“When you begin to touch your heart or let your heart be touched, you begin to discover that it’s bottomless, that it doesn’t have any resolution, that this heart is huge, vast, and limitless. You begin to discover how much warmth and gentleness is there, as well as how much space”.
— Pema Chodron
Finding the right therapist, one with whom you feel comfortable and understands your unique struggle is essential if therapy is going to be helpful. I am glad to have the opportunity to tell you a little bit about myself and my practice.
I strongly encourage everyone to be an informed consumer when it comes to therapy. For that reason, I usually contract with a person for a 2-3 session “evaluation period”, which gives you to get a chance to know me and my style and see if it feels like a good match for you. Also, that gives me the opportunity to get a chance to know you and determine if I think I am the best person to help you. My clients’ success is what is most important to me, and if I don’t feel I am the right person for that job, I will gladly refer you to someone that I think might be a better match for you.
Here is a little bit more about me:
I provide individual psychotherapy and am the clinical coordinator at the Portland Psychotherapy Clinic, Research, & Training Center, PC. At the Portland Psychotherapy Clinic, we also have a specialist clinic called the Portland Mood Disorders Clinic, where we specialize in the treatmtment of depression. I also supervise a psychologist resident at the clinic who specilizes in the treatment of trauma and PTSD.
Credentials: Clinical Psychologist, Oregon License #1600
Special Training/Interests: Working with trauma survivors, including sexual assault/abuse; relationship, intimacy, and interpersonal issues; intimacy and relationship concerns; identity issues; eating disorders; Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.
Philosophy of Care: I work from a collaborative and respectful place to help clients explore what is and isn’t working in their lives. My approach is very pragmatic and client-directed.
I do not subscribe to an “illness/disease” based model of psychotherapy that I find to be stigmatizing and limiting. I utilize empirically supported treatments, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Most importantly, I strive to always treat clients with dignity, respect, and compassion as I work to help them create for themselves the kind of meaningful life they desire.
Personal Interests: Spending time with my dogs Dalai and Grace, traveling, gardening, art, and cooking.