Female Therapists in Mount Scott, Portland, OR

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.

I believe that therapy can be social justice; self care can be a rebellion. I prioritize Queer, BIPOC and female identified care. All people are creative, resourceful and capable of growth. Change is difficult and we are all deserving of support. I am honored to work with folks through all of life’s transitions. If we decide to work together, we will identify goals and work through the barriers to becoming more healthy, happy and fulfilled. Email and I'll respond quickly. Phone calls may take longer.

Finding the right therapist can be tricky business. It's all in the match. Honest, clearly communicated feedback, compassion for your difficulties, sound clinical skills and well over 20 years of clinical experience dealing with depression, anxiety, social isolation, grief/loss, relationship problems, work issues and co-occurring medical/emotional conditions are what I have to offer you. Our work will consist of exploring your therapeutic goals, working to understand how you're current and past experiences are impacting your life then practicing changes that will move you forward. We will be a team.

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.

Mid-life can be deeply rewarding, but it can also feel like a never-ending pile of stress. It's not surprising that you’re feeling the weight of the world on your shoulders. You may be navigating complex relationships, career and caregiving responsibilities, finances, and health issues, not to mention a pandemic or the multitude of systemic oppressive forces alive in our country today! On top of it all, you may notice that your tools for managing stress (alcohol, food, pushing yourself to the max) aren’t really cutting it anymore and may even be causing harm. The pressure is overwhelming, and you're not sure how to handle it all.

I work with individual adults of all ages, races, and genders, as well as couples and non-traditional relationships. I have experience working with Trauma, depression, anxiety, chronic pain, disability, relationship issues, boundaries, attachment, identity development, immigration issues, and much more. I enjoy working with LBGTQIA+ folks, as well as men and women who are working to liberate themselves from patriarchal roles and relationship patterns. I am committed to ongoing anti-racism work and aim to provide a space in which BIPOC clients feel safe and supported.

If you feel like life isn’t what you want it to be, you’re not connecting with others in the way that feels good to you, or if past patterns are no longer serving you, you’re not alone. I work from a place of compassion, understanding, intuition, and humor combined with an extensive array of therapeutic tools to help you reduce discomfort, heal, and engage in the life you want. I welcome the opportunity to work with people of all identities.

Welcome! I am currently accepting new clients and specialize in helping young adults and women reduce their symptoms of anxiety and depression. People come to see me when they are feeling overwhelmed and exhausted by their relentless self critic. They often use words like “stuck in a rut” and feel trapped by their negative thinking and downward spirals. Sometimes they are frozen "waiting for the other shoe to drop". They are looking for relief and skills to help manage their runaway thoughts and feelings, advocate for themselves, process grief, and ultimately improve their self confidence and self esteem.

I have more information on my website: shellynicolpsyd.com

Life can be hard sometimes. Even when we have the best intentions, try our best, and do all we can, it just doesn't feel like it's enough. The stuckness continues to be present. We want the relationships with our loved ones to work, other areas of our life, like work, to go smoothly, and life doesn't seem too heavy to live. It is very human to want these things, and we all deserve to live such a life, maybe not problem-free, but a wholesome enough one that it feels like there's meaning and reasons worth living it.

I am a trauma informed therapist who specializes in individual and couples therapy. I strive to create an empathetic and empowering environment where together we can explore authenticity, healing and self-acceptance. I view therapy as a space to explore and discover new ways of being and relating to ourselves and others. If you and your partner(s) are finding that you are often stuck in the same fights over and over, navigating a life transition, or trying to move forward after a breach of trust, couples therapy can provide the support you need. Please visit my website for more information.

Are you struggling with your child's behavior? Are big tantrums taking over your day? Do you wonder if there is something wrong with your child, or you? I can help. I understand that some children are harder than others. You're not a bad parent, you may just need different tools than the other parents you see at the park or grocery store. Parenting a child with big behaviors is not easy, it sometimes feels downright awful, and is often lonely. It can get better. With the right tools your relationship with your child can and will change. Without judgement I will walk alongside you and your family as you create the life you want.

I integrate current research and traditional approaches to help clients reduce distress, improve daily functioning, and find fulfillment. Many clients I work with benefit from learning specific skills for stress management and interpersonal effectiveness. Others explore broader issues related to clarifying values and personal growth.

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.

So, your relationship with food has brought you here, but maybe you’re unsure if what you consider some form of overeating warrants seeking professional help. You don't have to suffer from anorexia and/or bulimia to "deserve" treatment and support. People who are enduring binge and emotional eating are often blamed (by themselves and others) for their use of food. If this is you, you may believe you have no "will power" and your relationship with food/body is your "fault". You aren't yet aware there are reasons (always other than will power) that explain your experience with food/body. You are not to blame.

Falling in love is addictive. It is your brain on cocaine. Until, it isn't. At first, you couldn't picture months of arguing. Even an affair, broken trust. Perhaps you never imagined hiding away, secretly texting a colleague - s/he listens to you. Perhaps you just want the miscommunication and storming out of the room to end.

Are you feeling down? Anxious? Stuck? Maybe negative thoughts or worries are impacting your work or even your relationships? At times it can feel like these patterns will never change and yet therapy provides a safe space to process thoughts, feelings and patterns. I create a safe environment through mutual trust and understanding. This opens a space for self-exploration, growth and development. I believe that, in working collaboratively, we can identify problems and personalize your treatment direction. With the right skills, each individual has the capacity to accomplish their goals.

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.

All families experience transitions, and even positive change can cause stress. I employ an eclectic approach with a strong emphasis on attachment, structural, and solution-focused family therapies. I work with young children and their caregivers to form secure attachments early on. This leads to more effective communication and problem solving patterns and a higher level of resilience down the road. My work tends to be short term and builds on the existing strengths of your family. My work with couples is attachment informed as we look at past and current relationships to elucidate our most fulfilling ways of connecting.