidance Depression Mood disorders Body image concerns
Anxiety, worry, and intrusive thoughts are incredibly isolating and I am passionate about joining my clients in their journey toward reclaiming their lives and conquering their fears. You don’t need to do this alone anymore! My clients are often high schoolers, college students, and/or adults that are overwhelmed by perfectionism, high expectations, anxiety, and/or OCD’s rules about how to live their lives. They may also be going through major life transitions or struggling with looming uncertainties. Finally, my clients courageously lean into discomfort and learn new skills to ride the waves of uncertainty impacting their lives. My therapeutic approach includes the following evidence-based treatments: Exposure and Response Prevention, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness strategies and Motivational Interviewing. I collaborate with my clients to determine the best approach for their individual needs and goals. If you’ve made it this far, you’ve already taken a very big step forward in your wellness journey. I encourage you to reach out to me and schedule a consultation to discuss if my approach may be a fit for what you’re looking for. Regardless, I’m wishing you all the best in your journey and am honored to have crossed your path.
Hi, I’m Amanda (she/her) I identify as white, cis gendered, middle-class woman. As someone with a great deal of privilege, I believe it is my job to make sure I understand my privilege through active learning, unlearning and holding space for others. I believe that we all have access to an inner knowledge that helps us overcome our challenges. I use several tools to help clients access this knowledge including talk therapy, art therapy, and regulation strategies, mindfulness and meditation practices based off client need and comfort level. My approach is relational, trauma-informed and strength-based. I work with clients where they are at on any given day. From there, we collaborate to build skills and resiliency. I work with teens, adults and families to help find resources within themselves. I work with many clients who have experienced trauma, anxiety, depression and or difficulty in transition.