Therapists in Oregon

Hello! I am Chad Ernest, Owner and Counselor of Sunny Sky Counseling, LLC. Every one could use some sunny sky in Portland now and again. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor in the State of Oregon, who believes in the best in all of us and tries to help you find that in yourself. Whether that means I am working with you as an individual, your family, or as a couple, I am working to help you find the best outcomes. I believe in a client/family centered approach with collaboration in treatment between you and myself.

With over 20 years of experience in the mental health field, I have found psychotherapy to be a powerful means to create lasting and meaningful change in lives. I consider myself to be an interactive, collaborative, and relational therapist and specialize in the treatment of individuals and couples. I am accepting new clients using telemedicine at this time. I am now in two offices, seeing Clients in Oregon and Colorado.

Do you find yourself feeling stuck despite your best intentions? Do you criticize yourself, engage in self-defeating behaviors, or find yourself nursing old wounds despite a desire for personal growth and greater happiness? I can assist you to tap into your own natural capacity for healing and thriving. I have over twenty years of experience. I work with a variety of issues, including: anxiety, depression, anger, relationship difficulties, addiction and other self-harming habits, trauma, dissociation, grief, life transitions and concerns related to physical health / pain, school, work, gender identification, spirituality/purpose, and family of origin.

What was once an exciting and vibrant relationship has become stale and unfulfilling. You may feel like you don't know who your partner is anymore. Or who you are, for that matter. You aren't sure you're meeting your partner's needs, and you certainly aren't feeling as though they are meeting yours. You are probably wondering if it's possible for the two of you to ever be happy again. But you aren't ready to give up just yet.

We are a team of 60 counselors who are accepting new patients and have a team of administrators coordinating services to get you seen quickly. --Life isn't easy or often how we hoped it to be-- We have all faced obstacles at some point in our lives and will continue to do so because of events often outside of our control. There are many circumstances that can overwhelm: Depression; Anxiety; Anger; Grief/Loss; Violence; Bullying; Trauma; Work; Family life; Divorce; Behavioral issues; Worry; School; this list is endless. Whether they are past, present or future, sometimes it is nice to have someone to support you.

***Currently available for in-person and Teletherapy appointments*** I am passionate about people leading empowered, connected, and purposeful lives. I provide counseling services to diverse clients as they learn, change, grow, and function in increasingly inspired, creative, healthy, and adaptive ways. I work collaboratively with clients in identifying needs, making changes, and practicing new skills in a safe and supportive setting. I am experienced in working with adults, couples, families, as well as adolescent clients, on issues including depression, anxiety, trauma, grief, anger, identity, and unwanted thoughts or emotions.

As a counselor, I'm here to help. I am humbled to be of service helping you grow, heal, and learn from the challenges you face. It is my experience that people often come to counseling, " tangled up " from their own experiences, thoughts and feelings. Just the act of giving that gift of counseling support to yourself, taking time out from your daily life, and creating that space for reflection can bring immediate and lasting relief.

I have done some of my best work therapeutically with clients who have a hard time being kind to themselves. I've found that patterns of self-criticism or even self-harm often, though not always, originate in dynamics that were present at home growing up. Challenges from childhood, adolescence and young adulthood can continue to affect your daily life, including your functioning and relationships, and I'm here to help. I'm proud to work with members of the LGBTQ+ communities.

Please visit my business website: www.wolfordcounseling.com I am both a Licensed Professional Counselor(#C2212)and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (#T0637) in the State of Oregon. I am often called 'down to earth' and 'realistic' by my current and past clients. this is my approach to therapy with Individuals, couples, families and youth. I concentrate on creating new, achievable goals with my clients. Communication and trust are at the heart of healthier relationships with oneself and with others and I have been effective in helping my clients find new levels of happiness and respect.

I earned my Master's degree from a holistically oriented clinical mental health counseling program at Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts - one of the most comprehensive programs of its kind. Since earning my degree I have provided counseling across a variety of settings including non-profit and for-profit organizations, government agencies, hospitals, employee assistance and now in private practice. Locally here in the Rogue Valley I have worked for both Asante and Jackson County Mental Health. At the latter location I trained the RN staff in counseling skills and fellow counselors in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.

I work with a wide range of people. My clients like deep work, As a Process Oriented therapist and teacher I use dreamwork, symptoms work, bodywork, movement, relationship work, conflict work, inner work and meditation, art and creativity, and many other methods based on the individuals client's process. I work with individuals, couples, and families. I have helped develop Process Oriented family therapy; Process Oriented sex and intimacy work; Process Oriented personal and historical trauma work; Process oriented coma and brain injury work, I have written 11 books on these topics. My work integrates mind body and spirit.

Seeking the assistance of a professional counselor is an important decision. Reaching out for help can be difficult, but once the decision has been made, most people, in my experience, find the outcome to be extremely rewarding. Stress, relationship difficulties, and career disenchantment are just a few of the normal issues that anyone may encounter over the course of one's life. Seeking an experienced and skilled counselor to help deal with any of these concerns is a demonstration of personal strength and healthy coping.

We encounter difficulties that create anxiety, stress, and depression as we go through life. You need and want to release some of that burden in your life. I am here to support you through that process. These issues increase the chances of having bad relationships with co-workers and relationships in general. It is time for you to change your life and enjoy it every day.

My approach to therapy is that one size does not fit all, and as of 2020, the psychological, philosophical, moral, and emotional blocks and barriers to living are realer than ever. My approach is a non-nonjudgemental, nondiagnostic in nature, although you might have DSM disorder I am not counseling your diagnosis but working with you as a human being. The issues of therapy have to do with you and your feelings and thoughts about how are you doing inside, how do you balance in a crisis like now. What is it your dreaming or afraid of? Can we explore all the ways to manage your world regardless of the conflicts in the outer world?

Do you have a heaviness in your chest that is holding you down? Do you want to break free from that feeling? Sometimes people don't want to talk about depression because they might feel that there is no hope. I'm here to tell you that there is hope. I'm not going to lie, there is no quick fix, but there are tools that I have a lot of experience working with people to overcome their depression as well as anxiety and trauma. I believe that if we work together, something will change for the better.

"YOU CAN'T UNDERSTAND ANOTHER PERSON'S EXPERIENCE UNTIL YOU WALK A MILE IN THEIR SHOES." That's especially true regarding the thoughts and feelings that often surround deeply personal issues. My practice is informed by my own life experiences as well as a nuanced understanding of the complexity of human nature. Together we will build the degree of trust and rapport necessary for you to: identify maladaptive patterns, challenge negative beliefs, gain insight into past and present events and most importantly, use this information to create permanent positive change in your relationships and the way you think and feel about yourself.

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.

As a survivor of long-term childhood abuse, I am passionate about helping people heal from their traumas and thrive. I have lived experience with complex trauma, anxiety, and depression; which helps me be more understanding, compassionate, and empathetic. My goal is to help you be the healthiest you that you can be. If you are experiencing barriers or challenges to achieving this, my aim is to provide you with the needed support and professional expertise to help you overcome them.

Are you in a place where you need to talk about gender identity and/or trans issues? Or maybe you identify as trans, gender nonconforming, gay, lesbian, bisexual, or queer and need to talk about other issues but don't want to have to educate your therapist. I can help. As a therapist, I create an environment of safety, respect, and empowerment for you, and I appreciate the powerful influence of culture, community, and beliefs that make your experience unique. I believe you have the inner strength and resources you need. I am here to be your collaborator in healing and change.