Therapy Services

On sabbatical with anticipated return November 2025. When my practice is active all services are provided by telehealth.

I have expertise treating the following:

• Anxiety (Social Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Phobias, and others). 
• Depression
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) (i.e., intrusive, unwanted thoughts and compulsive mental acts or behaviors)
• Trauma (PTSD and recovery from neglectful or narcissistic relationships)
• Adult Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• Relationships (improving communication and intimacy, resolving trauma, divorce, infidelity, nurturing security, etc) 

Also:

• Work stress and work/life balance
• Life Transitions (adjusting between jobs, cities, relationships, lifestyle)
• Millennial generational challenges
• Navigating political realities
• Chronic Pain or Illness
• Bipolar Disorder
• Anger Management
• Eating Disorders
• Sexual Compulsivity
• Cognitive changes due to brain injury or stroke
• Schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders
• Substance Abuse
• Sleeping Problems (e.g., Insomnia, Sleep Apnea)
• GLBTQI friendly
• Grief

My Practice

My practice consists of teens, adults, and couples. I also commonly work with family members or friends to improve their relationships.

I help my clients to make positive changes and live within their values. Therapy is tailored to fit your specific needs. I use techniques from evidenced-based treatments such as Mindfulness-Based Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (MCBT), Exposure with Response Prevention (ERP), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Internal Family Systems (IFS) Psychodynamic Theory, and Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT). These are evidence-based approaches that have positive clinical outcomes. I also approach therapy in the following ways:

• Relationship- The most important healing occurs in the context of the relationship between the client and therapist. An objective perspective in an atmosphere of trust, free of judgment is an essential foundation for therapy.

• Insight- Understanding how present feelings and actions relate to past events and relationships offers valuable understanding of recurrent behaviors.

• Education and Skills Training – New information to inspire problem solving skills and strategies can be integral to change.

• Exercise and Nutrition- Physical health and balancing body chemistry, specifically brain chemistry, is fundamental to a sense of well being.

Services are provided in my office or as needed via teletherapy visits (i.e., video over the internet). For specific cases I offer out-of-office visits for an additional fee.

Individual Psychotherapy – One on one 50 minute sessions.

Couple’s Counseling – Couple’s sessions are 50 or 90 minute duration, depending on prior agreement.

For billing and rates questions please click here to read the FAQ.

Therapy works best when there is a good match between the therapist and client. This allows a sense of safety, which allows the client to be more fully honest about his or her issues. Throughout our work together, I encourage clients to let me know what is and isn’t working in therapy so we can do our best work together.

Feel free to call me at 503-660-8549 to answer any questions you have about whether my approach to therapy might feel like a good “fit.” I’m here to help, even if that means you might work better with another professional.

Individual Therapy Specialties

Relationships

Support for those seeking to create, maintain, or leave a relationship(s).
Common issues addressed:

Anxiety Disorders

I specialize in the treatment of anxiety disorders. I typically approach treatment for anxiety using Mindfulness-Based Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (MCBT) and/or exposure therapy (ERP). I provide education about why you have anxiety and how it happens, skills to manage it, and support for long-term benefits. As needed, I offer treatment outside of the office (e.g., in-home or in public) to help people address certain kinds of anxiety that cannot be treated in the office alone (e.g., some phobias, social anxiety).

You may have anxiety if you often feel overwhelmed, have difficulty feeling calm, have problems controlling worry, or have feelings of dread or apprehension. Other, less discussed problems associated with anxiety are many physical conditions (e.g., Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Crohn’s Disease, heart palpitations, high blood pressure, etc).

Whether your stress comes from work, relationships, physical conditions, a difficult life history (including trauma), and/or a very busy lifestyle, I have extensive experience treating a variety of anxiety disorders including Panic Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Agoraphobia, Hypochondriasis, and Phobias.

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Depression

Depression is one of the most debilitating mental health conditions that affects the entire mind and body. Not many people understand what it feels like having a dark cloud over your life. Or that getting out of bed to boil water for tea might as well be like trying to run a marathon. And that you can’t just “will” your way out of depression. Many people with depression struggle everyday trying to wear a mask of normalcy, and wearing this mask is exhausting.

As with many other mental health conditions, the stigma of depression is real. Whether you have experienced depression for years or have fallen into a funk and just can’t seem to break out, know that there are effective treatments for depression. Treatment approaches differ depending on the depression profile, but I typically use MCBT to alleviate symptoms, and relationship-focused interventions if the quality of a person’s relationships are a factor.

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Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

For many people they know they are bright, capable, and creative, yet have difficulty with focus on certain tasks, or have difficulty following through and completing their goals despite best intentions. People with ADHD often struggle with feeling easily distracted, their mind feels “busy,” as if a hundred interesting post-it notes are floating through the air and each one begs to be read and understood. Maybe their loved ones get angry and feel they don’t listen, or are careless, or just plain forget things too often. Perhaps they feel they never fit into a “box,” were different from others, yet always found a means to the end – even if that meant not following the traditional path.

Having assessed and treated hundreds of people with ADHD, I employ a comprehensive strategy to assess, educate, coach, and help people develop skills to manage symptoms of ADHD. If you or your loved ones suspect you may have ADHD, an accurate diagnosis and subsequent treatment can be absolutely life-changing. Treatment does not have to include medication, but for many it does help.

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Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

OCD is a condition characterized by intrusive and distressing thoughts or images that create anxiety (obsessions), and compulsive behaviors or mental acts that are performed to reduce that anxiety (compulsions).

I have specialty training in the treatment of OCD as certified by the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF) and provided by the Behavior Therapy Training Institute (BTTI).

Outcome studies show the most effective treatment for OCD is Exposure with Response Prevention, or ERP, and this is the treatment I provide for OCD. Treatment for OCD is typically provided in my office; however, because many OCD symptoms only occur in specific situations, and the office environment is not always appropriate to elicit OCD triggers, I offer in-home or out-of-office visits on as as needed basis for an additional fee.

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Trauma

One of the best ways I’ve heard trauma described is the felt experience of the past distorting the safety of the present. I have received specialized training using an approach called Internal Family Systems (IFS), which helps us understand the relationship between parts of our past (i.e., trauma memories) and our present way of being (how we’ve learned to cope with our trauma). 

In therapy I support my clients in healing from their trauma through exercises that help reconsolidate painful memories into ones that embody safety and compassion in the present moment. Another important part of the work is reshaping our trauma stories from one of pain and powerlessness into strength, resiliency, and empowerment. Many of my clients have experienced a history of trauma from their family of origin, abusive relationships, or combat. Creating feelings of safety and regaining our confidence is a hopeful outcome of this work. 

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