Therapists in Portland, OR

My clients come to me for a variety of reasons and with a variety of questions like, “How did I get here?” “Why am I in this relationship?” “Why do I keep doing this?” or “Why can’t I move forward?” Often, they are dealing with multiple roles and high expectations of themselves. The issues facing each person are unique, but my clients come with earnest interest in making changes and they deserve my earnest investment in helping them with those changes. Our work is to understand as much as we can about you so that we can begin to address your questions, relieve some of the suffering, and help you live the life you want for yourself.

Are you struggling to find your way while dealing with family expectations and pressure? Is it hard to feel like what you’re doing is “enough”? Maybe you’re struggling with anxious thoughts or conflict with important people in your life. I am here to help in creating healthy boundaries and to help you feel confident in the life you want to live. If you’re in a relationship, you may be struggling to feel connected, heard and understood by your partner. Life transitions can put a strain on relationships. Couple’s counseling is a space to deepen your bond by learning new ways of communicating your needs to one another.

I work with individuals who are in a place where they are ready for change. If you are tired of the same patterns repeating over and over again, struggling with low self-esteem, healing from trauma, experiencing anxiety and/or depression or having identity issues then this would be a proper fit. I also enjoy working with young couples to learn how to communicate with one another and open to understanding their own feelings and emotions.

I am a Trauma-informed Therapist. Therefore, I strive to create a collaborative therapeutic experience. Establishing a space that is heart-opening, inviting, judgement-free and secure-inducing is essential in my practice. The goal and emphasis throughout our alliance are to form equanimity and a balanced collaborative experience between you (the client) and myself. As a social justice Queer advocate and Therapist, I get how various institutionalized parameters may impact the flourishing of oneself: such as Anti-Blackness, Gender-Based Oppression, Capitalism, Anti-Climatic change, and all the other forms of systemic injustice.

I specialize in serving children and families on issues related to anxiety, anger management, social skill difficulties, family relational problems, trauma, depression, grief and loss. My work focuses on educating families about appropriate play strategies and interaction techniques, and on working directly with children to develop new behaviors to cope with daily life stress. My major focus is on developing and reinforcing skills which research shows to foster healthy child development, self esteem, and relationships while assisting families in developing nurturing and enriching environments for all members. I encourage open communication with clients to ensure appropriate techniques with children and families.