Therapists for college students near Portland State University
College is a lot. Classes, deadlines, friends, jobs, family, figuring out your future—it can feel overwhelming. If you’re stressed, anxious, struggling with food and body image, or just not feeling like yourself, you don’t have to go through it alone. As a therapist, I create a supportive space where you can talk things out, learn tools to handle stress, and feel more grounded. Therapy is about helping you rise from the tough stuff and thrive in this season of your life.
Many of my clients are college students and young adults navigating anxiety, ADHD, Autism, chronic illness, eating disorders, body image concerns, perfectionism, and people-pleasing. I also support clients working through trauma, relationship challenges, burnout, and the many transitions that come with growing into adulthood. Whether you are feeling overwhelmed by expectations, disconnected from yourself, or unsure of what comes next, therapy can be a space to slow down, make sense of your experiences, and reconnect with what matters to you. I take a relational and collaborative approach to therapy, integrating evidence-based approaches including ACT, CBT, Motivational Interviewing, DBT, and Compassion Focused Therapy with feminist, person-centered, and strengths-based perspectives. I believe therapy is not about changing who you are, but about understanding yourself more deeply, building self-compassion, and finding tools that support a life that feels meaningful to you. My approach is grounded in genuine connection, curiosity, and authenticity. As someone who is neurodivergent and lives with chronic illness, I bring both personal and professional experience to understanding the ways our minds, bodies, and environments influence our experiences. I strive to create an LGBTQIA+ affirming, neurodiversity-affirming, and weight-inclusive space where you feel seen, heard, and valued. I recognize that our mental health is shaped by many parts of our lives, including our identities, relationships, communities, and the world around us. Together, we can explore what has shaped you, challenge patterns that no longer serve you, and create space for growth and meaningful change. Outside of work, you’ll usually find me spending time with my three cats, enjoying nature, reading, exploring creative projects, or finding ways to make space for rest, play, and community.
Our life experiences impact who we are and who we become. The positive experiences stay with us, but the negative experiences stay with us as well. Sometimes it helps to look at all these experiences – both positive and negative to help us gain a deeper understanding of ourselves. The relationships we have had throughout our lives are also deeply influential in shaping who we are and our current relationships. Therapy can be helpful in giving each person a greater sense and deeper understanding of who they are and how their relationships and experiences have impacted them. By looking at all these pieces we can place them together to form a whole picture.
Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.
I am a licensed clinical psychologist with 15 years of experience treating adolescents and adults. My approach to psychotherapy is warm, empathic, and compassionate. I treat each individual professionally and with respect. I appreciate the uniqueness of each patient and emphasize listening closely and thoughtfully, as we all possess the ability to tell our story regarding our strengths and our challenges, even when we sometimes do not realize it. I strive to create a safe environment where you can feel open to express and explore your feelings and experiences, without judgment or emphasis on what is “right” or “wrong.” I believe that therapy is an opportunity to learn more about ourselves and to express our feelings freely, in an effort to learn new methods of dealing with problems, being in relationships, and pursuing our dreams. My private practice is largely informed by modern psychoanalytic theory. I provide individual, couple, family, and group psychotherapy. I integrate themes of social justice throughout my practice, and am particularly thoughtful about the role that various cultural identifications, and their intersection, play in mental health and treatment. I also provide education, consultation, and training to professionals and students. A central aspect of my clinical thinking focuses on the role of power, privilege, and cultural dominance. Knowledge, concepts, and meaning are not developed on a solely individual basis, but rather are created through coordination and communication with others. Language is fundamentally important – it is the most essential way in which we construct reality. Our psychological experiences, including emotions, thoughts, somatic/bodily sensations, are subsequently developed within this context. I view problems in living, therefore, as relational, contextual, interpretive, and situated within the dominant discourse, expression, response, and cultural norms.
Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.
Do you overthink things or ever feel burnt out? What about after an issue happens, do you fixate on it, obsess over it, or think about the worst possible outcomes? How difficult is it to concentrate and stay focused on what needs to get done? What about your patience, has it run thin enough that you’re finding yourself more easily annoyed or frustrated by things? Managing anxiety is no easy feat, especially when anxiety symptoms can show up in so many different ways. How do you work through anxiety? Do you try not to think about it? When faced with anxiety symptoms, the tendency to avoid, control, or suppress is automatic, as these are the coping strategies that make the most sense. After all, why would you want to feel frustrated or worried. Although these forms of coping may work, they are often only effective for a short while—I’d venture to say you’ve already discovered this. You may have also noticed these forms of coping have created additional problems, such as poor sleep quality, social isolation, performance issues at work or school, or excessive use of social media—the list goes on. With an effective, evidence-based approach to managing anxiety, you’ll feel more at ease and be better able to work through the obstacles of life—paving a path for you to achieve your goals.
I am a licensed professional counselor (LPC) and received my Masters degree in Counseling from Lewis & Clark Graduate School of Education and Counseling in 2013. I am a trained Sensorimotor Psychotherapist (Level 1), EMDR trained, Certified Yoga Practitioner (CYP-500), have training in facilitating Trauma Recovery and Empowerment groups (TREM) and Saber Es Poder (SEP) groups. Additionally, I have completed 30 hours of teacher training in Pranayama studies (yogic breathwork). I incorporate these core areas of education in my therapeutic approach. As a somatically focused mental health therapist, I integrate a body-centered approach in which the wisdom of the body assists the therapeutic process. Within this approach, I encourage clients to listen and honor the signals that the body provides. I value supporting my clients tell their stories as they have experienced them, explore emotions and understand thinking patterns that influence their relationship to themselves and others. I support my clients explore and understand the ways in which culture, language, family, community and the many aspects of identity influence their experience. I value approaching my work with collaboration, humility, focus and curiosity. I can support you and provide guidance as we explore, understand and find ways to make shifts to create the balance and changes you desire.
I'm a bilingual, bicultural, working-class immigrant and white cisgender woman who grew up in three distinct countries. My lived experience shapes my belief that culture is vital for understanding both myself and my clients. Having navigated cultural transitions, I deeply empathize with the challenges faced by immigrants and those balancing multiple cultural and racial identities. I welcome clients from all backgrounds, providing inclusive and affirming care. My practice integrates multicultural competence, mindfulness, Polyvagal, and attachment theories through a social justice lens. Therapy with me is deeply relational and built on mutual respect, cultural humility, and a shared dedication to your healing journey. I aim to recognize your strengths while planting new awareness, trusting in your inner guidance to integrate insights toward growth. Together, we'll explore the intricacies of your story, drawing upon your heritage and lived experiences. Ultimately, I see you as the prime mover of change, while I'm here to create a nurturing space for you to engage vulnerability with self-acceptance.
I’m passionate about and dedicated to helping people achieve meaningful and sustainable changes that align with their core values and aspirations. I deeply enjoy working with adolescents, college students, and young adults. I have a lot of experience supporting the LGBTQIA+ and neurodiverse communities. I believe therapy is most successful when we find the path that truly supports the growth you’re seeking. In our work together, we will find an approach that fits your unique needs, drawing from my experience with a range of therapeutic orientations, including trauma-informed therapy, CBT, Mindfulness, and relational approaches. When I’m not working, I enjoy skiing, traveling, hiking, and exploring the outdoors. I also love curling up with a good book, watching a great movie or TV show, and most of all, I cherish spending time with friends and loved ones. If you are interested in working with me, please navigate to Aspire Psychology's website and click "Schedule an Appointment". Education & Licenses: MSW, Simmons University Clinical Social Worker, OR #L15328 | MA #123176 EMDR Certification (In Progress)
I help people access greater psychological and emotional wellness by working through trauma, unhealthy relational patterns, and old beliefs. If you find that family or romantic relationships are difficult, you are socially isolated, your career or school performance is suffering, or you struggle with anxiety, depression or loss, therapy can help. Our work together can allow you to cultivate deeper self-understanding and acceptance, which are the stepping-stones to a more vital, engaged, and fulfilling life. I am experienced working with depression, anxiety, and other mental health diagnoses, but I never see my clients as simply a diagnosis. I see race, ethnicity, class, sexual orientation, gender identity, ability, and age as relevant to your experience and to therapy.
We’re a counseling community creating social impact through therapeutic experiences. We help people grow their resilience. We specialize in working through stress, life transitions, anxiety, depression, compassion fatigue, spiritual complexities, grief, trauma, identity development, relationship stressors, fertility-pregnancy-postpartum journeys, and end-of-life emotional support. We work with individuals, relationships, and workplaces.
Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.
Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.
Some of my specialty areas include working with clients who have experienced attachment trauma in their families of origin and have struggled with codependency or self-worth wounds. I frequently work with queer clients and with those who are questioning or exploring meaning and purpose relative to their larger societal or spiritual life, particularly those who find themselves outside the mainstream in their sexuality, beliefs, or social values. I provide assistance with communications, boundary-setting and interpersonal difficulties and focus on depth and narrative work with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy framing, including present-moment and somatic emphasis of emotional experience.
My clients struggle like you do. Despite being intelligent, kind, and creative, life is hard. When we first begin therapy, my clients feel like their relationships are lacking. They’re having issues with family, friends, and partners. They wonder why they keep having the same experiences in relationships, and what they can do about it. They wish they knew why things keep playing out in the same way. They feel like they’re not good enough, and that it’s their fault. All too often, they blame themselves for the struggles that they’re experiencing. Their self-criticism and relationship challenges get in the way of the life they want in so many ways. They feel like they’re failing at being an adult, and their confidence at work or school is suffering. Before they came to see me, my clients weren’t sure if they were ready for therapy. They worried that they might not feel safe opening up. They were pretty certain that they couldn’t be helped, but keeping it all inside was feeling like too much to bear. Like my clients, you deserve to feel good about yourself and your relationships.
The Pacific Center for Mind and Health is a new mental health clinic serving the needs of the Portland community. We are committed to providing compassionate, evidence-based care to support the mental health and well-being of our clients. Our team of highly trained and experienced mental health professionals specializes in treating a range of mental health conditions that can impact your overall mental health and wellness. We understand that realizing that you can use some help is one of the hardest steps in an individual's mental health journey. It is our goal to make the process as easy as possible by providing a welcoming and inclusive environment that is designed to allow judgement free introspection. Our personalized approach ensures that we tailor our services to meet your individual needs and goals. If you are ready to take the first step towards a healthier, happier life, we invite you to reach out and schedule an appointment with us. We look forward to working with you to help you achieve your best possible mental health and wellness.
In my practice I work with children, teens, and adults who are having a hard time understanding, communicating about, and coping with their emotions and experiences. I enjoy collaborating with folks to find the right therapeutic container for the work that will offer ease, growth, and healing in daily life and beyond.This looks different for everyone and I’ve found that art, music, play therapy, and somatic inquiry are some of the ways I lean into building a therapeutic container that is attuned to each person's unique needs. I have experience and strength in working with 2SLGBTQIA+, BIPOC, Chronically sick, Disabled, Neurodiverse, Children, Youth, Families, and Communities with a focus on cultural experiences, queer and trans experiences, life transitions, and trauma recovery.