Somatic Therapists in Portland, OR

I am a naturopathic doctor and biofeedback provider that specializes in mind-body medicine. I have a passion for working in an integrative mental health care setting with people that are dealing with chronic stress, burnout, anxiety, depression, chronic pain and more. My visits have a counseling focused approach that helps to address the underlying cause of your symptoms to help you obtain greater wellness and vitality in your life. I bring a non-judgmental, trauma-aware lens to my work. My approach is highly relational, focusing on developing understanding through connection and compassion.

I work well with clients who have anxiety, relationship issues, relational trauma, big emotions, imposter syndrome, intense inner criticism, those who identify as being on a spiritual path and addicts/alcoholics in recovery. My clients often feel that what they need to share about is too big or burdensome for the people in their life to be able to meet with sensitivity and presence. Or they feel stuck in some pattern or way of behaving/thinking that causes them pain and yet they have been unable to change. I also work with couples who would like help reconnecting relationally, emotionally, or sexually/physically.

My counseling philosophy is rooted in the idea that all humans have the ability to grow and heal. No human being is broken, and most mental health struggles stem, in part, from difficult external circumstances, like a traumatic past or a flawed culture. Through active listening, reflection, and gentle challenging, I help you become better acquainted with yourself, so that you can live in closer alignment with your values. I specialize in working with eating disorders and body image distress, but I also work with anxiety, depression, relationship and family struggles.

We all deserve to feel aligned, safe and nurtured. Cultivating compassionate self awareness and acceptance, are at the core of healing, change and growth. When we feel healthy and fulfilled we are more likely to live with meaning. I utilize an integrative lens, centered in mindfulness, and somatic orientations to promote increased consciousness of thoughts, values, feelings, and behavior patterns. My approach is intuitive, and warm. I address problems from a compassionate lens meeting clients where they are. Our work together involves expanding awareness of our inner minds, and our felt sense to move towards a more integrated self.

My approach to therapy is collaborative and strengths based, and rooted in anti-racism and anti-oppression. I see therapy as a place for you to build and reclaim your power, nourishing your strengths, needs, vision and contributions, and tending with care to your pain or challenges. I use many approaches: narrative, solution-focused, EFT with couples, transpersonal approaches, & the arts. I have a trauma-informed lens, guided by your choices, experience and lifestyle as the compass for our work. I also bring a neuroscience lens, with somatic strategies for restoring our nervous system with care, through anxiety, grief or trauma.

COVID-19 - You are not alone. Feelings of isolation may be intensified. Rather than being an obstacle, our bodies and our sensual nature can be integral to personal and spiritual liberation. My work is grounded, respectful and authentic. In confidential, online sessions, men gain mastery of how to generate, contain and transform sexual energy and cultivate deep presence. Women remember how to heal and reclaim their sexual power and become radiant in their ability to be love. Profound levels of respect and joy emerge within couples. As a result, we learn to relax deeply and access our life potential in a profound and powerful way.

I use She/Her/Hers pronouns and specialize in eating disorders, disorder eating, body image-related worries as well as anxiety, depression, trauma, dissociation and life-transitions. I emphasize Health at Every Size®, Intuitive Eating, mindfulness practices, and Somatic Therapy. I believe in a collaborative, humanistic approach and try to instill a capacity for inner reflection, self-acceptance and growth. I work to offer safe space for ALL people regardless of their ethnicity, race, gender, size, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, religion, and abilities.

I offer counseling in a warm, supportive and interactive environment. I am a licensed mental health therapist in Washington and Oregon, with over fifteen years of clinical experience. I work with individual adults experiencing a variety of concerns, including but not limited to: anxiety, depression, work and/or school stress, self-esteem, feeling stuck, life transitions, communication and relationship difficulties, loss, and stress management.

Hi! My name is Amber and I am an LCSW in Portland, Oregon. I have much experience working with teens, families, and adults particularly around trauma and more severe symptoms of anxiety and depression. My experience has also brought me to working with those with addiction, chronic pain, comorbid disorders, body image issues, gender questions, and self-harm. I have a particular affinity for people who have endured trauma and who feel like they are outsiders. I pride myself in being culturally sensitive and welcoming to all, and someone who works as part of the LGBTQIA+ community.

I work with clients who want to better understand both their conscious and unconscious experiences, and how these may be influencing patterns in their lives. With a mindfulness and somatic focus (mind-body connection), we explore what helps you access your authentic self and a greater sense of choice in your daily experiences. I specialize in supporting people in untangling codependent dynamics, to gain clarity in who you are and what you want and need in relationship with others. I also work through a lens of social justice and how the systems of which we are a part influence our opportunities and emotional wellbeing.

My intention is to provide a supportive and attuned therapeutic relationship that invites you to safely explore your experience in life with curiosity, kindness and acceptance. You might be aware of a specific issue you'd like to work on, or perhaps you are impacted by a more general perception of yourself as somehow flawed, inadequate, unworthy, unloved, or like you just don't belong. I focus on helping people in these areas as well as problems related to depression, anxiety, attachment/relationship issues, self-esteem, shame, LGBTQ+ issues. I believe in a holistic, client-centered approach to counseling.

I provide attachment-based, mindfulness- somatic counseling for adult individuals seeking weekly therapy sessions. I believe change happens through the healing relationship, as we collaborate to navigate difficult relationships, manage states of anxiety, and transcend suffering and trauma. This therapy is particularly effective for folks who feel constantly overwhelmed and anxious and/or they need to process traumatic experiences. Mindfulness- somatic interventions can help clients safely explore limiting core beliefs and thinking patterns, reduce anxiety, recover from traumatic experiences, and increase self-compassion.

I specialize in working with humxns of color and non-binary femmes of all ages dealing with trauma (specifically family of origin trauma), relationship concerns, workplace stressors, racism, sexism, cultural dislocation, identity development and spiritual/ancestral reconnection. I deeply enjoy working with BIPOC youth (7-17) who need support navigating this world as neurodivergent, queer, trans and/or living. I support children age 5-7 in processing big losses and life transitions using play therapy. I support all humxns in developing consistent care practices rooted in traditional ancestral knowledge.

I use an experiential approach in counseling, where we follow the thoughts, feelings, emotions, and sensations that are occurring in the present moment as the window to explore deeper held beliefs. Together, we explore what is at the core of these beliefs and find new ways of understanding and holding the experiences you have had, to bring forward an updated perspective that leads from your most authentic, empowered self. Most of my work draws from my training in The Hakomi Method of Mindful, Somatic Psychotherapy as well as psychodynamic theory, attachment theory, person-centered psychotherapy, depth psychology, and dreamwork.

I wish to honor the struggle bringing you to therapy while holding the possibility for real, long lasting transformation. My intention is to create a space where you feel safe and capable of holding your experiences in new ways. From this space of self-acceptance, we will begin to explore the ways in which your natural expression has been distorted. In essence, you will recognize and work with the blocks limiting your life.

I believe that people have a natural tendency toward growth and that therapy is one of the many ways to have a more meaningful, satisfying life. I will work with you to create the right conditions for your growth and support you in moving toward your goals. While therapy is often sought out because of discomfort, dissatisfaction, and the challenges of life, ideally it can increase your sense of belonging – in your body, mind, emotions, relationships, physical and cultural environments, and livelihood. The attitude I try to cultivate in therapy is one of openness, warmth, curiosity, and acceptance.

I love to support clients to connect to their bodies, come into alignment with their authentic selves, and find greater presence and ease in their life and relationships. Through somatic and mindfulness based therapy, I will support you to increase awareness, presence, and ease in the moment, decreasing anxiety, stress, and worry. I love to support folks in this process, and to help you move through fear and uncertainty towards your goals and desires.

Making an effort to seek help is a brave step - one that can bring healing, growth and change. I provide an affirming, supportive space for you to explore the issues that are important to you, reconnect with your values and inner direction, and challenge unhealthy behavior patterns or thoughts that are holding you back from living your full potential.

Life can seem like an ocean of never-ending challenge (which we so often take personally!). When we lack proper support, we can miss the opportunities for growth that our dilemmas offer. I offer you a structure that supports meaningful exploration of the most important aspects of your life while helping you develop concrete practical skills to better respond to the complex challenges life presents, whether in individual, couples, or family therapy. You will learn to better know, understand, and accept more of you & your experiences, as well as others', as you discover and shape the fuller, wiser version of you wanting to come forth.