Therapists for college students near Portland, OR

For many of us, the hardest challenge to overcome is to ask for help. If you're reading this, you've already found the courage to start becoming the best version of yourself. While as an individual you are unique, none of us are perfect and we all experience conflict, hardships, and a variety of emotions. I believe our life experiences as well as cultural background influence the way in which we interact with the world. I am a strong proponent of collaboration and I view the therapeutic relationship as a team. I have daytime availability Monday through Thursday. If you feel overwhelmed with all of the changes in your life and in the world around you, or conversely feel numb and detached, let's talk. I practice with a variety of clients, however I specialize in teens and adults experiencing the effects of life changes and transitions, codependency, relationship issues, and managing work/life balance. I have a gentle approach to building relationships combined with down to earth 'real talk' about what can help you feel better. I often incorporate mindfulness techniques into our work together, and am someone who's open to feedback and learning about your unique perspective on the world.

I see therapy as a place for people to be deeply understood and gently challenged to take action on what they value most. I use a collaborative, strengths-based approach to support what is already working for you, including your innate resilience and knowledge, while also targeting areas of struggle. I recognize that healing and change happen in the context of genuine, consistent, and intentional relationships, and strive to bring these things into therapy along with techniques from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing. I also deeply value feminist, queer, and liberation psychologies and draw upon these wisdoms to explore the struggle of being human from a social justice lens. Relatedly, my understanding of systems of oppression, and therefore my orientation to therapeutic practice, are informed by my identities as a White, Jewish, pansexual cisgender woman.

I specialize in college and high school students that are experiencing anxiety, depression and academic stress. Today, young people are faced with prospects for a future that seems uncertain and confusing. Issues such as Covid not only create mental health challenges, but intensify those that were already present. I can help! I'll work one on one with you to overcome the stress, worry and sadness that is blocking you from living fully and reaching your goals. Having been an anxious kid myself, I create an atmosphere of understanding, creativity and humor to help you find strategies to face your fears and move towards your goals with renewed flexibility and confidence. It takes courage to seek out therapy. Give me a call to begin your journey away from stress and towards your strengths and values.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Are you experiencing anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, loneliness, life stressors such as work, college, relationships, or a major life transition? Maybe you're exploring your identity (cultural, racial, life roles, etc.), a child of immigrants, adjusting to disability, or navigating neurodivergence. If any of these things resonate, we may be a good fit to work together. Additionally, I'm drawn to working with those who identify as Highly Sensitive Persons (HSPs) and find themselves feeling out of place, overwhelmed, or unseen. My approach to therapy is relational, collaborative, and flexible. I draw from a range of approaches to help you better understand yourself, notice patterns in thoughts and relationships, and build on your strengths. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or just carrying a lot on your own, you’re welcome to reach out for a free consultation. I offer a space to slow down, sort through what’s coming up for you, feel heard, and seen. I’ll meet you where you are, when you're ready.

Are you feeling anxious or struggling to cope with your worries? Have you experienced trauma in your life & noticing it affecting your life today? Are you wanting to improve your relationship with food and/or your body? Maybe you are wanting to discover more about yourself and how you navigate the world. I believe it’s important to allow time to process experiences, learn about coping skills and also how to find healing in a way that aligns with you and your values. We'll also explore how different parts of yourself can impact you in different life experiences. My practice is culturally sensitive, gender affirming and welcoming to all body sizes. I work through a holistic approach where I believe in including your whole self in therapy, which includes the mind-body connection, your background, values, beliefs, identity and any other important aspects that make up who you are. Therapy can offer you a safe space to process these experiences, discover more about yourself and how you navigate the world. I do my best to meet people where they are. I understand if it’s someone’s first time in therapy or if someone is feeling nervous or hesitant about it, that it takes time to build trust with someone to eventually share your story.

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 am a highly trained psychotherapist and psychoanalyst and I treat adolescents and adults who are struggling with difficulties in living, including depression, anxiety, self esteem, identity, sexual functioning, and career and parenting issues. If you feel lost, alone, worthless, or directionless, I can be of help. Psychotherapy or talk therapy is a collaborative process where we work to identify, explore and change repetitive patterns that may keep you stuck or unfulfilled whether in work, relationships, or life in general. Therapy can help you develop capacities, master traumas, resolve conflicts, gain clarity and perspective and lead a more fulfilling life. I did my psychoanalytic training at the Oregon Psychoanalytic Institute and graduated in 2006. A Training and Supervising Analyst, I am certified by the American Psychoanalytic Association. I am currently the director of the Oregon Psychoanalytic Institute, I teach. train and supervise mental health professionals. Psychoanalysis and Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy are different from other forms of counseling and psychotherapy in that the focus is not just on alleviating symptoms but on understanding and working through out of awareness conflicts, beliefs, fears and patterns that effect current difficulties. Psychotherapy works best in an unhurried atmosphere where sessions are regular and frequent.

You may be coming to sex therapy now because you are needing a bit more expertise around how to talk about and process the sexual relationship with yourself or partner. You may be tired of not feeling good in your body or in your relationship and can remember a time when it felt better. You are ready to find out why you feel so disconnected from yourself and from the person or people you care about most. You’ve been having the same conversations over and over again, arriving at the same destination, and feeling as though you can’t get out of the spiral. You want to feel safe. You want to feel heard. You want to be seen. You are ready to make the commitment to know yourself in a deeper way. We will start by figuring out when you noticed there was a problem. Did something happen? How are you making sense of the problem? What have you tried to fix the problem? At times, getting good information and experimenting is all you need to start feeling good. Sometimes we need to keep digging.

Hello, my name is Sarah Nelson (she/her/hers), I come to my work as a therapist holding tight to the knowledge that all people want to live meaningful lives with deep loving connection to others. Perhaps you are feeling a loss of meaning, a loss of connection, or are in the midst of a life transition and that has led you here. Whatever has led you to seek therapy, I am glad you are here and I welcome you as you are, as you were, and as you would like to be. I approach my work with a desire to connect and to understand, to hold hope, and to guide towards insight. As a counseling psychologist I am trained to work with a wide variety of presenting concerns and within many modalities. My approach to therapy is rooted in warmth and connection and you: who you are, where you come from, and what is meaningful to you. Our work together will be deep and relational. Within this person-centered approach I bring attention to early attachment and current relationships through the lens of feminist liberation psychology. This lens means that I see your context on a historical, local, and cultural scale as inextricable from your current mental health. INDIVIDUAL THERAPY: I provide person-centered, holistic, and contextualized individual counseling that is rooted in attachment, connection, liberation and social justice. I am trained to work with a variety of concerns and using a variety of modalities and most often work with: anxiety, depression, identity development and transitions, grief and loss, relationship concerns, sleep concerns, transgender mental health, sexuality, and existential concerns. COUNSELING FOR TRANSITIONS: The transitions into and out of college and into and out of careers and jobs are frequently moments of fear and anxiety. These transitions can also be seasons of growth in self-understanding and moments for powerful shifts in identity. I have specialized training in career and academic counseling as well as business consultation and leadership development. I offer person-centered, compassionate, and contextualized therapy for these seasons of transformation, whether you are: transitioning from college, moving between jobs, reentering the job-market after family leave, longing for a more balanced work and home life, or developing your ability to lead. PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT: I offer psychosocial affirming evaluations for gender affirming and confirming surgeries and interventions following the WPATH standards of care guidelines. I am able to provide these assessments and letters of support to any resident of Oregon. I am committed to making such assessments accessible. PERINATAL AND PARENTING SUPPORT: The seasons of pregnancy and parenthood are marked by layered, sacred, and complex transitions and changes in identity and relationships. I offer inclusive, holistic, and holding therapy for individuals who are trying to get pregnant, are pregnant, have experienced pregnancy loss or fertility concerns, abortion, miscarriage, or for those who are transitioning to parenthood or have parenting concerns. I am particularly interested in helping individuals build intentional parenting patterns through better understanding of their own relationships and mental health. I have specialized training in life-span development, particularly in prenatal and postpartum counseling and in parenting.

I identify as a queer woman and specialize with LGBT folks. Poly and kink friendly! I may be a good fit for you if you want a therapist who is genuine, transparent, warm, and friendly, who sees you as a unique individual and tailors our work to identify and meet your needs. I bring a social justice lens and understanding of systems of oppression into therapeutic work. I will tell you what I am thinking, will challenge you intellectually, and actively engage with you. I will be open and honest in answering your questions, work collaboratively with you, describe our options, and check in often. Clients often tell me that our work has helped them to sort through their thoughts and feelings to gain clarity, to grow, to learn about themselves, to develop confidence, and to feel empowered to make important decisions. I employ a flexible approach tailored to the needs of each client. I also provide assessments/letters for gender affirming surgery. It is difficult to find the right therapist based on a short profile! Feel free to contact me with any questions. I am currently accepting clients for telehealth only. I accept Aetna, GEHA, Pacific Source, and Meritain insurance and out of network insurance benefits.

I've specialized in helping college students through tough times for almost two decades. Through a warm, down-to-earth, collaborative approach I'll partner with you to achieve your goals for change and find peace with the way life is. By using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with a focus on mindfulness and your unique strengths, I can help you understand and change unhelpful thoughts, feelings and behaviors. My specialty areas include managing anxiety, coping with stress around relationships, family, work, life and world transitions, improving self esteem and living with ADHD. Through our work you'll develop a better awareness of who you are, what you want and how to get it. I'll help you discover and feel confident in yourself, and figure out how to live the life you desire. Together we'll identify problem areas or places where you feel stuck and find new ways of responding to create more enjoyable, fulfilling outcomes. Change is always possible, even when problems feel insurmountable. Making an appointment for therapy is often a brave first step in the healing and growth process. I offer a free, initial phone consultation to see if we'd be a good fit. Any time you're are ready to chat, I'd love to hear from you.

My ideal client is someone who is ready to engage in reclaiming their personal power. Therapy is just as much about unlearning, as it is learning. I enjoy working with folks who have a history of "people pleasing" and who have experienced emotional abuse. In particular I enjoy working with those who have experienced narcissistic abuse, and are looking to come back into contact with feeling grounded in their own reality again. I have a broad range of experience working with folks from many different walks of life. What I can help you with is finding a way to feel at peace, and guide you towards feeling stronger and more centered. We will do this by processing your lived experiences, how this has impacted you and by implementing new ways of being and thinking. I invite you to reach out to me if any of this resonates with you. Starting therapy can be a daunting endeavor to embark on. The world has been an exceptionally hard place these past few years. You deserve some support, some peace, and the gift of self care. I am here and ready to support you.

Modern Outlook LLC owned by Demetrio Sanchez, LCSW, founded in 2017, has teamed up with Restore Therapy LLC to provide in-person and virtual mental health and performance coaching to local athletes in the Pacific Northwest and nationally. Driven out of their own experiences of being collegiate athletes and then later acquiring training as mental health professionals, it became obvious that there was a need for mental health support specific to athletes. The partnership aims to meet that need. Modern Outlook has developed the niche of performance-focused mental health services over the course of serving a range of competitive athletes in every sport.

Margaret has over 25 years of experience working in various areas of the field of Mental Health. Margaret specializes in trauma, abuse, special needs, loss and grief and life transitions. She has training in Sensory Integration, Neuroeducation, Applied Behavioral Analysis, EMDR, and Life Span Integration. Her background and life experiences led her to a multivariate approach when collaborating with clients and the people who support them. She has been trained in traditional therapies but prefers modalities such as Lifespan Integration, EMDR, and Neuroeducation. She works with the client through a learning process anchored in movement to treat at the root cause while activating, integrating, and building on positive connections within their relationship with self, family and others. Margaret has been with her husband for 33 years. They have two adopted children and a biological son with severe complex neurological conditions resulting in severe behaviors and medical challenges.

Hello! College is a wild ride, full of questions about who you are, where you're headed, and how to juggle all of the changes. I've navigated my share of life's transitions too, so I know how overwhelming it can all feel. As your therapist, I'm here to offer a supportive, compassionate space where you can sort through it all. My approach is warm and collaborative, I'm here to help you gain clarity and confidence as you move through this time of change. I draw from evidence-based approaches, strength-based and trauma-informed care. Together we'll build tools and perspectives that support your growth and well-being.

My work is based on mindful and somatic approaches.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

I believe in therapy as a mutual journey of healing and discovery, where both client and therapist grow together. I specialize in working with refugees, immigrants, their first-generation children, and individuals with LGBTQIA2S+ identities. My clients have genuine desire to explore their authentic selves despite having navigated complex trauma, cultural displacement, or identity-based discrimination, they are ready to engage in deep, transformative work towards liberation.

I love working with individuals and couples from varied backgrounds, especially BIPOC, historically marginalized, immigrant, and LGBTQIA+ identities. I support clients facing anxiety, depression, negative self-talk, grief, loss, abuse, trauma, life transitions, relationship issues, or self-worth issues. I'm passionate about helping you break old patterns, develop emotional regulation skills, and set healthy boundaries that honor your needs. If this resonates, then know you are not alone.