Cognitive Behavioral (CBT) Therapists in Portland, OR

Establishing a sense of wholeness and direction in our lives is often revealed once obstacles are known and cleared. This process of self discovery is far more potent and transformational when working with a therapist who can help navigate these unfamiliar places. My practice is largely informed by the personal experience of profound grief. Journeying through these difficult waters allows me to uniquely empathize and assist my clients through life struggles and losses.

It’s true, life can be painful and even very unfair. Your relationships might be struggling, your daily demands may seem overwhelming, your work may feel far more stressful than engaging, and you may be down on yourself. You may have any number of emotions including anxiety, anger, guilt, pessimism, boredom, regret, sadness, shame, and loneliness. Therapy can help you cope with difficult emotions and provide you with tools to improve your relationship with yourself and with others. My goal is to help you accept your whole being so that your best self can foster positive relationships and create a life of joy and purpose.

Are you ready to live a better you? You are taking the first step in attaining peace-of-mind, I respect and applaud you for doing so. I have a Masters degree in Social Work from Portland State University and over 40 years of experience working as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. I began my private practice, Pathways to Peace Therapy, over 20 years ago, while also working in community mental health and E.R. crisis intervention for over 15 years. In 2014, I also began working with OCD patients. Working in various mental health settings has been invaluable in providing tools to bring to my clients individual needs and goals.

Inevitably, at some point in our lives we feel overwhelmed and exhausted as we try to keep it together in this incessantly pressurized world. If you're feeling swallowed up by depression, anxiety, stress, anger, or just emptiness, it’s important to remember that the way you feel right now isn’t how you have to feel tomorrow. The truth is that this negative emotion is indicating that certain aspects of your life are demanding to be addressed, as they would if you sprained your ankle. It is a signal that you are ready to deal with what is happening right now--ready to find comfort and relief, ready for growth and change.

This “being human thing” is hard, and often feels uncomfortable. Sometimes the “uncomfortable” is experienced internally, sometimes externally, and sometimes both. This is a result of our actual or perceived response to the past, present, or future. Our work together will be focused on helping you to be “uncomfortable on purpose,” through identifying your values, increasing your capacity to tolerate uncertainty, processing what has maintained your current ways of living, and learning how to engage with yourself and others in a way that makes this “being human thing” a little bit easier.

I work with individuals (18 years and up) and couples using the lens of complex trauma to help bring awareness into how one’s past may have shaped maladaptive behaviors of their present that could be causing life to be stressful and overwhelming. At the core of my work, I promote improving the relationship with oneself to maintain long-term healing. Patients who are motivated to improve their relationships, assertive communication and boundary setting skills, and develop a deeper understanding of themselves would be a good fit for the treatments I provide. I use CBT , Attachment theory, inner-child work, IFS, and EFT in my work.

Ellise Parr is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Oregon who has been practicing since 2011. She holds an Undergraduate Degree in Social Work at Pacific Lutheran University and Graduate Degree from Portland State University. Ellise believes in a treatment philosophy that includes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, DBT, IFS, ACT, mindfulness, strength-based practice, motivational interviewing, and is solution-based. In her spare time, Ellise enjoys learning new things, cooking, traveling, being outside, playing and watching sports, and animals.

If you are suffering from unresolved trauma, anxiety, panic disorder, depression and/or addiction issues, I can help! These are very uncomfortable and debilitating problems. I will develop a treatment plan with you that is effective, often brief and will change and improve the quality of your life and relationships. I am trained in EMDR, which is a specialized treatment for trauma, PTSD, phobias and anxiety. This therapy is very rewarding and brings hope to situations that may seem hopeless. The ultimate goal for therapy is to resolve issues from your past and develop a life that is filled with congruence and happiness.

I enjoy working with families, couples, and individuals who are experiencing relationship problems. I also have a background in treating depression and anxiety. My approach emphasizes helping people achieve practical results and is based in family systems and cognitive behavior theories. One of my guiding beliefs is that people are basically competent and are always seeking to solve problems on their own. In most cases this works well, but sometimes people get stuck and their attempted solutions either have no effect or make things worse. I see my role as helping people get "unstuck."

Change is possible. A diagnosis of OCD or another anxiety disorder can be scary and confusing. It can feel like your life is defined by dread, worry, fear, and exhaustion. Much of your energy and time are likely spent trying to present to the outside world as “successful” and “having it all together”. Internally, you may feel disconnected from your core self, your innate purpose and potential, and the ability to enjoy simple moments in your life. Anxiety doesn’t have to define who you are as a human. Therapy is courageous work. I’m glad you’re here making this first step.

I work with youth to college-age clients (2 to 22 years old) & their parents. I specialize in parent and child- counseling, adolescent therapy, and parental counseling. My education, training, and therapeutic approach are informed by: integrative family systems-, cognitive -behavioral- (mindfulness-based and ACT & DBT informed), and positive psychology-based therapies. Kids, teens, and parents bring their knowledge and personal experience into the therapeutic work, which is welcomed and encouraged throughout care. As a team, we work together to improve mental health, livelihood, and well-being.

When people are fearful or anxious, they naturally tend to avoid the activities, things, or situations that remind them of their uncomfortable feelings. This is a natural and understandable reaction, however, while this might help reduce feelings of anxiety in the short-term, over the long-term it can make the fear become even worse. As a psychologist who specializes in the treatment of anxiety disorders using exposure therapy, an evidence-based practice, my goal is to create a warm and encouraging environment for you to learn reduce your anxiety and step back into your life in a meaningful way.

Are you finding yourself struggling to handle life's challenges more and more lately? You are not alone. We are living in unprecedented times that have intensified previously manageable challenges, or brought new ones into our lives. I am here to help you navigate your journey to mental health wellness. Whether it be from coping with anxiety or depression, to strengthening coping skills in general, this journey is about you. As such I am committed to providing you a safe space that is free of all judgement.

Do you often feel anxious, depressed, irritable, or overwhelmed? Are you struggling to keep up or cope with life's demands? Do you have dissatisfying relationships that are causing you stress? If any of these describe you, I can help. My approach to counseling is first and foremost one of non-judgment, compassion, and warmth. I use this approach as the foundation to help you implement practical solutions into your life. Together, we determine the course of our sessions together and I take my cues from you as to what feels most helpful.