Cognitive Behavioral (CBT) Therapists in Portland, ME

I am a warm, open and accepting therapist who specializes in holding space for teens and adults experiencing depression, anxiety, life transitions, trauma, difficulty with emotions, grief and any feelings of suffering, hopelessness or overall dissatisfaction with yourself and your life. Being human can be painful, complex and challenging at times. I’m here to validate these challenges and help you explore what is and isn’t working for you. I view this as a collaborative process and will honor you as the expert in your own life.

I have extensive experience working with people experiencing substance use disorders and mental illness. I specialize in the collaborative treatment of anxiety and depression, the promotion of overall health, happiness and self-worth. I utilize motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapy, and psychodynamic approaches.

Welcome! My practice is oriented towards serving persons who need support for coping with depression, anxiety, complex trauma, grief, and substance/alcohol use. My approach is concerned with creating a safe space in which you may share your current experience and history, and explore solutions, build skills, and engage in healing modalities. My clinical interests include working with adults, couples, and especially persons in the LGBTQIA+ community. I utilize a trauma responsive, strengths based, solution focused approach. I offer frameworks of compassionate self-understanding, and help people find meaning and purpose in living.

I work with clients who struggle with addiction, depression, anxiety, past life events and trauma that prevent them from accepting themselves and fully embracing joy in their lives. Each person must confront their own challenges but don't always have the tools needed to reach their life goals. A trusted professional can be a helpful partner in walking this path with you until you have the skills/insights needed to continue your journey confidently. I offer a safe and respectful place to look at yourself, your situation, consider alternatives and practice new skills with my support to help reach your goals.

Shelby Jutras is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over a decade of experience treating anxiety, depression, mood disorders, substance misuse disorders, autism and ADD/ADHD. Shelby received a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology with a Mental Health Focus from Plymouth State University prior to earning her Master's Degree in Social Work from the University of New England. In addition to holding a clinical social work license, she is also a certified alcohol and drug counselor.

What is holding you back from living the life you want? OCD? Panic? Social Anxiety? How would you act if fear, shame and distress didn't have such power over you? We can learn to change how we relate and interact with our internal world and decrease the power our thoughts and emotions have on us. I am passionate about helping my clients learn to manage internal and external barriers effectively and regain a sense of wellness and value in their life. Motivation is crucial in treatment, but successful therapy starts with a good relationship between the therapist and the client.

**I am not currently taking any new clients - please email if you'd like to be added to a waitlist** It's a joy, passion, and privilege doing this work. Over the past 15 years, I've practiced in school settings, community mental health, managed care, VA hospitals, university counseling centers, and private practice. My clinical interests are in fear, stress, depression, and suicide; creativity and the expressive arts; issues of intimacy and vulnerability in relationships; and issues of culture, identity, and liberation - especially regarding race, gender, sexuality, and spirituality.

If you are trying to cope with a major life transition, have relationship concerns, or are feeling anxious and/or depressed, then I may be the right fit for you. I also specialize in cognitive processing therapy, an evidence based treatment for individuals dealing with trauma. Finally, I can help you if you are experiencing infertility, miscarriage, loss of a baby, or have postpartum depression or anxiety as I am currently obtaining certification in perinatal mental health.

I am currently accepting new clients for telehealth and outdoor sessions (after initial telehealth intake session). I am a LCSW providing evidence-based psychotherapy to individuals. Treatment modalities include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and I am trained in Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) through an EMDRIA-certified organization.

I am licensed to provide telepsychology in Maine and 22 additional states across the US. There are a lot of therapists out there, so I will make an attempt to summarize my beliefs about therapy in three succinct points. First, therapy is not always easy. Second, it is a therapist's job to challenge you. And third, therapeutic rapport is paramount to establishing effective therapy. If this is what you are looking for, I welcome you to schedule an initial appointment.

The most important aspect of my work as a therapist is the relationship between therapist and client. This allows the therapuetic alliance to be formed. My focus is on teaching adolescents, adults and seniors new coping skills and life skills to help alleviate their symptoms of depression, anxiety, fears or phobias. I also help people who are struggling with traumatic memories using EMDR as a treatment modality. I have been trained in cognitive -behavioral therapy, teaching one to change existing thought processes thus leading to positive thinking and coping skills. I use a holistic bio-psycho-social model which incorporates mindfulness therapy using relaxation techniques.

I work with people (18+) with concerns related to anxiety/stress, depression/low self-esteem, and health. I work with people when worry and stress interfere with their ability to work, have meaningful relationships, or carry out daily routines. I see clients with depressed mood and low self-esteem who have difficulty prioritizing their own wants and needs and consequently feel powerless, unfulfilled and dissatisfied with life. I also work with clients with health related concerns, emotional eating and poor body image.

My practice has focused on the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD, often with associated psychological disorders such as Depression, PTSD, OCD, Anxiety and Mood Disorders for over 30 years. I provide a collaborative, solution focused approach to changing inefficient or undesirable patterned behaviors. I work with adult students, business professionals, and stay at home parents to help reduce inefficient behaviors due to inattention,distraction,poor memory, impulsivity, and/or mood disorders. I work with couples when one of the partners exhibits ADHD symptoms such s forgetfulness, impulsivity or inattention. My approach is solution focused, with a" what can we do to make it better" approach.