Psychodynamic Therapists in 97206

You have found your way to my profile because you are seeking relief— from body dissatisfaction and chronic dieting, anxiety, or from feeling exhausted of chasing perfectionism and always playing by the "rules" of life. On the outside your life may appear totally put together, but deep down you are yearning to feel more deeply connected to yourself and others. I commonly work with young and mid-life adults who are navigating life transitions and challenges with relationships, parenthood, and career. I am glad you have made your way to my profile, because I wholeheartedly believe you can feel more grounded, connected, and whole.

I offer psychotherapy to individuals and couples who reside in California or Oregon. I offer clinical supervision to associates residing and working in the state of California. As a psychotherapist, I am flexible and tailor my approach to the need of each client. I have been trained in many modalities that offer various benefits, depending on your needs and preferences (EMDR, AEDP, Sensorimotor, Psychodynamic/Psychoanalytic, Somatic). As a clinical supervisor, I supervise from a primarily psychodynamic orientation. My practice is anti oppression and trauma informed.

Perhaps you were raised in an environment that prioritizes mental health and is supportive of psychotherapy. Conversely, and as often the case, you were taught from caregivers that it was "weak" or "shameful" to obtain professional support, or to even seek help outside of yourself. These sentiments still permeate our culture, and though they are shifting, I find that they still lurk and impact one's drive to pursue mental health care. So in either case (and for all others in between), getting here was a process. In this spirit, I want to commend you for taking this huge and vulnerable step toward healing and deeper self-awareness!

I primarily work with clients who are experiencing OCD, anxiety, eating disorders, and are navigating various life transitions. My approach may vary slightly depending on your presentation, but one thing that stays consistent is my belief that the relationship between client and therapist is a huge catalyst to healing and growth. Active listening, unconditional positive regard, and challenging/highlighting unhelpful patterns when necessary are a few ways I help my clients become aligned with themselves and heal. I believe that the therapist/client relationship leads to new insights, and therefore lasting change for the client.

I have been practicing psychotherapy in Portland, Oregon for over thirty years. Initially trained as a child and family therapist in the psychodynamic tradition at the University of Michigan, I have since continued to broaden and deepen my experience and skills through further training in and study of Gestalt therapy theory, contemporary psychoanalysis, Collaborative Couple Therapy, anthroposophy, and hatha yoga. Please feel free to check my website for more information on everything I offer.

Clear, calm and non-judgmental awareness of thoughts, emotions and physical presence are the foundations of a mindful approach to healing. As a clinician, I place great emphasis on creating a trusting environment where the mindful exploration of one's life, both today and in the past, can take place with ease and comfort and so we can work together to uncover the places where life seems stuck and unfulfilling or downright painful. Through the skillful means of multiple therapeutic tools, we will untangle your old habit patterns - whether they be old stories, emotional baggage, repetitive relational interactions or spiritual crisis.

I pull largely from my experiences with Buddhist Meditation and Psychodynamic Therapy. I typically begin by helping people with anxiety, anger, depression and/or addiction. As these begin to improve, some people want to move further into their unconscious by getting in touch with their inner-child and inner-primal experiences. I also offer psychotherapy groups for those wanting to engage in emotional work with other like-minded individuals.

Compassion and curiosity are the starting place for our exploration. Life is inherently challenging and difficult, and we all suffer from hurts large and small, past and present. And most of us are plagued by a strong inner critic who thinks they are helping but often shames and limits us. I feel honored to work with people who are deeply examining the relationship they have to themselves and to the world. With a passion for inspiring individuals to claim their own personal excellence, my expertise is in understanding interpersonal dynamics, and successfully counseling individuals and groups into reaching their highest self.

Do you want to understand yourself better and get to the root of your issues? Working together we will explore your unconscious psyche, find new skills and adaptive ways to cope, and make sense of your internal world and the world around you. My therapeutic approach is individualized for each new client and pulls from my extensive training in: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Trauma-Focused CBT (TF-CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and Psychoanalytic/Psychodynamic Psychotherapy.

Overwhelmed and exhausted with your business, you're now prepared to courageously reinvent a life you're absolutely passionate about! You aim to break free from the trap of comparison and perfectionism. You're eager to restore self-belief and break the chains of destructive cycles. You want authentic connections in every role. You wish to replace anxiety with strength and calm within. You aspire to be audacious and bold in a financially secure and liberating career. You're ready to revive your true essence: lively and inspired. You can go from Uncertain to Confident, Anxious to Calm, and Wanting to Fulfilled.

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, somatic, attachment and IFS orientations to promote increased consciousness of thoughts, values, feelings, and behavior patterns. My approach is intuitive, and warm. Our work together involves expanding awareness of the inner mind, and felt senses to move towards a more integrated self. I am tele health only at this time. Serving Oregon and Montana.

I believe that personal healing, growth, and insight are informed by an individual’s relationship to meaning, values, death anxiety, freedom, and responsibility. My approach is existential and humanistic, working with clients collaboratively to individualize therapy, integrating a variety of interventions including narrative and cognitive-behavioral methods, and mindfulness practices. I specialize in working with bipolar disorders, depression, anxiety, and trauma. My experience includes work with grief and bereavement, personality disorders, ADHD, substance use, and interpersonal relationships.

Talk therapy is a brave endeavor and can be extremely creative and rewarding. The most important part of my approach is creating an effective working partnership with you, so that you can get the most out of therapy. Ongoing distress in our lives can bring us to therapy, and with good work can lead us to both acceptance and long-term psychological flexibility and wellness. Many people find this path to be an exciting and generative one. It can even be fun at times. With my training from around the world, I specialize in creating unique clinical formulations to aid clients in fostering shifts in their lives.

People seek therapy for many reasons, but one thing just about everyone entering therapy has in common is a feeling that something needs to change for life to become more fulfilling. Whether you’re encountering difficulties in personal relationships, grief and loss, work-related stress, a life transition, low self-esteem, the emotional impacts of traumatic experiences, or struggling with constellations of symptoms commonly referred to as “depression” or “anxiety,” I honor your individuality and tailor my approach to meeting your unique needs.

A person considering counseling is already making the first step of trying to achieve, or return to, a healthier and happier equilibrium. I believe that “loosening up” and releasing the many things we hold, particularly unconsciously, allow us to activate that capacity and return to, or discover, a healthier state of being. Top-down, this would involve uncovering our various thought patterns, reactions, and story that we have about ourselves. Bottom-up, it involves noticing and feeling - the various ways our body is in relation to how we are mentally.

Reaching out for support is a strength and it brings me great joy to offer my support to you.Through a trauma informed lens I bring compassion, curiosity, and heartfelt acceptance to my work with teens, young adults and parents. Depression, anxiety, healing unresolved trauma, relationship challenges, grief, school issues and difficulty navigating life transitions are common themes clients bring in. Together we aim to identify concerns,develop healthy coping skills, build inner trust, and address and integrate trauma with care. Clients notice reduced stress, more agency, energy, improved self esteem and more fulfilling relationships.

A person's trajectory in life can be offset by stress, strain and compromises. Therapy can re-orient a person to their core needs and strivings, allowing them to become more effective and engaged at work, home, and in relationships. Imagining positive change for yourself is an important step and yet taking that step can be challenging. "The best time to plant a tree was yesterday; The second best time is now." I look forward to hearing about what's happening in your life now.

Accepting New Clients! Are you wondering how past experiences are affecting you today? Do you want to break the cycle and do things differently with your children than what you experienced growing up? Or maybe you are just curious about counseling and not sure what to expect? I am experienced working with clients with all types of trauma/(C-) PTSD, emotional neglect, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorders, OCD, grief, and anger issues, and I can support you navigate these types of challenges and potentially help you find healing and a sense of belonging in your life. I see individual adults of all ages.

Self awareness and connection can heal. My practice is a place where we can build safety and vulnerability, and work together to help you better understand yourself. Therapy is not always easy, but here you can regain a sense of control and create momentum.