Acceptance and Commitment (ACT) Therapists in Lake Oswego, OR

In my professional practice, I support individuals struggling with anxiety, depression, anger and relationship issues. I support individuals from adolescence through adulthood and find that most of my clients desire relief of mental health symptoms that have taken control of their lives.

Are you feeling overwhelmed, anxious or unmotivated right now? Are you trying to get out of a rut of complacency and back to being engaged with your values and sense of self-worth? Wanting to be more proactive about your mental health and self-care? A couple wanting to rebuild a sense of partnership, trust, and connection? I believe people who have been hurt in relationships can also heal through relationships. I believe people having the capacity to work through life's challenges and make long-lasting changes. Whether you're wanting to be preventative or in a crisis, therapy can help!

Your pain is a key that can unlock the door to a better life. As a psychologist, I work to help you turn that key- to help open yourself to the compassion, enjoyment, and fulfillment that are waiting for you. I can help you through life's problems using evidence based therapy, meaning we will practice techniques that science has shown work when people commit to the process. I use a form of cognitive behavioral therapy called Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, which has been shown by research to be effective not only in reducing suffering but also in increasing life satisfaction.

I am a Professional Counselor Registered Associate in the State of Oregon and I am currently working towards my Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. I really enjoy working with individuals experiencing chronic health conditions as it allows me to apply my passion for the mind-body connection, trauma-informed care, and person-centered treatment focused on empathy and strength. I also have a strong passion for trauma-informed treatment working with LGBTQIA+ individuals. As a LGBTQIA+ identifying individual, I find it highly rewarding working alongside individuals as they explore their gender and sexuality and processing past traumas.

Accepting New Clients! Have you experienced traumatic events, chronic stressors, or interpersonal distress that has impacted your view of self, others, and the world around you? Do you find yourself protective in relationships due to fear of getting hurt or rejected? You may be feeling confused, frustrated, or lost. Guess what? You make sense. When we slow down and listen, you make sense. My therapeutic aim is to support you with effective exploration and integration of your experiences, foster insight and understanding, and implement real changes, so that you can experience healing in ways that align with your values.

I welcome clients of all ages, experiences, and backgrounds. Diversity, equity, cultural humility, and empathy are foundational to my work. Seeking therapy can be scary and talking about the hard stuff requires vulnerability and bravery. In this nurturing space, I'm here to support you every step of the way on your journey to self-discovery, personal growth, and a brighter, more empowered future. I offer both virtual and in-person therapy sessions, providing a client-centered, strength-based and trauma informed approach.

I specialize with individuals and couples who desire to heal emotional problems associated with lack of trust, intimacy difficulties, ineffective communication, anger, silence and distance, sexual matters/addictions or infidelity. My services help people deal, heal, and grow through the inevitable seasons of change inherent to our lives. My approach is collaborative with the client, helping you reveal who you are, what you seek, supporting you in critical examination of the challenges you face. Together we create goals, develop strategies, and engage in ongoing interaction that moves you toward meaningful paths of change.

In my practice with individuals and couples, I often use mindfulness-based therapies. Mindfulness has helped a great number of people work through the emotional difficulties that life often presents. Yet I always work in a way that serves my clients best. If you are experiencing emotional distress, I offer you a therapy environment of safety, caring, acceptance, and trust. My goal for all of my clients is to compassionately help them resolve any barriers that are preventing them from living joyfully. I work with any client(s) living in Oregon via a secure teletherapy platform.

Sometimes life's challenges can be overwhelming, and you may seek counseling to regain your life balance, energy, and happiness. I facilitate clients' exploration to promote wellness, personal growth, and positive life changes. I work together with clients to develop strengths, reach goals, and to foster emotional healing. I offer insightful support to your growth in developing healthier coping strategies, identifying effective problem-solving skills, and improving communication skills. Everyone's situation is unique so together we will design the best plan to find healthy solutions to life's challenges.

My practice currently is Accepting new clients Now! It is no secret that life can be difficult, so difficult that we often lose ourselves. When was the last time you felt genuinely ‘heard’ or ‘seen’? My intention as your therapist is to create a safe, welcoming space for you to just be. I will meet you where you are in your healing journey and walk alongside you. Let’s work together to set and achieve goals for the life you want, training your brain to work with you, not against you. I am a direct, but compassionate therapist who aims to forge a therapeutic relationship built on trust and understanding.

I have a small private therapy and coaching practice. Some of my clinical areas of specialization include anxiety disorders, child/adolescent development, parenting, relationships, and food allergies. I often work with individuals who are highly sensitive, gifted, and/or high-performing. I will work collaboratively and compassionately with you to identify unhelpful patterns and develop new skills aimed at building a fuller and more meaningful life.

Are you currently fixated on the gap between where you are verses where you want to be? The more you try to bridge this gap the more anxious and frustrated you become and before you know it, you are stuck in a negative feedback loop. There isn't a day that goes by where you aren't your harshest critic. Let's work together to untie the knots of anxiety that has kept you from living your full life. Learn to cultivate greater self love, acceptance and the confidence in your abilities to tackle and be more resilient to the challenges of life.

I work with individual adults who are looking to break old patterns, challenge their assumptions, have better relationships, and live life in alignment with their true values. I want to help you explore these patterns and develop curiosity about where they are rooted, so that you can start making new choices about how to respond to familiar emotions and thoughts. I aim to help you get un-stuck and build a more flexible relationship with your emotions. Let's work together to build new neural pathways and learn to cope with all of life's vast unknowns.

Dr. Shelby is passionate about entering into the depths of religious and relational trauma, anxiety, perfectionism & burn-out, body image, existential dread, grief, and chronic suffering. She prioritizes balancing compassion and challenge in therapy to unlock patterns of how we relate to ourselves, to others, and to the world around us. Her approach is typically a good fit for those interested in developing a longer term treatment with an interest in depth work, value a direct approach, and for those wanting "more." She addresses wants and needs, personal values, and increasing agency, compassion, and radical acceptance.

Do you have an interest in discovering your values and clearing a path to live through them? Would you like to move past worry, sadness, issues with coping, communication, stress, and relationship issues? Are you yearning to heal from distressing experiences or trauma that have had an impact on your relationships, employment, health, and wellness? We will work together utilizing a variety of techniques including; Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and EMDR to reprocess your past so you can move forward with a renewed sense of purpose and harmony. Currently accepting new clients for solution focused treatment and EMDR therapy.

While counseling is a collaborative process, I have found it to be most successful and more sustaining when it is client-centered and driven. I have the honor to offer you my slice of proficiency. But, you are the expert in your life and it is thus your vision, your goals, and your strengths that will guide our work together. Wellness is a dynamic endeavor and our efforts will extend beyond the therapy room as we collaborate to exchange formal intervention and active treatment with informal support and on-going self-care. Counseling is an incredible guardrail. Yet, you are the pilot of your life's path and I but your humble guide.

Change is possible. A diagnosis of OCD or another anxiety disorder can be scary and confusing. It can feel like your life is defined by dread, worry, fear, and exhaustion. Much of your energy and time are likely spent trying to present to the outside world as “successful” and “having it all together”. Internally, you may feel disconnected from your core self, your innate purpose and potential, and the ability to enjoy simple moments in your life. Anxiety doesn’t have to define who you are as a human. Therapy is courageous work. I’m glad you’re here making this first step.

Welcome! I'm so glad you're here. I provide professional mental health counseling services for adolescents and adults. I approach counseling as a joint relationship in which you and I collaborate together in a supportive, safe environment. My belief is that all clients have unique insight and ability to improve their own lives but may need help identifying strengths and developing skills that support healing, healthy decision making, relationships and steps towards positive growth. I personally operate from a Christian worldview and am willing to incorporate this into our counseling.

I specialize in helping individuals cope and transcend some of life's most difficult stressors that often cause anxiety and depression. I work with clients who are caregivers, as well as those dealing with loss and grief. I work with clients facing chronic and terminal illness to find meaning and purpose in their lives. I specialize in working with clients suffering with pain, sleep problems, and experiencing insomnia. I also specialize in health behavior change, whether your goals are to improve your physical health via diet, exercise, and adaptive thinking, I will help motivate you to take action and ascend!