Therapists for college students near Portland, OR
Do you worry constantly, have a persistent fear of failure or judgement and feel on edge with just about anything? Feeling like you’re not good enough, not living the life you want to live, or that you’ve lost touch with the things that bring you happiness with little hope that you can live life in a fulfilling way? Have you had a traumatic experience that left you feeling disconnected and having a hard time trusting people, with the need to protect and numb yourself? These things can impact our physical and mental wellbeing, keep us up at night, make us feel disconnected from the people closest to us and reduce our ability to achieve what we want in life. I may be able to help. I have experience guiding people with these concerns to make meaningful changes to increase their satisfaction with life. A sense of safety, confidence, hope, fulfillment and loving connections with your important people is what I work to achieve with you and it can be done. Research shows that 75% of people experience positive results after seeing a therapist. One of the most important predictors of positive outcomes in therapy is the therapeutic alliance, or the partnership between therapist and client. Therapeutic alliance means shared decision-making, mutual respect, non-judgement, empathy and understanding in the therapy room. I focus heavily on these elements so we can work smarter and not harder and to create an alliance that produces the results you want in therapy.
Dr. Kittinger is passionate about entering into the depths and carving out an intentional space that cultivates curiosity and authentic connection. As a relational psychodynamic therapist, Dr. Kittinger’s approach to therapy focuses on transformational change through the context of relationship. She engages her patients with a balance of acknowledging suffering and challenging difficult patterns to facilitate each persons own unique healing. Dr. Kittinger prioritizes the authenticity of the moment, attending to and unlocking conscious and unconscious patterns of how we relate to ourselves, to others, and to the world around us. She utilizes a soft but direct approach to explore with each patient what it means to increase awareness into their own needs, wants, and to increase agency in their own lives. Wherever you are at in your process, her hope is to co-create a space open to deep and thoughtful self-reflection established gradually with trust and safety to take steps toward healing, transformation, and personal fulfillment. Dr. Kittinger meets with patients in-person and virtually and is licensed in Oregon and Washington.
Have you ever had a moment, conversation, or even a look that gave made you feel felt? That felt sense of connection is what Resonance, LLC is based on. Too often, we are forced to stay on the surface level or simply don't know how to connect on a more meaningful level--perhaps because we were taught to; perhaps because of trauma; or maybe because we are afraid someone will abandon/make fun of/misunderstand us. Resonance is about feeling accompanied, being seen, heard, and mostly, felt, throughout the healing process.
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.
Hi, I'm Grace. I work with young adults who are recovering from traumatic experiences or are feeling overwhelmed by anxiety and fear. Many of my clients are highly sensitive and seeking relief from fears or worries that interfere with their life, are navigating the effects of a recent traumatic event, or grew up being told they are “too shy” or “too sensitive.” I believe you aren’t “too” anything. I value working with college students because I first sought my own therapy at the student counseling center of my university during a time I felt extremely overwhelmed and couldn’t understand why it was so hard for me to relax. It was transformative to process my experiences with a professional who could put language to what I was thinking and feeling, and offer tools to help me move forward. This was one of the major reasons I decided to pursue my own career as a therapist. Seeking therapy can feel vulnerable and it often takes time to build trust. Whatever your story is, my goal is to create a safe and compassionate space to facilitate healing, reflection, and growth.
Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.
You’re carrying generational trauma. You have been navigating trauma, family hardship and stress since your childhood/adolescence. You navigate struggles with identity, self-worth, body-image and self-acceptance. You feel stuck. Relationships bring up conflict, insecurity and social anxiety. Emotions feel overwhelming and uncontrollable. You’re ready to explore a life out of “survival mode.” Together we can explore healing and how to build connection to others. You deserve to feel compassion towards tender parts of yourself and learn to trust yourself. Your trauma story has an impact, and you can heal and grow. You're worthy. My style is warm, radically compassionate and honest. I hold unconditional positive regard for you, knowing that you inherently hold wisdom. I find the core of issues, shedding light on patterns. I'm a multicultural Latina, coming from lived experiences with trauma and am committed to supporting marginalized communities healing from systemic oppression. It's brave of you to seek support. You deserve a space to be truly heard and explore your pain, anger, worry and sadness. Together, we can find clarity. My goal is to develop your capacity for ease, laughter & connection. I often work with those who identify as Latine/x, People of Color &/or Queer. Please reach out for a consultation to discuss more!
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.
After working in the mental health field for nearly 15 years, specifically in crisis intervention, I set out on a new path to work with people before life becomes unbearable. Most recently, I served as a high school mental health counselor. Flexibility and openness are two of my core values. Do you know what you value? Understanding what we care about most and what brings meaning to our lives is essential to living with intention and living well. I believe therapy is about exploring these values along with memories, current circumstances, and feelings in order to help the present-self move forward. Too often we drift through our days without asking for the support we need because it can feel as though we are not worthy of that focus. Please know that you are worthy of that focus because once you do, positive change and growth are not only possible, but inevitable. My passion is to center each person I work with and learn how they experience the world around them. My background thus far has been working with youth and adults experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, suicidal ideation, identity issues, self-harm, and school frustration. I hold a bachelor's degree in Spanish and a masters in social work (MSW) from Portland State University. Outside of my work, I love to run, play video games, and have always been into playing/watching sports. There is no song I wouldn't try to karaoke even though I'm, like, an objectively bad singer.
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!
Hi there! I love working with college students on anxiety, stress management, relationship issues, and figuring out adulting. Trauma therapy is a specialty of mine- I'm trained in EMDR and Internal Family Systems (also known as parts work). As your therapist, my main goal is to be present with you and teach you how to be present with yourself. I currently have openings Tues, Wed, and Thurs mornings with Aetna and PacificSource insurances. Reach out to me via email if it sounds like a good fit!
My clinical specialization is in the treatments and interventions of those struggling with eating disorders, compulsive exercise, and poor body image. My therapeutic approach is inclusive of trauma informed care and strengths-based perspectives that centers body safety, fat liberation, and inclusivity. I believe that we are the experts in our own lived experiences, therefore I prioritize collaboration in the change and therapeutic process. As a psychotherapist, you can also expect me to be patient, compassionate, curious, direct, and incredibly hilarious.
Our practice utilizes evidenced-based treatments, which anchor your care in the best scientific evidence available. The therapeutic approaches we employ are gold standard treatments based on large-scale randomized clinical trials. Our skilled psychotherapists will develop a tailored treatment plan based on current clinical research, as well as your preferences, values, culture, and life experience. This goal-directed and science-backed approach, coupled with your active engagement in the therapeutic process, will guide you along the path toward meaningful change.
I am here to tell you that your body is not something that needs to be fixed. I consider myself to be a body inclusive therapist who specializes in helping clients recover from disordered eating behaviors, weight stigma, body image concerns and impacts from diet culture. I also serve clients experiencing depression and anxiety symptoms, family issues (such as divorce & addiction), adjustment issues, impacts from COVID-19 and trauma (such as intimate partner violence & sexual assault). I currently offer individual therapy for teens and adults.
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.
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.
If you find your mind racing uncontrollably with thoughts of worry or stress, feel lost when going through big life changes, or are struggling to find motivation to complete your goals, you don't have to go through it alone. I am an empathic listener who wants to support your growth and healing. I offer help with anxiety and depression, healing past trauma and have training in EMDR.
*I am licensed in both Oregon and California, and can work with students who often travel between these two states.* When the difficult experiences from your past are still impacting you, it is hard to know what to do. You don’t feel like yourself anymore, and the people in your life are starting to notice. It’s coming out at school, in your relationships, in your mood. You might be thinking “I just want to move on with my life. Why can’t I just get over it already?” But no matter how many times you try to move on, you still feel stuck. You are not alone. I help people who have been through difficult childhood, sexual, and relationship experiences look at how their experiences have shaped them, and explore how to take back their lives from the memories that have burdened them for so long. Together, we will build a trusting relationship where you can feel safe enough to explore what happened in your life, the ways you have survived, and how to get unstuck so you can move toward a life that is ruled by you, and not by the past. I know reaching out to begin therapy can be an overwhelming experience. I offer a free 15-20 minute consultation, where you can share a bit about what you would like to work on, ask me any questions you may have, and we can determine whether I might be a good fit for your needs. Please feel free to visit my website to learn more and schedule a consultation. I'm looking forward to meeting you!
With over 14 years of experience as a licensed psychotherapist, Marilyn is a thoughtful listener who uses a trauma-focused, collaborative approach. She works to foster a resilient therapeutic relationship and empower her clients to take an active role in treatment. Marilyn is a Licensed Professional Counselor who earned her master’s degree in counseling psychology from Pacific University in Hillsboro, and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Portland State University. She incorporates a combination of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Written Exposure Therapy and Schema Therapy. Marilyn works with clients from age 18 to 80, across a broad range of adult needs and life circumstances. She works with clients experiencing depression, anxiety, trauma, problems with self-esteem, attachment problems, discrimination, domestic violence, relationship problems, oppression, childhood abuse and mood disorders. Marilyn grew up in Las Vegas, Nevada, and has a passion for experiencing life in different countries. She is a US Army veteran, and enjoys listening to jazz music.
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.