Therapists for college students near Portland, OR

Your mental health is important! Connecting with family, friends and the world around you can be difficult if you are struggling with worry, extreme sadness, stress or trauma. Counseling can lessen the burden of your daily struggles and foster a healthy life. We specialize in evidence-based approaches to help you cope with burdens of the past, worries about the future, and improve resiliency. With the right skills, each individual has the capacity to accomplish their goals and prosper! Our therapists' diverse backgrounds and specialties are why clients come to Salus! Our therapists provide counseling for adolescents, and adults,. We have experience with a wide variety of concerns and create a safe space to explore, process and discover well-being.

Our compassionate and skills counselors help people grow more into themselves and their resilience. With a strengths-based, culturally-affirming, trauma-informed approach, we can support you through the stress of what life is bringing you. A therapeutic relationship is powerful and productive. We're here to see you do well, all the way through the hard and heartache, and into a hopeful future. If you are struggling but motivated to process, reflect, and experience some change, this is the right time to connect with us! We look forward to next steps with you. You can learn more about us and start the process through our website: www.SecondGrowthCounseling.com

As a psychologist, Emily supports people to live richer, fuller lives aligned with their personal values. She views her clients as the experts on themselves and sees her role as their collaborator, working together to help bring forward their greatest potential. Emily works with a diverse set of individuals, and with a variety of concerns such as anxiety, depression, ADHD, OCD, trauma, interpersonal relationship challenges, overcoming barriers to goals, and other issues her clients strive to work through. She utilizes an assortment of therapeutic modalities, often blending these approaches, including mindfulness, Jungian analysis, Behavioral Modification, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), Ecopsychology, and relaxation training, always with a focus on the individual needs of the client. Emily believes that an integrated approach to overall well-being is important, including aspects of nutrition, exercise, and sleep hygiene, with an understanding of how these interact with and impact psychological well-being. Over the years, Emily has worked with children, adolescents, young adults, and not-so-young adults, each seeking help with a range of concerns, problem behaviors, and disorders. Emily also enjoys working with couples as they address problematic areas in their relationship, and as they find ways to improve and reconnect with each other. When she works with children, she is also working to make sure parents are appropriately involved, and helping to implement therapeutic assignments beyond the counseling environment and at home. This is especially important as we impart positive parenting approaches to reinforce certain behaviors, and to help a child feel secure as they learn to cope with trauma, anxiety, or depression. Emily completed her Bachelor’s of Science degrees in Biopsychology and Ecology and Evolution at University of California, Santa Barbara, later earning a PhD in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in neuropsychology, and a second PhD in Wildlands and Wildlife Conservation at Brigham Young University. When Emily is not engaging with her clients in psychotherapy, she teaches psychology undergraduate college courses, and enjoys hiking, spending time with her family, connecting with nature, and cooking.

Stone Circle is a counseling space for people seeking healing for their spirit, along with the mind and body. You may have reached a crossroads, or are challenged by depression, trauma, anxiety, and other worries that contribute to feeling overwhelmed and stuck. Perhaps you have experienced a spiritual awakening, or want to explore your spiritual identity in a safe and accepting space. Stone Circle is a safe space to to explore your journey.

Among all the uncertainties of life, making the choice to start therapy is yet another risky plunge into the unknown. Before you decide to give me a call I’d like to try and give you a sense of who I am and what it might be like for us to sit together. Although my title is doctor, my clients call me Sarah. I think of my role as one of accompaniment, you’re the lead and it’s my job to follow your pace, your volume, your moments of free expression. Together we get curious in a way that is, open, receptive, and non-judgmental. Sometimes this process is playful, and sometimes I encourage us to look deeper at the hard things. I am always holding your experience with profound respect and the certainty that you have been doing your best to survive in a world that challenges your flexibility. Whether you’re somewhere along the path of higher education or starting off your career, the challenges of young adult life are uniquely complex and ripe for psychological distress. At this stage in life, you may find yourself with more questions than answers and more pressures than solutions. Stressors and concerns may run the gamut from challenges in relationships, family conflict, financial/housing/food insecurity, or answering questions like, “Who am I” and “What do I want in life?” I can appreciate the need for a space to unpack it all, take a step back, and find more clarity.

Everybody deserves a space where they can feel truly seen, heard, and understood without judgment. As a clinical psychologist, I strive to provide therapy that is collaborative, effective, and uniquely tailored to every client. Many clients have described my clinical style as "real and authentic." I enjoy working with clients on a wide variety of issues including, but not limited to: depression, anxiety, ADHD, perfectionism, self-esteem, family-of-origin, cultural identity, codependency, stress, etc. My areas of specialization are: Gender Affirming Care for transgender and gender diverse individuals and Substance Use (ie: people concerned about their alcohol and/or drug use.)

I have a passion for working with college students and people in the midst of life transitions. I utilize a holistic approach by taking into account your presenting concern as well as your strengths, your community, and your environmental context. I enjoy the collaborative process of building awareness and understanding as we explore the impact of cultural, familial, societal, physical, social, and spiritual factors on your psychological concerns. I am honored to work with people as they channel their courage to face challenges in their lives - to bring healing and growth out of pain and struggle. So often we humans try to avoid our pain or we get stuck in it; I believe we are all doing the best we can in the moment with what we have and what we know. I am here to walk alongside you for awhile in your journey towards integration, authenticity, and well-being. Clients often describe me as warm, empathic, non-judgmental, genuine, empowering, gently challenging, and compassionate. My approach is client-centered, solution-focused, body positive, and LGBTQ-affirming. I amplify one's resilience and strengths by incorporating mindfulness, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), narrative therapy, self-compassion, and interpersonal process. I am also always in the process of growth and learning about new approaches and perspectives through continuing education and consultation, gaining valuable insights to my own biases and privileges.

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.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

My work is guided by the belief that mental health care should be compassionate, collaborative, and personalized. With a background in community mental health and primary care behavioral health, I offer an integrative, culturally responsive, and values-based approach to therapy. I believe therapy is most effective when it goes beyond symptoms—when we explore your values, goals, and passions together. Through this lens, we co-create a foundation rooted in curiosity, connection, and emotional safety, opening space for healing and growth. I’ve had the privilege of expanding gender-affirming care at a community health system in Seattle and helped develop a behavioral health department embedded within a community center—where I facilitated programming focused on emotional wellness and connection. These experiences have shaped my commitment to making therapy accessible, affirming, and grounded in real-world community values. My value of community and connection continues to be nourished at Aspire Psychology.

Timothy Lafolette is a psychiatric nurse practitioner with more than 13 years of experience working with clients utilizing medication management and talk therapy. He enjoys working with clients who are looking to take their next steps toward self-acceptance and wellness. He views the therapeutic process through a trauma-informed lens, using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing methods.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

I am dedicated to helping people find inner-peace, stability, and contentment in the face of what ever hardships they are facing. I hold a masters degree in professional mental health counseling from Lewis & Clark College. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor in the State of Oregon. My professional experience has brought me into contact with a wide variety of people. I specialize in supporting people struggling with difficult mood states, and who are seeking to remove obstacles to their wellbeing. I am also a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor.

Many of my clients are college students and young adults navigating anxiety, ADHD, Autism, chronic illness, eating disorders, body image concerns, perfectionism, and people-pleasing. I also support clients working through trauma, relationship challenges, burnout, and the many transitions that come with growing into adulthood. Whether you are feeling overwhelmed by expectations, disconnected from yourself, or unsure of what comes next, therapy can be a space to slow down, make sense of your experiences, and reconnect with what matters to you. I take a relational and collaborative approach to therapy, integrating evidence-based approaches including ACT, CBT, Motivational Interviewing, DBT, and Compassion Focused Therapy with feminist, person-centered, and strengths-based perspectives. I believe therapy is not about changing who you are, but about understanding yourself more deeply, building self-compassion, and finding tools that support a life that feels meaningful to you. My approach is grounded in genuine connection, curiosity, and authenticity. As someone who is neurodivergent and lives with chronic illness, I bring both personal and professional experience to understanding the ways our minds, bodies, and environments influence our experiences. I strive to create an LGBTQIA+ affirming, neurodiversity-affirming, and weight-inclusive space where you feel seen, heard, and valued. I recognize that our mental health is shaped by many parts of our lives, including our identities, relationships, communities, and the world around us. Together, we can explore what has shaped you, challenge patterns that no longer serve you, and create space for growth and meaningful change. Outside of work, you’ll usually find me spending time with my three cats, enjoying nature, reading, exploring creative projects, or finding ways to make space for rest, play, and community.

I can manage most all needs for psychiatric diagnoses and medication management, if indicated.

Hi, I'm glad you're here. My name is Gabby Hancher (they/them). I’m a white, trans nonbinary, and queer associate therapist who has lived experience with chronic illness. I currently reside on the traditional homelands of the Clackamas, Cowlitz, and Multnomah Indigenous peoples known as Portland, OR. I am currently working towards licensure and under the clinical supervision of Quinn Rivenburgh and Selin Strait. As a young person, I often felt very different from my peers. I was highly sensitive, creative, and attuned to much of the suffering around me. The overwhelming chaos of my childhood led me to my own healing path and eventually communities who accepted me for my contemplative nature. By embracing the truth of my experiences, I found healing modalities such as Hakomi which allowed me the space to make deep internal shifts towards being my whole self. I hope to offer this same experience to you. As a therapist, I bring a playful and emotionally attuned approach with an orientation towards mindful, experiential theories such as Hakomi. Our time together will always be collaborative and informed by the wisdom of your own lived experience. Together we can explore the deep inner knowing that your body holds in order to help you thrive. In a typical session, we will slow down and listen to the wisdom of your body. Together, we can discover what it is that you need to process in order to experience more integration in your life. We may work to support your own innate resilience by developing a felt sense of safety based on your own true sense of that or use the therapeutic relationship as a container to explore attachment wounding patterns through our present moment relationship. All of these experiences can offer fundamental shifts in your overall mood, the way you show up in the world, or even in your relationships. Whether you are experiencing difficulty with grief, relationships, anxiety or any number of concerns, together we can help you orient towards your inner knowing and personal agency. I approach all of my work through a social justice lens and believe deeply that when we transform on an interpersonal level, social change ripples outwards. Accessibility, embodied experience, and trauma-informed care are important pillars of my practice. Persons of all races & ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, and abilities are welcome. I am also affirming of kink, non-traditional relationship structures such as polyamory and non-monogamy, and sex work. Some of my identities hold varying levels of privilege which I always invite conversation around in session. If you are interested in utilizing the insurances I accept, please email me at: gabby@bridgestg.com. If you are interested in private pay, please message me through my linked website. Outside of session, I can be found practicing magic in nature, reading comics under a cozy blanket, or making strange artistic creations for my loved ones. ~~~~~~~ I work best with: *Collaborative individuals *Folks who are curious about mindfulness *Folks who are creative and/or highly sensitive *Folks who identify as care-givers *Activists looking to process and integrate their experiences *Adult parentified children *Perfectionists *Queer folks who want to explore their identity more deeply *Neurodivergent individuals *Folks who feel they've gotten what they can from talk therapy and need something else *Folks who want a better relationship with their body *Folks who are committed to long-term therapeutic work At this time, I am not able to treat or assist with the following: *Couples *Disordered Eating *Substance Use/Addiction Disorders *Personality Disorders *Folks with Severe & Persistant mental health challenges *OCD and Phobias *Folks who are in high levels of crisis/instability and may need team-based care *Folks who are looking for exclusively talk therapy

I am a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in working with adults who are experiencing a wide variety of mental health issues including but not limited to depression, anxiety disorders, behavioral problems, relationship conflict, and trauma recovery. In addition to individual work, I also provide family therapy and parenting consultation, when indicated, to support parents and promote healthy communication and interactions. I strive to help each person feel safe enough to be open and honest about the state of their life. I believe that we all deserve someone that will listen without judgement and support us through life’s difficult moments. Through therapy, you can begin to make sense of your emotions, decrease your distress, and experience more fulfilling relationships. I utilize an integrative approach to psychotherapy, drawing from both cognitive behavioral and psychodynamic forms of treatment. I seek to help you better understand the root cause of your pain as well as discover practical strategies that will help to shift patterns of thinking and behavior that lie behind your difficulties. I view therapy as collaborative in nature and my hope is that we can partner together to help you make positive changes in your life.

I help people access greater psychological and emotional wellness by working through trauma, unhealthy relational patterns, and old beliefs. If you find that family or romantic relationships are difficult, you are socially isolated, your career or school performance is suffering, or you struggle with anxiety, depression or loss, therapy can help. Our work together can allow you to cultivate deeper self-understanding and acceptance, which are the stepping-stones to a more vital, engaged, and fulfilling life. I am experienced working with depression, anxiety, and other mental health diagnoses, but I never see my clients as simply a diagnosis. I see race, ethnicity, class, sexual orientation, gender identity, ability, and age as relevant to your experience and to therapy.

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.

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.