Acceptance and Commitment (ACT) Therapists in Milwaukie, OR

If you’re looking for a supportive and easy-to-talk-to therapist, to help you achieve your goals, we may be a good fit. I help men overcome anger issues and relationship conflicts that may be lowering their quality of life. I help individuals struggling with depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and ADHD. I also help people going through life transitions. I practice CBT, ACT, and DBT. I work with business owners, salespeople, creatives, healthcare workers, athletes, educators, writers, therapists, and more. Together, we will find solutions to your struggles so you live your rich and meaningful life.

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.

We all have challenges and barriers in life that can keep us from living up to our full potential. Daily and accumulated stress can make it difficult to remain connected to ourselves and others. I believe we all have an innate capacity for healing. Therapy can help us access the support, tools, and safety we need to heal. Asking for help takes openness, honesty, and deep courage. It is in this place of vulnerability and willingness to ask for help, that leads us to experience the most meaningful changes in how we relate to ourselves and others.

My hopes are to support you in the discovery and growth of your own being and in living your best life. That which feels meaningful, thriving, well and enriching. To not just learn and understand how to find deep healing, happiness and freedom in your life, but to also feel, integrate and experience these things. I provide a warm, genuine, collaborative and validating space in which your story can safely be shared and held with psychological, sociological cultural, and spiritual depth.

Whether it is issues with mental health, substance use, trauma, anger, relationships, families, anxiety, depression, stress, etc. I believe that the path to recovery is only a perspective change away. Through a compassionate and person-centered approach to counseling, I can help guide you to better understand the connection between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and help you to live to your fullest potential. As a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor II (CADC) I have worked with so many people in the process of living a life of wellness.

As a therapist I value the connection between myself and my clients which I believe to be one of the most important components of therapy. I am dedicated to working with people who are feeling stuck in their lives. My goal is to help clients explore how their variety of experiences plays into the whole of their lives and to find a unique solution to whatever hurdles you may face. As my client, you and I will explore the nature of your struggles and come up with an evidence-based plan to help you walk the path to healing. I believe that as long as you are willing to try, you can get to where you want to be.

Well, hello! Looking to make some changes? Let's talk. I enjoy working with people on topics of adjustment and change, work life balance, mental health symptoms and substance use. I also enjoy supporting clients in long-term recovery to reclaim their lives. Whether you want to address mental health symptoms that are impacting your daily life or struggle with substance abuse, I have a very supportive, goal-directed and non-judgmental approach to help you identify and reach your goals.

Hello! I am a licensed clinical social worker in Oregon. I obtained my graduate degree in social work from Portland State University in 2007. I specialize in working with clients who struggle with anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, trauma, substance use, grief and loss, chronic illness, interpersonal relationships and life transitions. I am interested in helping those that are struggling with situational stressors or long-standing concerns.

It goes without saying these past few years have been an uphill battle. With the stress of a pandemic, the economic hardships facing many, and political divides deepening: it's no wonder anxiety is high. Or depression feels magnified. Or you find yourself falling back into bad habits.  But you don't have to struggle through this time alone. Empathic Counseling can help you cope during this difficult time and empower you to thrive. I work closely with clients across Oregon to help them find freedom from Anxiety, Depression, Addiction, Trauma, or that harsh voice inside you that tells you you're not enough.

Therapy can be a tremendously rewarding and enlightening experience leading to lifelong change. My approach to working with clients is to tailor my interventions to meet their specific needs and to work with them in a collaborative fashion to help them access their own strengths and wisdom. My first priority is to listen,to understand your perspective and life experience. I will then work with you to help you gain insight into your current challenges. My goal is to address your problems directly, assist you in finding solutions, and get you back into your life as soon as possible.

*Currently accepting new clients* In this new world, with unexpected disasters seeming to descend every day, and with an unprecedented level of connection to the larger world--complete with all of its joys and devastations--we are all a bit unmoored. I believe that we already contain all of the puzzle pieces that we need to survive and thrive, and I believe in the brave and necessary lifetime work of putting them together.

I exclusively work with youth and adolescents who have engaged in sexually inappropriate or sexually harming behavior. I provide specialized treatment and wrap-around support at a time when a child’s behavior is more manageable than when they cross-over into the juvenile system. Research into adverse childhood experiences shows that without timely, appropriate treatment, youth may become further traumatized and may respond in ways that create additional victims – with impacts that ripple out into the community. I work to provide treatment at a time when it can have the most beneficial impact.

Difficulty is a part of life. Depression, anxiety, grief and loss, life transitions, relationship issues, trauma... These are just some of the common experiences that bring people to counseling. I think growth and healing are most likely to occur when we feel safe, understood, connected, and believe that we matter. My primary focus is to offer a space and develop a therapeutic relationship where these needs can be met. You may bring specific goals in mind to counseling, or we can work together to create them. I offer spiritual integration, if you so desire. I currently work with adults and older teens (age 16+).

Each of us is unique and has encountered challenges that shape who we are. Sometimes, we need someone to talk to and hold space for us. Sometimes we need someone who will challenge our perspective to help shift the way we have been looking at a problem. Sometimes we need someone to come down into the rabbit hole with us and help us find our way out. Let's find meaningful, intentional ways for you to engage with and live your life fully. I offer a safe, confidential space to navigate your concerns with a down-to-earth, open-minded, and objective, highly trained professional.

Are you finding yourself focusing on the past, anxious about the future, or overall stressed about circumstances in your life? Are you struggling in relationships, and finding it difficult to set and maintain boundaries with others? Do you find yourself being overly critical of yourself? Are you finding past events still affecting how you view and interact with the world around you? Life can be hard, and we all develop ways of coping through tough times. Sometimes those ways of coping are no longer effective for us, and we deserve to learn what works for us so we can live a peaceful, healthy, happy life.

I believe that the counseling relationship can promote growth, and I strive towards an approach where we can work together in a holistic way to achieve your goals while developing skills for you to take into your everyday life. I believe that each person is capable of finding freedom from their current situation and past.

Are you struggling with past experiences and looking for someone who can join you in the journey to wholeness? I would love to support you as a trellis supports a growing, blooming plant! I have a lifetime of experiences working with diverse cultures internationally and here in the Portland area. This has given me invaluable insight into how our backgrounds contribute to our own unique stories and how we find healing and meaning in our life. For about 8 years, I have worked as both a child/family therapist and an adult therapist focusing on trauma across the life span. I work primarily with older teens and young adults.

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor with over 20 years of experience helping individuals find growth and better health through therapy. I have specialization and interest in treating anxiety, trauma, body image, pregnancy and postpartum issues. I utilize a blend of mindfulness-based treatments including EFT, CBT, DBT, and ACT. I am certified in EMDR as well as Perinatal Mental Health (PMH-C).