Psychosis Therapists in Portland, OR

My work as a therapist is to help individuals, couples, and families access new resources behind emotional struggles and life problems. I am trained in Jungian and Open Dialogue approaches and am a lifelong learner of the work of R.D. Laing. I am recognized internationally for my advocacy and training work in the psychiatric survivors movement and as a leader for new social responses to what gets called madness and psychosis . I see suffering, including what gets called psychosis , from outside the narrow mechanistic science, diagnostic label, and medication views.

I am passionate about helping others improve their lives and believe all people can make progress and experience real change. I offer a safe, non-judgemental, and empathetic space/support for my clients on their unique journey of self discovery, growth, and healing. I specialize in trauma, anxiety, depression, and severe and persistent mental illness (SPMI) to name a few.

Seeking out a therapist can be a difficult, yet courageous first step to bettering your life. I believe everyone has a unique and powerful story to tell and I am here to listen. Together, we will be able to identify your concerns with your current situation, explore patterns that aren't working, and develop skills to make life more manageable, peaceful, and enjoyable. We will start where you are and focus where you want to focus, all at your pace.

Why do people go to therapy? Most often, it is because we are in a crisis of some kind. Although we all find crises painful, they are also opportunities for growth. In fact growth does not occur without discomfort, maybe even pain. Without that challenge, we will not grow. But we must also have support. That’s where therapy comes in. Through support and challenge, something new emerges. We don’t just get through. We grow. We come out the other side greater than we were.

Hello, my name is Amy, and I too have experienced some of the challenges that life can thrust upon you. It is my passion to pay forward to you, all the things I have learned in order for you to live life to the fullest, without the restraints that mental health issues can bestow upon us. Through laughter, empathy, compassion and relatability I am able to connect with others and meet them where they are at in their life. I will walk along side you through this healing journey, as it is your self determination and a desire for greater well being that has brought you to this moment.

An ideal client is someone who shows up. Not even in the way of making every appointment (life happens) but takes the first step toward growth and self development. An ideal client is not a diagnosis or impairment in functioning but anyone who wants to live better and understand themselves more within our weird and scary world. I encourage my clients to advocate for what is working and name what is not by checking in so our time together is the most supportive possible.

I am a licensed clinical psychologist with over 10 years of experience. I have a specialty in social justice themes and work heavily with the LGBTQ community, particularly with people of color. My approach to psychotherapy is warm, empathic, and compassionate. I treat each individual professionally and with respect and with acknowledgement of your individual strengths. I listen attentively to your thoughts and feelings, while also focusing on factors that are out of your conscious awareness (such as anxieties, values, and expectations) that can get expressed in relationships or through problematic patterns or symptoms.

I have limited openings. Please contact me for current availability. My approach is to help build greater capacity for emotional life and self-understanding. I offer respectful engagement with your life circumstance and inner reality. I prefer not to rush toward quick solutions, letting your own pace unfold. I'm one who would gravitate toward your pain, rather than deflect or minimize it. Therapy is partly about engaging emotional suffering and the possibility of transforming it. It is also about growth of life and self. I aim for an appreciative understanding of each unique human being through collaborative goodwill efforts.

The willingness to seek support is a courageous step in acknowledging the strength of our vulnerability. Humans were meant to heal together. It is in relation with one another that we discover the necessary connection and compassion to heal past wounds and navigate the challenging circumstances of an unjust society. Unfortunately many of us are also hurt in relationships and struggle to feel safe with others or even know what safety looks like. Therefore, in our sessions we will work together to build a safe and compassionate environment where we can feel heard and seen as we move through our pain accompanied by another.

Accepting NEW Clients (ages 18-65) as of 6/9/23 for medication management only (not therapy). Appointments are available in 1-2 weeks. Complete the Patient Inquiry Form by going to my website. You will receive a response the same or next day. My practice is primarily composed of adults struggling with anxiety and depression. I find that people reach out to treatment when excessive worry and low motivation are taking them away from the things they want to do in life. Getting stuck in our heads with negative thinking can often leave us feeling less confident in our work, behind on tasks at home and impacting our relationships.

Welcome to support for the second half of life! If you are dealing with changing health, self-reinvention, or aging, you have found a therapeutic home. Meeting is convenient: You can see me at the Sage Center, at an Assisted Living or Skilled Nursing facility, or work by video or phone - I have provided telehealth since 2005. You can expect compassion based on 40-years experience including career and retirement counseling, LGBTQ advocacy and counseling, inpatient gero-psych, work at care facilities and work with first nations people in 3 countries will allow us to get to the issues quickly and with deep understanding.