Spirituality Therapists in Portland, OR

Love. Joy. Ecstasy. Awe. In my 16 years of clinical experience, I’ve discovered that we each have far more capacity for these expansive feelings than we often realize. Whether you are struggling to get through the daily grind, or feel ready to fly through the stars, I can work with you collaboratively to shape a life that fulfills your highest dreams, and maybe even soars beyond them! I’m eager to share what I’ve learned about our abilities to break out of old patterns of shame, hurt, and fear into fruitful creativity and communion with the most inspiring aspects of being alive.

In an atmosphere of respect, insight and compassion, pathways leading to wellness, new beginnings and joy are possible. Working together, grounded in my in-depth knowledge of and experience in Jungian and contemporary psychotherapies, we illuminate outworn attitudes and patterns. By working with the art and science of psychotherapy, I foster your natural capacities for healing, change, conscious aging and transformation. As you tell your story, relationships to others, spirituality , life events and aging take on new meaning. A doorway opens to pervasive change that goes far beyond symptoms and previous goals.

Hi, I’m River! Are you struggling to make sense of the world right now, or grieving the state of our planet? Feeling like you’re on a hamster wheel and not coping how you’d like, or struggling with ADHD, internalized shame, anxiety, depression or trauma? Have you been in recovery for a while, sober and abstinent, but still feeling stuck? Hearing the voice of your internal critic louder than your own? Or, you know yourself fairly well, have gained all the insights, but you may be having a hard time applying them.

**All sessions done virtually.** If you are ready to make embodiment a priority and stop over-riding your body's messages, or if you have been on the healing journey for some time but feel stuck, you have come to the right place! My approach is experiential, mindfulness-based, somatic, and person-centered. I utilize somatic ways of working with trauma, depression, anxiety and attachment issues.

One thing I did not learn growing up was how to understand what was really going on for me. I spent years not knowing how to listen to my own feelings or what to do once I found them. And I am still learning. A little more all the time. I have spent the past decade studying how to become aware of the subtle signals in a situation and how to follow them in a way that shows who we really are and what we really want. The learning and unlearning this takes has become my devotion. Being with others and doing this together has become my passion.

Welcome! I enjoy working with individuals and couples, and walking alongside them in their healing. I believe therapy is a collaborative experience between the family and therapist, that each client has the resiliency and resources they need already within, and that it is our job to uncover them. My work with clients considers biological, psychological, social, and spiritual factors. I specialize in working with clients who are experiencing relational distress, sex concerns, infertility/pregnancy issues, transracial/transnational family dynamics, processing trauma, religion and spirituality , body-image concerns, or low self esteem.

At the heart of every client lies truth and infinite potential. That is why I love my job. Spirited Quest Counseling was born out of the conviction that when an individual sets an intention to heal, they and those around them are transformed. I provide individual and couples counseling that promotes healing, well-being, self-awareness and empowerment along with the endurance, courage and skills to move from a life of survival to one of thriving. I specialize in treating clients impacted by the effects of trauma, spiritual struggle, depression and anxiety.

It hurts to become disconnected from our fundamental Spirit, the source of love and self-love. It's not you; there's nothing wrong with you. It's the pain of the world that you feel, in your grief, in your anxiety/depression, in whatever diagnosis you've been given in the past. It's hard to be human being in today's world, after all. Materialism and a culture of ego-striving has disconnected us from community, compassion, and our own breathing. Advertisements for numbing this pain come from every side, but nothing seems to work, and meanwhile the self-attack gets louder and louder. It's scary, and it hurts. Where is all this going?

Has the pandemic shaken up your life, needs or beliefs? Or are you curious about how life could be better or more fulfilling? If so, I meet you with compassion because you are not alone. Many of my clients are courageously looking at their lives and assessing what's next for themselves. From revamping relationships with your self or your people, my work supports health and creates the space to reflect on what's true for you and how to take action to create a life you love living.

I help where you are stuck -- body, story, nerves, or soul. Our difficult experiences can lodge many places. I have a big "tool chest" to help you meet and transform what needs healing. I believe that each of us has a wholeness, no matter how hidden. I help you to contact that wholeness, in order to access your own wisdom. Together we find your unique path through to your truest self. What is waiting for you is a life of meaning and the ability to connect.

Hello! Thank you for considering me to accompany you on this sacred journey. I believe counseling is a powerful tool for overcoming obstacles to well-being and human flourishing. I treat clients with a range of issues, from existential issues and coping with the demands of life, to mood disorders and anxiety, complex trauma and PTSD, spirituality concerns and religious trauma, and men's and LGBTQi issues. Together, we will examine these problems, trace their origins to childhood and significant adult relationships, and learn new skills and new ways of relating to others and ourselves to rediscover well-being and flourishing in life.

I take a relational approach to psychotherapy, and work to create a space for clients to be genuine and transparent as we work together to address their needs. I am a good fit for individuals who are looking to gain deeper self-awareness and insight, increase meaning and fulfillment in their lives, and reduce mental health symptoms that interfere with their well-being. Those dealing with interpersonal difficulties, in addition to other mental health struggles such as anxiety, traumatic stress, and depression, often benefit from my integrative, relational approach to psychotherapy.

My first job as a therapist is to listen and understand. Deep listening is a time honored tradition and fundamental to healing. I strive to create a safe and nurturing relationship with clients that is a source of comfort and inspiration. Clients inspire me too! I practice spiritually grounded psychotherapy. This means I see life's challenges as, fundamentally, opportunities to grow spiritually and as a whole person. To me, the process of healing is beautiful and miraculous, something that gives us glimpses of a benevolent force much greater than ourselves.

Communion is being together and speaking the language of the heart. It is a spiritual and psychological journey with a companion who cares. If you are seeking peace, clarity, deeper meaning in life, more satisfaction in your relationships, greater creativity, and improved well-being, I am here to assist you on your journey of wellness. I specialize in working with Women of Color. If anxiety, grief, past trauma, racism, internalized oppression, cultural dislocation, workplace or relationship stress prevent you from being who you want to be, I am here to help you find your true Self.

Appointments Available updated June 2022- The transition to parenthood can bring out emotions that are surprising, new, and difficult to cope with. Dr. Block specializes in recognizing these emotions and has treatment options to help decrease the intensity of the emotions. Dr. Block provides healing tools and practical ideas to help calm and heal from anxiety.