Therapists in Portland, ME

Feeling hopeless, dissatisfied or stuck? Change is possible. We all experience life as difficult at times. I provide warm, non-judgemental therapeutic support to people of all walks of life. In therapy I will work with you to examine and develop various aspects of your life-- home, relationships, health, spirituality, creativity-- in order to gain insight, build self-esteem and uncover strengths for navigating life challenges.

Anxiety, depression, insecurity, low self-esteem, intrusive thoughts, relationship challenges at work, school, or home, shame: these problems can be understood and often overcome through therapy. I provide Psychodynamic Psychotherapy to individuals and couples and help others gain insight into maladaptive patterns of thinking and acting through mutual inquiry and authentic engagement. I specialize in treating depression and anxiety. My style is direct and compassionate.

My experience spans across individuals, families, and groups within a wide array of therapeutic settings over the past decade. I use an integrative approach that supports not only my client’s willingness, but also their motivation to change. Concerns with life transitions, relationships, anxiety, depression, trauma, or grief can all be shared freely in this space. Additionally, my work and passion in the counseling field concentrates on sex therapy. Through the promotion of sex positivity and sex affirmation, those I work with can safely discover, explore, and examine their sexuality.

I recognize there are times we can get focused on regrets of the past. Or we're consumed with the chaos of anticipating the future. We can be overwhelmed by anxiety, sadness, or experiences of loss and grief...sometimes leading to isolation, being "stuck", or unhealthy relationships with substances, behaviors, or people. What drives me as a therapist is when I see a client taking action that makes their mind an ally, rather than a detractor, in their life.

I am an Addictions Specialist with with 20+ years of professional experience in both NYC and Maine - in addition to personal experience with addiction and long term recovery.. most important factor when pursuing counseling is to find a "therapeutic alliance" that fits. I always recommend that clients consult with a few providers before choosing. Once a trusting alliance is established, I embark on a journey alongside my clients, which can be brief and solution-focused or longer term weekly sessions and ongoing support.

Please Note: Due to extended wait times, we have unfortunately had to close our waitlist for children under 15, couples and family counseling at this time. We are a mental health agency proudly serving MaineCare clients. Our therapists help individuals and families to lead lives they feel good about. Couples, families, adults, and children have all benefited from the work we do. We look forward to working with all MaineCare clients. We have offices in Portland and Biddeford (catt-associates.com/locations) to serve the local community, and offer Telehealth sessions as well.

"The individual is like a garden to be tended, not a machine to be repaired". I practice Motivational Interviewing; this is a collaborative conversation to strengthen a person's own motivation for change. I hold a few principles that govern the work. First, I will focus on you being heard and believed, Second, be kind. Third, teach and demonstrate empathy and compassion and be helpful with your internal conflict... I practice being in the here and now with individual, couple and group work.

HEALING RELATIONSHIPS is the counseling practice of Leslie Bartlett, L.C.P.C. & Steven Klockow, L.C.S.W. We specialize in transformational couples work. We teach what it takes to be fully alive, attuned and present with each other so that repair and connection are the natural outcome. We routinely help couples who are navigating addictions & affairs, sexuality, co-parenting & blended family challenges as well as other stressful life situations such as infertility, medical/mental health issues and loss. Our work is ideally suited for couples who feel ready to take on the challenge of living more consciously together.

I like to do a lot of listening and to provide emotional support prior to making any suggestions. Also, I have found that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a very effective component to counseling because it helps clients to identify habitual coping strategies that he/she has been employing that have helped to reduce stress in the past but now cause all sorts of problems. In addition to providing emotional support, I will help you to be mindful of these tendencies and practice replacing the thoughts (and the behaviors associated with them) with strategies that will help you live a happier,life.

I love to collaborate with clients to assist them in having deeper, more meaningful relationships with both themselves and others. During my 20+ years of practice, my clients have told me that what they have valued the most about my style is my ability to be frank, humorous, warm and approachable. Good therapy is not just talking, its about taking action in your day to day life. I love to teach practical, everyday skills to elicit rapid change. Working with me will be like taking a class in YOU.

I have been working with individuals with substance use disorders for over 10 years. I can help and support you on your road of recovery. If you are sober, and want continued support, I can offer you that as well. I have worked with individuals in active addiction making their first steps towards sobriety as well as others in long term sobriety. I hope to offer a listening ear, help and support on your life's journey. I am offering DEEP Evals, and DEEP Counseling. Also offering Substance use Evaluations.

I am a fully Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor with a Master of Science in Counseling Psychology from Indiana State University and a Master of Arts in Sociology from Western Illinois University. I work with individuals, families, & couples, specializing in work with gender and affection/sexual identity including those in the LGBTQIA+ community and their allies. I have extensive knowledge about parenting child-rearing dilemmas & those affecting the aged. I am a caring and committed to using her unique perspective to provide an emotionally safe, warm, supportive, affirming, non-judgmental space for clients in their journey.

Please note that I am currently at capacity and unable to accept new patients at this time. There is wisdom in the ways we adapt to our environments, but they do not always serve us in the present moment. My aim is to help people identify their adaptive patterns and view them with compassion, while also learning what to hold and what to let go. As a neurobiological informed therapist, I aim to help people move from judgement, shame and isolation to curiosity, acceptance and connection.

Are you excited to talk about your sex addiction, porn addiction, sexual dysfunction & intimacy issues? If you said "yes," you'd be the first. Unfortunately, these issues may be running your life. And that shame deep in your bones? It's corrosive, and likely rooted in trauma (I'll be shocked if it's not). Fortunately, with the help of EMDR and other modalities, we can address these roots and move toward recovery. I also work with couples because I learned in grad school that, apparently, relationships are hard. There's infidelity, non-monogamy, mismatched libidos, the fact that your partner talks to his mom eight times a day...

Treating: Anxiety/Depression,Loss/Grief,Survivors of Suicide Loss,Homophobia,Racism,Anti Semitism,Sexism,Compulsions,Fantasies,Communication,Shame,Obsessions,Sexuality, Substance MisUse,Intimacy,Hopelessness,Mens’ Oppression,& Loneliness. I facilitate processing feelings. For example, crying/sadness, is a natural, healing response to a hurt. Many early care givers were uncomfortable with our crying, which shut us down. My feelings based therapy facilitates healing from old, (or current) unprocessed emotional (or physical) hurts. Unprocessed hurts underlie obsessions/compulsions, substance mis-use, isolation, anxiety/depression.