Relationship Issues Therapists in North Portland, Portland, OR

I believe the most important parts of therapy are trust and collaboration. You'll know immediately if the therapist is right for you. If you don't feel it, keep looking. There's a lot of us therapists out here and your time and self-work are important! Additionally, at our most vulnerable times in life, we need someone who will hold a safe space for us to approach our edges - the parts of us we tend to avoid or neglect. Addressing our 'issues' is intensely brave and can also be terrifying! I commend you for embarking on this journey and invite you to call me if my words resonate with your needs.

Honestly, relationships are at the core of who we are. Whether it’s your relationship with yourself, your partner, your children, or your friends... when these bonds are healthy, they help you thrive and heal many wounds. But sometimes conflict can get in the way of what you want for your life and relationships. That may be trauma, beliefs that hurt instead of help, new mental health symptoms, or behaviors that aren’t working for you - most of these stem from some kind of relationship. My role is to come alongside you and help you learn new ways to understand and relate to these struggles.

Assisting individuals, couples, parents and families with the challenges of life is a privilege and a passion! Some of these challenges come from difficult and painful relationships we have with others but can even come in the relationship we have with ourselves! This can cause a loss of connection and an increase in anxiety, anger and depression. However, learning to manage and improve relationships can bring about significant satisfaction, confidence and joy. We are also often faced with the anxiety and fear of transitions and unexpected life changes. I am here to help you navigate these challenges!

I have a great deal of respect for the unique stories of individual lives, and I strive to create a collaborative and supportive environment where clients can safely learn about themselves, develop new skills, and make real and lasting change. I try to help people not only reduce distress and suffering, but to also cultivate more genuine and fulfilling relationships with themselves and others. My primary areas of expertise include: stress management, mindfulness, anxiety and mood concerns, assertive communication, bicultural issues, performance enhancement, LGBTQ concerns, and adjustment, relationship, and identity concerns.

I am open to new clients! We often face challenges in our lives and relationships that test our resilience, confidence, and faith. If you are considering counseling, chances are you are experiencing significant stress, or feeling a desire to make some changes. I provide an encouraging, nonjudgmental space to explore your feelings and experiences.

I have over 10 years of experience helping people change. Change can be scary, challenging, exhilarating, and fulfilling. I help facilitate change by developing a close therapeutic relationship with clients and by utilizing evidence based therapies, and my well developed intuition to identify the source of your problem and the best pathway forward. I specialize in treating motivational difficulties, depression, anxiety, and self defeating behaviors. I also help with existential issues, such as finding meaning, discovering passions, and developing and sustaining close relationships.

I am a marriage and family therapist associate licensed in Washington State and a clinical ethics consultant. I have been providing psychotherapy for the past eight years. I work with diverse populations, including but not limited to refugee communities, schools, community clinics, and hospitals. I also work with those struggling with mood disorders, relationship problems, and addictions. I have specialized experience and training in assisting those overcoming trauma, including child sexual abuse. My goal as a psychotherapist is to provide all my clients with a safe environment where they can comfortably share their experiences.

I enjoy working with many types of mental health concerns and challenges, as well as folks with alternative lifestyles and identities. My approach is to help you feel supported while gaining confidence that you can improve your issues, deal with your challenges and get to the point where you don't feel like you need therapy. I believe in Feedback Informed Treatment where I check in with my clients and they let me know how I am doing so as to tailor my therapy approach to be the most effective while feeling safe.

For most of us, these last few years have involved a dumpster fire or 3. That, on top of whatever other stuff is weighing you down is a lot to carry. You're human. You have your best self, worst self, & most days are somewhere in between. We’ll look at your patterns & decide which are serving you well & which you want to shift. My goal is to normalize your messiness & then help you untangle it, so you can connect with your underlying needs & feel good about getting them met. By getting in touch with your body’s innate wisdom, you will learn to better trust yourself, simplify your communication, & feel more connected with others.

Coming to therapy is a brave choice that takes vulnerability, courage, and energy. You may be experiencing pain, anxiety, anger, dissatisfaction, or numbness, and looking to experience your life differently. I prioritize the therapeutic relationship, and bring a warm, steady, and grounded presence into the therapy space. I empower, and encourage my clients toward exploring their emotions, body experiences, thoughts, memories and desires. I support clients in navigating their internal and relational worlds toward fullness, freedom and agency. I am a holder of hope and offer my clients deep compassion along with direct guidance.

With the Covid-19 Virus my therapy methods have gone to phone or Tele Therapy. My therapeutic style is a holistic goal orientated approach to help patients better understand themselves by developing insight to their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and to cultivate the life that have you imagined or dreamed possible. I provide a safe and supportive environment to earn your trust to work on things that are the most challenging in your life. I know that it takes courage to reach out for help. Whatever brings us together, you will be welcomed with honesty and warmth to enable you to do your best work.

I’m a licensed counselor with 16 years of experience helping people with anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, family issues, relationship problems and general life challenges. My therapy style is warm, accepting and respectful. I honor each client’s right and ability to make their own choices and decisions, and see my role as a helper and guide. I see clients in Washington state and Oregon and work exclusively over telehealth. I'm not current accepting new clients but I do have a waitlist.

To consult, visit: awakenedheartpdx.com/book-with-us .. Therapy connects you to your authentic self, an act of self-love. It is a leap of reconnection to the deeper layers within you that fuel growth, acceptance and contentment. I offer tools to support you as you evolve, optimizing your present moment. With a psychodynamic lens, I can connect you to the various "selfs" you've inhabited through the years. And with mindfulness, I connect you to awakening your full self, shedding limiting beliefs and reframing narratives. Whether your needs are focused on short-term, or long-term, I welcome them.

Depression, anxiety, and relationship issues can profoundly impact your life, creating feelings of isolation and confusion. My practice is devoted to individuals seeking to understand and navigate these challenges. By exploring the intricacies of your experiences, we'll uncover the underlying causes of your feelings. Recognizing that understanding the 'why' behind your emotions is crucial, we delve into your past, particularly your family of origin, to identify patterns and sources of trauma, aiming to foster healing and growth.

Life can leave you feeling lonely, anxious, and depressed. But you don’t need to stay there. I invite you to inquire within. It's time to reconnect with the wisdom within you. Your body carries information that you haven't tapped into or perhaps don't yet have access to. I'm here to help you realize that the answers are already there. We might just need to shine some light on the shadows (things that have been to hard to look at). Acknowledging and integrating those parts that have been ignored or tucked away can lead to more authentic ways of showing up in your relationships with yourself, with others, and with the planet.

Perhaps you are realizing that compassionate, supportive, non-judgmental support is what will brace you for the next steps in your personal journey. I am here. My collaborative therapeutic approach is rooted in mindful awareness and acceptance, informed by relational and attachment models, and guided by an appreciation of each person’s unique existential search for meaning. I aim to foster a space where you can engage in your present experience, show up as you are, and find awareness, choice, and support in the life that awaits you.

My approach to therapy is relational, collaborative, and in-depth. Together, we will cultivate kindness and curiosity for your experiences, thoughts, and emotions. Self-exploration and honest feedback with an attuned listener can strengthen our capacity to be in fulfilling, authentic relationship with ourself and others. As you are ready, we can explore new narratives & develop practices that alleviate anxiety and depression, creating more space for acceptance, ease and joy.

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.

Daily challenges, painful experiences or emotions, and uncertainty are all common, shared experiences of being human. These moments along with simply feeling lost, alone, stuck, sad or anxious offer opportunities for healing and growth! Starting therapy is a positive step towards accessing inner resilience and bringing voice to your authentic self. Through individual, group, and family counseling, I work with kids, "tweens," teens and adults navigating a range of life's stressors including transitions, relationship issues, anxiety/overwhelm, grief/loss, school/work struggles, parenthood, caregiving, and finding purpose.