Therapists for college students near Portland State University
My work is based on Mindfulness, Buddhist Psychology, and Gestalt Therapy. All are adept approaches to increasing awareness of our embodied experience and discovering more authentic ways of living a fulfilling life. My approach works to help clients develop resiliency, emotional flexibility, and explore the careful balance between acceptance and change. I support clients’ process of deepening into a more compassionate and loving relationship with themselves and the world by accepting who they truly are. Simultaneously, I challenge people to examine and move beyond rigid, habitual beliefs or behaviors and develop more alive, creative, and connective ways of being in the world.
kztherapy.com/meet-the-team Life is hard sometimes. Our goal is to support our clients through the hard sometimes and to heal, learn, grow, and adapt. We offer in-person and virtual options for individual, couples, and family therapy. Our sincere hope is to help you find ways to heal and learn from the past, find peace and contentment in the present, and embrace the future with optimism. Our team's diverse training and experience uniquely position us to work with clients from many walks of life searching for a better way forward. To find out more about the team at KZ Therapy, see actual pictures of us (that's Pippa, one of our office's emotional support dogs, in the picture), and to determine the best therapeutic fit for you, please visit us at kztherapy.com/meet-the-team. We look forward to hearing from you!
Dr. Kittinger is passionate about entering into the depths and carving out an intentional space that cultivates curiosity and authentic connection. As a relational psychodynamic therapist, Dr. Kittinger’s approach to therapy focuses on transformational change through the context of relationship. She engages her patients with a balance of acknowledging suffering and challenging difficult patterns to facilitate each persons own unique healing. Dr. Kittinger prioritizes the authenticity of the moment, attending to and unlocking conscious and unconscious patterns of how we relate to ourselves, to others, and to the world around us. She utilizes a soft but direct approach to explore with each patient what it means to increase awareness into their own needs, wants, and to increase agency in their own lives. Wherever you are at in your process, her hope is to co-create a space open to deep and thoughtful self-reflection established gradually with trust and safety to take steps toward healing, transformation, and personal fulfillment. Dr. Kittinger meets with patients in-person and virtually and is licensed in Oregon and Washington.
I am a social worker, musician, and expressive arts therapist. I believe everyone is innately creative, and each person has within them what they need to heal and change. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Oregon and Louisiana, and a Registered Expressive Arts Therapist (REAT). I use a multi-arts, or intermodal, approach in individual and group therapy and facilitating. This means I use movement, visual art, music, writing, and mindfulness as therapeutic tools to initiate healing and change. Since this work is based on the creative process and not the resulting product, no background or training in the arts is required to benefit.
Feeling foggy or like you're in a dream (in a bad way)? Feeling detached from your body or your joy? At the risk of sounding like an infomercial, I'm passionate about helping clients feel more present, embodied, and connected whether they're experiencing grief, dissociation (depersonalization or derealization), or burn out. I work best with folks who are motivated to put in work inside and outside of session in order to inch closer to change. There is so much to grieve in the world right now but I'll be alongside you to sit in the messy feelings and cheer on your wins. I use experiential (creative) and somatic (body-focused) techniques for additional ways of processing grief, loss, or disconnection. Experientially, we might write, make art, use music, or create a tangible coping tool you can use. Somatically, this might mean grounding exercises, movement, guided visualizations, or just pausing and noticing the body. Your healing process is important and I don’t believe in taking away coping mechanisms that have allowed you to survive until now. Instead, the idea is to explore different options to help you sift through complicated situations or feelings and help you evaluate what's no longer serving you. Reach out if we might be a good fit. I'd love to hear from you!
I provide individual therapy to people ages 18 and up. I specialize in working with queer and trans people, pot-stirrers, and outsiders. I enjoy working with people who are confronting major identity shifts, people who are navigating issues with their families of origin, and people who are trying to envision a future they never imagined themselves in (What is middle age? What is aging in queer spaces? How can I live meaningfully in late stage capitalism?).
Brave Hope Counseling offers experienced, inclusive and compassionate Mental Health Counseling in Oregon and Washington. Please visit our website for more information. www.BraveHopeCounseling.com
Many of my clients come in feeling weighed down by anxiety, ADHD, chronic illness, eating and body image concerns, and patterns like perfectionism and people-pleasing that feel hard to break. I also work with trauma, relationship patterns, and stress related to school, work, or life transitions. This includes teens and young adults navigating growing independence, or those experiencing family stress such as divorce or major changes at home. I take a relational, collaborative approach to therapy. I draw from CBT, DBT, ACT, Motivational Interviewing, and person-centered therapy in flexible, realistic ways that fit your life. As someone who is neurodivergent and lives with chronic illness, I bring perspectives from both my clinical training and lived experience into our work. Therapy can be a space to slow down and make sense of what you are going through. My role is to help you better understand yourself by uncovering what gets in your way and what actually helps. If you are looking for support, I would be glad to connect and see if working together feels like a good fit.
Welcome. I'm so glad you're here. I view therapy as a means of achieving personal transformation and a way to navigate the challenges of life. So often, we come to counseling not because we don't know what we "should” or “could" do differently, but because we feel stuck. I am committed to walking alongside you and providing opportunities for you to move through challenges, to heal, and to connect with your inner resilience. My theoretical approach is rooted in mindfulness-based cognitive behavioral and somatic focused therapy. I approach my work through a trauma-informed lens, which means that I prioritize a sense of safety and compassion when I work with clients. I have specialized experience and training in perinatal mental health, meaning your mental and emotional well-being during pregnancy, birth and postpartum stages. I am a certified EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) therapist and have completed training in Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, both are body-centered ways to process emotions and experiences. I am currently studying interpersonal neurobiology and enjoy deepening my understanding of mental health through neuroscience. I am also a registered yoga instructor and often call on the tools of yoga and mindfulness practices. Depending on your needs, we may use some or all of these strategies to achieve your goals. I come to private practice with a background in primary care medical clinics providing integrated behavioral health counseling, and have worked as a child and family therapist and with survivors of domestic and sexual violence. I graduated from Portland State University in 2011 with a Masters in Social Work, during which time I completed internships with a refugee resettlement program and at OHSU’s Center for Women's Health. My work as a therapist is grounded in social justice and I am committed to making my practice welcoming as possible for everybody. I am a queer and trans affirming provider and work from an intersectional and anti-oppressive lens.
We have experience working with youth, adults, couples, and families from many different cultures, socio-economic, sexual orientations, situations, and needs. We use different techniques and strategies to help you get to the root of the problem, make conscious change to find stability, growth, problem resolution, and emotional relief. Some of the techniques and interventions we use are: EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy for trauma attachment based treatment. (For more information about EMDR. www.emdr.com) Neurofeedback Person Focused Therapy Family Systems Therapy Psychodynamic Therapy Dialectical Behavioral Therapy Cognitive Therapy Solution Focused Therapy Interpersonal Techniques Collaborative Problem Solving Interventions Mindfulness Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Relaxation and Sleep Hygiene Technique
As a Licensed Marriage Family Therapist, I specialize in helping students navigate the unique challenges of personal, academic, and social stressors. My approach is built on understanding each individual’s story, and I offer a safe, supportive space for you to explore your thoughts, feelings, and experiences. I believe in the power of self-discovery and transformation through the therapeutic process. Billing Information: I accept OHP, OOP, and offer super bills for out of network. Approach: With a focus on anxiety, depression, self-esteem, stress management, and relationship issues, I offer a variety of therapeutic techniques tailored to your needs. Drawing from Narrative Therapy, we’ll work together to rewrite problematic stories that might be holding you back, empowering you to take control of your narrative and identity. Through Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), we’ll address unhelpful thinking patterns that contribute to anxiety, depression, and stress, and replace them with more balanced, realistic perspectives. I also integrate Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), especially for those facing relationship challenges, helping you understand and improve emotional connections with others. In addition, I incorporate Existential Therapy, which encourages deep exploration of meaning, purpose, and identity, helping you find fulfillment and clarity during the sometimes overwhelming college years. Whether you’re struggling with academic pressure, navigating personal relationships, or seeking to build stronger self-worth, I’m here to help you achieve growth and healing. My approach is collaborative, empathetic, and non-judgmental, focusing on your strengths and potential. Together, we will create practical tools and strategies to build resilience, improve mental well-being, and help you thrive both personally and academically.
I offer individual therapy for people recovering from unhealthy relationships and interpersonal trauma. I also provide gender affirming therapy and WPATH letters for gender affirming surgeries. I create a supportive space in which you can feel seen, understood, and accepted, and in which your lived experience and your values are centered. I offer in-person therapy sessions in Portland, Oregon, and telehealth sessions throughout California and Oregon. I admire the bravery it takes to begin therapy. For those of us who have been harmed in relationships, it takes time to build trust. Together, we'll decide on a pace and process that feels safe and supportive. Visit flourishauthentically.com for more info and to request a free 15-minute call so you can decide if I'm the best fit for your healing journey. My experience and how I work: My work has been dedicated to serving survivors of unhealthy relationships and interpersonal trauma (e.g. intimate partner violence, sexual assault, community violence, immigration trauma, intergenerational trauma, and systemic and historical oppression). I’ve specialized in supporting people living with HIV/AIDS, complex health issues, chronic pain, and substance use in relationship to trauma. I’ve worked extensively with gender-expansive (Transgender, Gender Nonconforming, Genderqueer, etc.) clients and provided WPATH assessments/letters for gender affirming surgeries. I am a compassionate, experienced, and affirming therapist, working from a feminist and liberatory framework. I identify as a white, queer, cisgender able-bodied woman with lived experience relevant to my work. I think about identity, suffering, and healing in the context of the oppressive systems that impact peoples’ lives (e.g. patriarchy, white supremacy, homophobia, transphobia, racism, xenophobia, fatphobia, ableism, etc.), and understand that healing ourselves in turn benefits our loved ones and communities. I create a supportive space in which you can feel seen, understood, believed, and in which your lived experience and your values are centered. I am aware of the power dynamics that exist in a therapeutic relationship, especially when our identities differ, and welcome this often-avoided issue into the room. No need to perform or edit yourself. This is a chance to show up as your full brave self.
Do you feel overwhelmed by that pile of laundry in the corner of your room, or that stack of dishes in the kitchen? Do you bounce your leg endlessly or fidget with anything within reach? Do you ever hyperfixate on something for hours and completely lose track of time? Are you easily distracted? Forgetful? Do you find yourself interrupting others? Are you motivated by challenge? What about urgency? If so, not to fret, you’re in the right place! I too have struggled with these same issues, but I have also learned to find the joy in my ADHD. Likewise, I would like to help you learn to harness your creativity, quick thinking, and unique perspective on life. Not only will we collaborate on discovering effective time management, emotional regulation, and organizational techniques that work for you. But we will go beyond that and bring to light the ways in which we can empower you in finding your ADHD “superpower”. Together we can explore topics such as diagnosis, medication, and accommodations. We may also discuss sensory issues, shame, relationships and whatever else you would like to bring into the room. If this sounds like a journey you’re ready to start, please reach out! I’d love to walk this path alongside you.
My counseling style is warm, compassionate, casual and accepting. I want you to know you are seen and heard, and I am curious about what it’s like to be you in the world. I strongly believe that you are the expert on you and that, once given a little time to breathe in a safe space, you will begin to connect to important parts of yourself that will foster healing and growth. I will be your partner in this process, helping you to gain fresh insight, feel self-compassion, and see your strengths.
Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.
Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.
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)
My practice is guided by the belief that every person strives to do the best they can. The individual or family system may need assistance in developing necessary skills and guidance in solving problems. Working collaboratively with clients I help them to narrate new ways of interacting with their environment. I work with several young adults / young professionals as they navigate major life transitions (college, grad school, careers, families and parenting) and the accompanying challenges (ie: depression, anxiety, ADHD, isolation, imposter syndrome, challenging relationships, perfectionism). A major part of my practice is helping clients with trauma - esp developmental trauma.
Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.
ADHD. Depression. Anxiety. Social Anxiety. We love helping students thrive. This is what we do best! We are a warm, safe, welcoming small group on a mission to help you discover your ideal health. We offer primarily medication management and evaluation. We offer convenient scheduling (in-person and tele-health), direct communication with providers and sufficient time to discuss your needs. We consider the whole person when considering your care needs. We know that college brings all kinds of unique challenges-balancing family, school, friends, work and fun can create all kinds of chaos. We will work to help you figure out the balance. Fill out an intro form as the first step before a quick intro call.