Existential Therapists in North Portland, Portland, OR

Welcome! I work with people who may be struggling to understand themselves and find congruence in relationships. In this vein, I will assist you in exploring how your past impacts your present. Together we collaborate on goals that are aligned with your definition of well-being.

I use an existential approach to work with anxiety, depression, life transitions, trauma, chronic stress and burnout, spirituality, grief and loss, and relationship challenges. My clients are typically struggling with change, relationships, making difficult choices, and finding meaning or purpose. Themes often involve freedom/constraint, responsibility, boundary, authenticity, meaning/meaninglessness, safety/risk, belonging/isolation, identity, power/powerlessness, and mortality.

I am a female therapist who is committed to cultivating a confidential space for you and I to explore your internal compass and the direction it leads. My work has been focused on working with neurodivergence, people in major life transitions; spiritual and existential crossroads, animal loss/grief, and supporting actions towards desired change. I help guide people to their innate sense of safety, leading to self liberation. I am experienced in helping elicit dynamic change and awareness which opens doors to possibility and healing, for those who come my way.

I have a great deal of respect for the unique stories of individual lives, and I strive to create a collaborative and supportive environment where clients can safely learn about themselves, develop new skills, and make real and lasting change. I try to help people not only reduce distress and suffering, but to also cultivate more genuine and fulfilling relationships with themselves and others. My primary areas of expertise include: wellness and stress management, mindfulness, anxiety and mood concerns, health psychology and pain management, sport psychology and performance enhancement, LGBTQ concerns, and adjustment and identity concerns.

Currently accepting new clients. Trauma, attachment, + identity impact people in different ways. Do you often feel detached or numb? Do you avoid thinking about the past or self-medicate? Are you concerned about your parenting? Do you often find yourself in difficult relationships? Are you concerned about your memory? Do you feel sad or anxious a lot? Are you "stuck" in the same pattern? Do you have trouble trusting people? Are you irritable most of the time? Do you feel like you don't know yourself or your purpose? Do you feel incomplete or want meaning in life? If you answered yes to any-I believe I could be a good fit for you.

I have over 10 years of experience helping people change. Change can be scary, challenging, exhilarating, and fulfilling. I help facilitate change by developing a close therapeutic relationship with clients and by utilizing evidence based therapies, and my well developed intuition to identify the source of your problem and the best pathway forward. I specialize in treating motivational difficulties, depression, anxiety, and self defeating behaviors. I also help with existential issues, such as finding meaning, discovering passions, and developing and sustaining close relationships.

Above all else, finding the best therapist for YOU is most important here. I know this sea of profiles can be overwhelming so I'll try to offer some help: the people who work best with me appreciate having a straight-shooter. They aren’t afraid of being challenged while being supported. They receive my awkward analogies and welcome the healing power of both laughter and silence into our sessions. If you need a cheerleader for really poor decisions and disordered thinking, I will not be a good fit for you. But if you are looking for a therapist who is direct AND compassionate, strategic AND patient, and 100% authentic, that’s me.

Perhaps you are realizing that compassionate, supportive, non-judgmental support is what will brace you for the next steps in your personal journey. I am here. My collaborative therapeutic approach is rooted in mindful awareness and acceptance, informed by relational and attachment models, and guided by an appreciation of each person’s unique existential search for meaning. I aim to foster a space where you can engage in your present experience, show up as you are, and find awareness, choice, and support in the life that awaits you.

We all get stuck sometimes; and we suffer. Life often feels messy and chaotic, and in the midst of "the daily grind" we experience ourselves as unbalanced, fragmented, and "all over the place." Life is perpetually full of transition and change; and our habituated ways of being in the world are often at odds with the ebb and flow of life's events, and we experience stress, conflict and pain. Despite our resources, strategies and efforts to cope with challenges, we often get stuck; and end up feeling dissatisfied with ourselves, disenchanted with others, and disconnected from life, vitality, joy.

What we are looking for in life is often right in front of us yet, we often lack the ability to see it. In contemporary society, many of us are head strong putting the mind and thoughts above the body and feelings. In this manner, we may lose ourselves in a world of mental illusion. When we are able to access our inner nature, comprised in part of our instincts, aptitudes, and intuition, we are more equipped to be self-guided in life and able to achieve balance and wholeness for ourselves.

Finding a therapist can be a daunting process, but if you're here you've already taken the first difficult steps towards making a change. That in itself is commendable.

I am here to help you overcome difficult experiences, connect to your authentic self, and find freedom so that you can build the life you truly want. I work with adults who are struggling with trauma-related emotional, relational, and behavioral issues such as anxiety, addiction, and relationship issues. The clients who have the best outcomes with me are open to exploring their difficult emotional patterns, behaviors, and relationships and are willing to try new things in and outside of our sessions. My ideal client wants to connect with a real person, reconnect to their mind and body and ultimately expand their coping tool kit!

Hello there! I am a professional counselor associate who has been working for over 3 years. I am a queer non-binary femme and have a lot of experience with LGBTQIA+ clients, as well as partners and family of transgender individuals. Furthermore, I enjoy working with clients in non-traditional relationship styles, such as polyamory or long-distance relationships. I can assist in processing religious trauma and figuring out how to meet spiritual needs in new ways. I also have a lot of insight and compassion for men who want to build introspective skills.

You work hard to please people around you, but you are burned out. You're a high achiever and great at helping others. But caring for yourself is overwhelming, because you don't know what you need or want. You may experience high anxiety and feel guilty almost reflexively. You know you shouldn't be so hard on yourself, but find it difficult to practice self-acceptance. You also know that you are tired of sacrificing yourself for everyone else and of being your own worst critic. It's time for a change. You want to pay gentle attention to yourself. You're ready to feel contentment and reconnect with yourself.

Whether you're a human who's struggling with anxiety, trying to make sure everyone around you is happy (usually at the cost of your own happiness), highly sensitive, neurodivergent, an empath, or just a human seeking more compassion and connection, I'm glad you're here. I'm Kelsey, and I'm here because I truly believe in the power we each have as humans to heal and find wholeness. Together we can explore the experiences and contexts that have made you into who you are, how to soothe yourself through any situation, how you find meaning in your life, and what helps you feel connected to yourself, others, and the world around us.

Welcome! My name is Brad Pankey. I am honored to co-navigate the therapeutic experience with clients who: (1 ) feel like their life is getting smaller over time; (2) think about food and/or their body all day; (3) feel stuck in their heads amongst a whirlwind of thoughts; (4) feel as though they are living a life that lacks meaning; (5) who feel trapped by needing to control every aspect of their life; and (6) are experiencing crushing grief and life transitions. The clients who come to me are ready for change and interested in trying something new in therapy. They appreciate humor and a therapist who listens with an open heart.

From struggling to THRIVING. Become more fully "yourself." Enjoy relationship satisfaction. Strengthen connection to something bigger that is meaningful. Get relief from depression and anxiety (really!). Improve effectiveness at work. Feel more at home in your body, content. Mindful and present. LAUGH. Choosing a therapist that is both really good AND a great fit is important. There is a difference here you will experience from the get go. The office is in a 1930's Cape Cod style house...inviting & comfortable. With warmth and character. David is unusually relational and "real." Sessions are 60, 75 or 90 minutes rather than 50.

I hold a master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Western States in Portland, OR. My primary research focus is transpersonal experiences and psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy and integration. My philosophy is one of organicity, meaning that every individual is gifted with an innate healing wisdom and capacity for wholeness. As a former earth scientist and current artist, I incorporate lessons from nature and creative expression in my work, and seek to help others reconnect with the more subtle rhythms of psyche as a woven thread in the generative fabric of life.

Sometimes, as humans, we get wounded in ways that are so deep, they are difficult to name. Perhaps you have lost loved ones along the way, or can't find meaning in your story. Have you ever inventoried your life to discover that it is not what you want it to be? Do you feel haunted by memories? Maybe you engage in self-destructive or numbing behaviors that you wish you could change, but find that making those changes is easier said than done. My goal is to create a trustworthy space where we can work through whatever it is you bring in, on your search for healing, fulfillment, and wholeness.