Therapists for college students near Portland, OR

I work with those who are committed to the long-term work of healing complex trauma and attachment wounding through experiential work. I specialize in working with activists, artists and healers, and particularly those who are ready for deep transformative healing, so they can better do their work in the world, from a place of clarity and internal peace.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker providing individual therapy for adolescents and adults, and family therapy for children (4-18 years old) and their caregivers. I have over a decade of experience working in healthcare, social services, and mental health treatment, and seek to create a peaceful, trauma-informed atmosphere where my clients can feel safe processing their emotions and experiences. I hold a Master of Social Work Degree from Portland State University, and have undergraduate education in public health, aging across the lifespan, and substance use counseling. I grew up in a large, diverse city and had the opportunity to interact with people of all different cultures, ages, and life paths. This has directly influenced my counseling perspective. I offer an eclectic approach, providing different therapy models and interventions to match the diversity of the client experience. What helps one person may not be ideal for another, and I am here to support each client as they explore the routes that inspire them. I draw from psychodynamic therapy, nondirective therapy, motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, Jungian therapy, and others. I also offer psychoeducation and coaching in anger management, conflict resolution, and nonviolent communication. I offer play therapy, parent coaching, and collaborative problem solving for families with young children. I regularly attend seminars, trainings, and other forms of continuing education to better serve my clients and expand my treatment offering. Here are some of the challenges and symptoms I work with: -Anxiety -Trauma -Depression -Anger -Loneliness -Substance use disorders -Compulsive behaviors and process addictions -Grief and other major life losses and changes -Men’s issues -Romantic relationship difficulties -Eating disorders and body image challenges -Difficulty with finding meaning and self-actualization -ADHD -Sensory processing issues -Dissociation and dissociative identity disorder -Communication and conflict -Processing the return home after periods of incarceration -Stigma and prejudice -Chronic health diagnoses When I’m not working with clients, you’ll usually find me spending time with my family and pets (two dogs and a cat!), playing chess, reading everything from Stephen King to historical nonfiction, playing guitar, and watching all types of films.

Therapy is completely different for each individual because everyone is going through different issues and have personalized goals. From a strengths-based perspective, I work to empower clients to gain the skills necessary to address and resolve problems, change behaviors, improve relationships and navigate and cope with stressors. During your session, we will explore your thoughts, feelings, habits, and experiences to gain a better understanding of yourself and to develop coping skills to achieve goals and improve your well-being. I place a strong emphasis on developing insight and empathy within a non-judgmental and compassionate environment. I have over 14 years of experience practicing as a nurse and working within social services providing counseling and care coordination to adolescents, adults, and families. My therapeutic background is rooted in medical and health psychology, assisting individuals and families coping with normal or unwanted transitions, chronic illness, end of life issues, and those experiencing symptoms of anxiety and depression. ​ I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker through the Oregon Board of Licensed Social Workers and I am an active member of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW).

Welcome! My name is Molly Sterling and I am an able bodied, White, cis woman. I provide individual, trauma-focused therapy to adults 18+. I work with adults in individual therapy focused on healing past trauma, developing effective coping strategies to manage anxiety or panic symptoms, or navigating a difficult life transition, such as new parenthood. I particularly enjoy working with perfectionists, people employed in the helping professions, and individuals who find it hard to "get out their heads". I would describe my therapeutic style as relational and eclectic, meaning I don’t adhere to one modality exclusively. I am trained in Somatic and Attachment Focused (SAFE) EMDR and also utilize modalities such as IFS/Parts Work, Mindfulness, Compassion-Focused Therapy, and expressive arts in my work with clients. I believe in the power of connection and curiosity, and I strive to meet clients with compassion, wherever they are on their healing journeys. I am committed to providing therapy that is collaborative, responsive, and affirming. Though I do not identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ community, I am an ally and am committed to understanding dynamics of privilege and oppression. I am neurodivergent affirming and Health at Every Size informed. I am currently seeing clients virtually on Thursdays from 9am to 6pm, with more availability coming soon! If you have a specific day/time that you prefer, please reach out to see if I can accommodate.

Do you worry constantly, have a persistent fear of failure or judgement and feel on edge with just about anything? Feeling like you’re not good enough, not living the life you want to live, or that you’ve lost touch with the things that bring you happiness with little hope that you can live life in a fulfilling way? Have you had a traumatic experience that left you feeling disconnected and having a hard time trusting people, with the need to protect and numb yourself? These things can impact our physical and mental wellbeing, keep us up at night, make us feel disconnected from the people closest to us and reduce our ability to achieve what we want in life. I may be able to help. I have experience guiding people with these concerns to make meaningful changes to increase their satisfaction with life. A sense of safety, confidence, hope, fulfillment and loving connections with your important people is what I work to achieve with you and it can be done. Research shows that 75% of people experience positive results after seeing a therapist. One of the most important predictors of positive outcomes in therapy is the therapeutic alliance, or the partnership between therapist and client. Therapeutic alliance means shared decision-making, mutual respect, non-judgement, empathy and understanding in the therapy room. I focus heavily on these elements so we can work smarter and not harder and to create an alliance that produces the results you want in therapy.

I believe healing and growth occur in psychotherapy when you first establish a supportive, collaborative therapeutic relationship. That is why I offer a safe, nurturing space where you can speak and be listened to with empathy and free from judgement. Past experiences, and how you attempt to understand them, can affect numerous areas of your life and sometimes lead you to feel stuck in certain patterns of behavior. In therapy, we will work together to help you better understand your behaviors, overcome life challenges, navigate obstacles, and build skills to cope with difficult emotions, so that you can find a new way forward. I value the unique aspects of each individual and therefore integrate a culturally sensitive approach with my patients. This means I understand that racial, cultural, religious, gender, and sexual identities interact with one’s beliefs and behavior, and believe that it is more effective to vary my therapeutic approach from person to person, depending on a client’s culture group, rather than to simply use the same standard treatment approach for everyone. My goal is to build a relationship based on authenticity and open communication throughout the course of therapy to ensure satisfaction. I’m here to listen, support and guide you on a healthy, empowered path.

I'm a compassionate, trauma-informed therapist helping adults navigate anxiety, identity, trauma, and life shifts with care and curiosity. You may be feeling anxious, disconnected, or overwhelmed by everything you’ve been holding. Maybe you’re exploring your identity, healing from trauma, or navigating a life shift that’s left you feeling unsteady. You’ve likely been doing your best to push through, but now you're ready for space to slow down, feel understood, and reconnect with yourself. If that resonates, you're in the right place. Healing doesn’t happen through pressure or quick fixes. It happens in spaces where you feel safe, seen, and supported. In our work together, I’ll meet you with presence and curiosity, not judgment. We'll explore how past experiences, relationships, and systems have shaped how you move through the world today. My approach is trauma-informed, affirming, and collaborative. I draw from somatic practices, mindfulness, CBT, expressive work, and attachment theory to support your goals and help you reconnect with yourself in meaningful ways. Whether you're healing from trauma, navigating identity, managing anxiety, or feeling the quiet weight of burnout or chronic illness, therapy can offer space to pause, reflect, and rebuild on your terms. Together, we can create a space where you feel safe enough to be honest, supported enough to try something new, and encouraged to take steps toward the life you want.

I am informal, goofy, sometimes loud, curious, imperfect, and you get all that and more when we start working together. Therapy with me commonly looks like laughing together, sometimes until we cry; actually crying together; laying on the ground; understanding that dark humor is often a necessary coping strategy for whatever life throws at us; talking with my hands; and my facial expressions being apart of the conversation (AKA having real reactions to real shit). Growing up between worlds can get messy, that weird in-between of always trying to fit in. As a transracial/international adoptee, I know how frustrating that pull between cultures and identities can be. Whether you're a fellow adoptee, mixed raced, or 1st gen, we’ll explore those layers - the deep identity stuff, aka the “laugh so you don’t cry” stuff, and find your way back home within the complexity. As a relational, trauma-informed therapist, I believe healing happens through connection. I focus on how your relationships, past and present, shape how you move through the world. My work blends somatic awareness with curiosity and compassion to help you build relationships that feel nourishing, real, and aligned with who you are. Finding the right fit may be time consuming, but shouldn’t be draining. Consults are a brief window into what the therapeutic relationship will look like - like a vibe-check. And if the vibes are right, the hard stuff will come naturally and not feel forced. This is why I offer 25-min consults. Reach out for a consult and let’s take it from there!

Find a therapist you can connect with and relate to! If you are looking for support, we have 32 therapists with a variety of backgrounds and specialties here to help. We take most insurance. We are located in Portland and available for online therapy statewide in Oregon. Find our current openings on our home page and check out our team profiles at http://www.healthalliescounseling.com to find your perfect match.

I specialize in using somatic-based therapy with primarily work with LGBTQIA2S+ and BIPOC adults. I have experience with a range of challenges including depression, anxiety, identity, life transitions, and healing from trauma. I collaborate with clients to explore the parts of themself that have been disowned, the parts that deserve to be seen, and the parts that are yet to be discovered. I embrace living with authenticity and integrity and will use these values to help you create the relationships with yourself and others that you desire. Within therapy sessions, I listen for ways to foster connections between your body and mind. I combine somatic, narrative, and relational approaches to focus on the bridge between thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations and may also encourage you to tap into the wisdom of your ancestors and nature. Together we will create a space where you feel seen, heard, and encouraged in exploring areas for self-growth. As a queer, non-binary, Chinese/Kanaka ʻŌiwi (Native Hawaiian) person, I understand the impact of cross-generational trauma and colonialism on all bodies. I practice solo polyamory in my relationships and have experience with monogamy, marriage, and multiracial/blended families. Outside of therapy, I indulge in self-led pastry tours, explore new music, immerse myself in nature, and deepen my avian knowledge while playing Wingspan. If you're ready to embark on a journey of self-exploration and emotional healing within a culturally-affirming space, contact me for a free 30-minute consultation.

Is being away at school a little trickier than you had expected? Maybe you're a bit lonely even though there's always loads of people around. So many challenges and expectations--it can be overwhelming even while it's gratifying and fun. We all need support at times. Together we work toward cultivating the inner strength, confidence and wisdom needed to fully and successfully transition into a meaningful and autonomous adulthood. Anything that is causing distress is welcome: grief, confusion, difficult relationships. I'd like to help.

I specialize in supporting adults with anxiety, OCD, and trauma. I take a collaborative approach to therapy that incorporates individuality and the wisdom clients have about themselves, along with evidence-based approaches. I view my role as walking alongside you in your therapy journey to provide support in setting and accomplishing goals that are aligned with your values. I worked in 3 college counseling centers prior to working in private practice. As a queer, neurodivergent therapist, I particularly enjoy working with individuals also in these communities.

Living in a world filled with poverty, marginalization, oppression, and pandemic(s) can feel daunting and lead people to feel as though they have little agency. Therapy can be a helpful place to explore the places in our lives where we do have agency, where we are able to make tangible changes-often times this is in our interpersonal relationships. I work from an attachment focused and relational cultural perspective that is grounded in feminist practice which prioritizes the exploration of identities, oppression, intersectionality, and their impact on social and emotional functioning. I draw upon interventions from psychoanalytic psychotherapy, attachment focused therapy, emotionally focused therapy, radical acceptance, and health at every size. I have experience working with people struggling with issues related to depression, anxiety, life transitions, gender identity, queer issues, and relationship and family challenges. I take a non-pathologizing approach to working my clients, with a particular focus on those have been marginalized by the mental health profession in the past.

I specialize in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), an evidence based treatment for specific challenges like OCD, anxiety, panic attacks, phobias, and depression. This requires a collaborative and supportive process tailored to each individual. With the right treatment it is possible to see significant changes in symptoms so you can spend more time pursing what is most important to you. I am offering primarily telehealth based appointments within Oregon and in-person appointments within the Portland area as needed. Treatment is focused on creating behavioral changes, starting with areas where symptoms have had the most significant, and negative life-impacts. Focusing on one small change at a time can lead to greater freedom from symptoms, and more time spent actively pursuing what is most important in your life.

I am a registered LPC and Clinical Art Therapist. I use art and talk therapy to support healing and positive change. I love working with individuals who are processing life challenges that are impacting their quality of existence, whether they are internal feeling or body states and/or external experiences impacting growth and functioning. I provide support so that they can move through and begin to heal; or increase their own skills while moving towards living their best life. I support individuals to see themselves through the light of their strengths and how they can take those strengths out into the world. I use neuroscientific brain science techniques mixed with art to manage/decrease anxiety and depression and symbolic narrative techniques with art to process trauma and other impactful/stressful life experiences to support integration of self, nervous system regulation and increase positive mood.

Using a warm, authentic and curious approach to therapy, Hava’s main goal is to support individuals in their movement toward healthy and sustainable insight and growth. She often uses humor and playfulness to foster this process and considers it an honor to be able to bear witness to someone’s journey. Hava works from a trauma-informed perspective, utilizing psychodynamic approaches that are tailored to each individual’s unique life experience. She often uses components of Narrative Therapy, attached-based therapies, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Somatic practices, Gestalt and Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) in her work with peoples. Tenants of Carl Rogers are integral to her therapeutic work; unconditional positive regard and non-judgment for others, which in turn fosters a safe and supportive space for people to authentically express themselves. Hava builds upon what she believes is the innate resilience and strengths within people. Hava specializes in working with the LGBTQ+ population, adults, tweens and teenagers, with anxiety, depression, complex trauma, post traumatic stress disorder, and grief and loss. Hava is also trained in the EAGALA model of Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP). Please inquire with her regarding this option for therapy sessions. Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy is a form of experiential therapy where clients learn about themselves and others by participating in activities with the horses. Through observations of the horses and hands-on activities, clients are able to see their life mirrored by the herd. The focus on the horses allows clients to externalize their problems, see them from a different point of view, and process those findings in a safe environment. Hands-on activities help clients find their own solutions and overcome challenges. Progress made in the arena transforms clients’ realities, as they encounter realizations, solutions, and different ways of acting in their relationships. Horses are part of this process for several reasons. Horses are prey animals, so they are acutely aware of the people in their space, and what those people are bringing into the arena. Horses are herd animals, so they are adept at transmitting that information through body language. This provides clients a fascinating mirror into their own lives, making their issues visible and tangible. Once they see this problem/behavior more objectively, they can make a positive change. After the change is made in the arena, it helps them make the change in their lives. EAP helps the client gain a deeper understanding of themselves and their world.

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.

My heart's work is connecting with people, holding space for their hurt, and empowering them to reach towards a connected, integrated life. My ideal client is someone who is curious about WHY troubling symptoms exist in the first place; someone who is ready to either step into therapy for the first time (hurrah!) or to step away from traditional talk therapy and begin deeper, more profound healing from the bottom up instead of the top down; someone who is wanting to feel more connected to themselves and others, and to feel more joy. I specialize in treating trauma, dissociative disorders, mood and anxiety disorders, and life disturbances of all kinds. I have obtained extensive advanced training in EMDR, dissociative disorders, preverbal trauma, and somatic experiencing. I use EMDR psychotherapy as the framework for my practice and have witnessed amazing results. Jung said "Know all the theories, master all the techniques, but as you touch a human soul be just another human soul." I will create and hold space for you to just be, and you will find me a warm, experienced, intuitive presence. We will work together to move you towards a more connected, joyful, playful life. I can't wait to meet you!

I am a Queer Neurodivergent (AuDHD) mental health, sex, and relationship therapist with over 20 years of experience working in the behavioral health field. I work with teens, adults, and relationships. I help clients work through issues around trauma, depression, anxiety, abuse, gender issues, relationship problems, religious trauma, LGBTQIA+ issues, ENM/Poly, and sex therapy! I utilize various modalities to help you on your journey, including CBT, EMDR, DBT, Mindfulness, ACT, Jungian Dream Analysis, parts work/IFS, and TF-CBT.

My work with clients is centered around helping people to find the balance in their life. We take time to get to know each each other and to set up the goals that are important to you. You chose the pace at which we move, while I offer suggestions and share observations. Our sessions will provide a safe space for you to share as much or as little as you like. Through discussion and exercises we can get you to feel joy again.