Aetna Therapists in Tigard, OR

Thriving in a world torn apart by broken relationships, unmet expectations, and ongoing heartache can seem like a far off dream. While navigating the ups and downs of life can be challenging, I believe God uses our pain to help us see ourselves, to see God, and to see others more accurately. I am passionate about helping people move from brokenness and sorrow to hope and restoration, and I believe that this journey is not meant to be an independent one. I’m here as a companion for this journey to help you to uncover your God-given identity, and embrace a healthy sense of self.

I am willing to see anyone who needs my help. I have experience with men, women, and children, and I can see any of them. I have an interest in working with children and teens, an interest in healing trauma, and a desire to aid anyone who wants to change.

Studies show women attend counseling nearly 2-1 vs men. That said men, understandably, have cultivated a natural and valid discomfort for talking out issues, with the legitimate fear of being harshly judged or truly not heard. Well, I’d like to help men who find counseling uncomfortable. Suicide is the 11th overall cause of death in America. MIDDLE-AGE men have the HIGHEST rate of suicide making up nearly 70% of those total numbers. I’m here to help those men that want to find help, and need to truly be heard. As far as my approach, I’m a combination of holistic and realistic. Women are welcome as well, Im equal opportunity!

People can live a life that is joyful, peaceful, loving, compassionate, mindful and connected with the love we truly are. As life takes it course, we can lose sight of who we are at our core Essence. Patterns and habits get established that can interfere with living life to its fullest and in alignment with core values and highest priority intentions. Cognitive thoughts form belief systems and ways of acting and behaving in the world that are not always in alignment with our core Essence. Emotions can get stored in the physical body, which the cognitive mind may not always be able to fully access without support and guidance.

I work with adults, couples, and teens struggling from an array of issues including depression, anxiety, trauma, abuse, grief, relationship challenges, vocational decisions, and other major life transitions. Helping parents who have gone through divorce and those with blended families is work that is especially close to my heart. I know firsthand the difficulties of these experiences and the immense reward of working through the interpersonal challenges associated with them.

Dan holds a Master of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling as well as a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Portland State University in Portland, Oregon. Before moving to Oregon to attend college, Dan worked as a disc jockey, special education teacher and served in the United States Army. He has more than 15 years of experience serving diverse populations including military veterans, victims of trauma and individuals with developmental disabilities.

So you’re a millennial woman listening to podcasts and reading books about how to show up “bigger” in your life, have more confidence, and create the life you really want. You want to understand and resolve the anxiety you feel when you think about saying no to friends or expressing your true opinions at work. You’re so tired of agreeing to things only to later regret it and then feel guilty if you don’t follow through. Maybe you’re staying in relationships that feel more like an obligation than a true pleasure, resulting in dread or avoidance. Life is really busy with lots of friends, but you’re left feeling empty and unfulfilled.

Are you a college student that is seeking greater mental health and emotional well-being during your college experience? Right now, you are probably trying to answer the question: “Who am I?” This is a time when you can feel 'in-between,' and a little unstable; when your identity, values, personal relationships, living arrangements, social roles are all changing, AND you are trying to be successful in college! Whew, no wonder you feel overwhelmed! That makes sense! You are taking responsibility for yourself, but probably still feel like you are ‘not quite’ an adult. I absolutely love helping people navigate this in-between time.

At Heartafire, we realize that taking the first step to reach out for help can be a daunting one. If you find yourself struggling to manage life's challenges, the past keeps intruding into the present, or you feel yourself trying to manage your symptoms, but it isn't working - therapy can help! Together, we will collaborate on a plan to incorporate a variety of therapy modalities using evidence + strength-based approaches in order to individually meet your needs.

Do you ever feel stuck and confused in trying to understand why you or your child behave a certain way? Childhood trauma, difficult life experiences, relationships, thoughts, and feelings can impact an individual so deeply and can lead to feelings of anxiety, depression, shame, guilt, and doubt. Everyone has their own unique story to tell and I am here to provide a safe space where children, teens, and individuals can process this unique story and walk into a space where understanding meets transformation. In this, my goal as a counselor is to help build healthy connections that foster well-being, change, and growth!

Having a healthy marriage takes work. Many people invest in their retirement, friends, career, church, etc. but neglect investing in their marriage and themselves. You have a lot on your plate. If you are what you eat, (or what you invest in), how are your relationships? I can help you work to bring your marriage back into balance and help you go from pain to peace. Is your marriage and/or family is "okay" but you'd like it to be stellar, let's talk.

My focus for the last 13 years has been in medical social work with an emphasis on serving older adults and their caregivers; The last 7 of which have been dedicated to supporting those affected by cancer. I am deeply committed to understanding how one’s story, through attachment, attunement and life experience informs one’s ability to cope with unforeseen changes and variables. I believe that how one "shows up" in relationship to self and others is usually related to one's limbic response to stress, typically imparted during one's formative years. I work with clients who feel "uprooted" by their life circumstance.

I am passionate about working with folks highly motivated to grow and create positive change in their lives by breaking cycles of abuse and trauma. Clients of mine have described themselves as “too self-aware for therapy” or an “intellectualizer,” often due to the intersection of neurodivergence (ADHD/Autism) and complex trauma.

As an EMDR Certified clinician, I take a different approach to counseling. If you're tired of traditional talk therapy, or want to try EMDR because you've heard others sing its praises, you're in the right place. EMDR is a counseling method that helps people overcome a number of issues including anxiety, self-esteem problems, feeling like an imposter, trying to move on from negative events or trauma and more. Much like the healing that takes place in REM sleep, EMDR heals using eye movements to reprocess the experiences we've had that lead to these concerns so that they sit in the brain differently. And they no longer feel true!

I specialize in working with individuals who are navigating and trying to understand their challenges and relationship to Autism, ADHD, trauma, anxiety, self esteem issues, or, not uncommonly, a combination of the listed. I also enjoy working with a large range of individuals, as I believe each person holds so much value with their unique experience. I also work within other topics such as narcissism, spirituality, LGBTQIA+, life transitions, attachment, and inner child work.

I believe that all of us are changing and growing throughout our lives. At times, we can feel as though we are treading water instead of moving forward. Participating in counseling can help you work through the "stuck places" as you cultivate skills, strengths, enhanced self-esteem and renewed hope for your present and future.

Are you struggling with anxiety or depression? Are you adjusting to a new occupation, move, marriage or divorce? I am honored to walk with you and aid you on or towards your path of personal growth. If you want to develop coping skills for dealing with life's changes and challenges or are someone who wants to go deep to uncover blocks that are keeping you from achieving the happiness you deserve, I am here to walk beside you to meet your goals. I offer Integrative, creative and evidence-based therapy modalities. Psychotherapy can help you lower anxiety and depression and help you achieve your best self.

Beginning the counseling process can be intimidating. I aim to provide clients with a safe and neutral space to share their story and feel wholly accepted without judgment. I believe that inviting the vulnerable parts of ourselves to be seen, heard, and cared for can lay the groundwork for effective therapy. By exploring past and present experiences, thoughts, and feelings, we can identify and alleviate barriers that are preventing you from living the life you desire.

Counseling is a highly personal experience. With hundreds of counselor profiles online, each sounding very similar, how do you choose the counselor who is right for you and your situation? Choose several that meet your criteria of insurance, services provided and issues addressed. Then call and interview them. Within the first few minutes you may be able to discern who is a good fit.