Therapists for college students near Portland State University

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.

Do you often feel misunderstood and hurt? Do you feel as though your emotions are controlling you and you don’t know what to do to change that? Does it leave you feeling anxious and depressed? I know what that feels like and I can help with that. My Approach to Helping I believe that people are doing the best they can with the information and skills they currently have. I also believe that they can grow and create better lives for themselves with the appropriate support. My approach to helping clients develop the skills to effectively identify, regulate and communicate their emotions, needs and boundaries to others is validating and skills-based. Therapy with me is relational, non-judgmental, body positive, sex positive and LGBTQ+ and poly competent. My Personal Beliefs and Interests I'm a psychologist and certified alcohol and drug counselor. I have a background in research (on behavior change) and loved working in academia for a long time, before transitioning to working in community mental health for a few years. I love being a therapist. I am also a mother and an immigrant with strong progressive values and I bring that to the table as well. I believe that Black Lives Matter and that community action is more powerful than waiting for government to act in our best interest. I bring this perspective to my work.

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.

At Willamette Wellness Center (WWC), we know college life can be exciting, overwhelming, and stressful all at once. Many students face anxiety about being away from home for the first time, the pressure of managing classes, jobs, and relationships, and the challenge of navigating life independently without the constant support of family. Others carry the weight of crushingly high expectations or the stress of perfectionism. These struggles are common, and you don’t have to face them alone. WWC is proud to be known in our Portland, Oregon community for providing trauma-informed, evidence-based, and compassionate mental health therapy. Our group practice serves clients across Oregon and Washington through secure telehealth sessions and our in-person office in Milwaukie, making therapy accessible whether you’re on campus, back home, or anywhere in between. Our team of 45+ master’s level clinicians brings expertise in advanced trauma-focused modalities, including EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing), IFS (Internal Family Systems), DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy), CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), ACT (Acceptance & Commitment Therapy), EFT (Emotion-Focused Therapy), Motivational Interviewing, and art therapy. These approaches help students manage stress, improve executive functioning, build healthy coping strategies, and move from surviving to thriving. We provide care for teens (14+), college students, adults, couples, and families facing a wide range of challenges, such as: Stress and anxiety about academics, transitions, or being away from home Executive functioning struggles like time management and balancing independence Depression, mood swings, or burnout Family or relationship pressures, including the pressure to overperform Body image concerns or disordered eating Grief, loss, or big life changes PTSD and trauma recovery Sexual identity/gender identity/sexuality Domestic violence/Dating/Relationships Substance use and dependence At WWC, inclusion and accessibility are at the heart of our mission. We affirm and welcome BIPOC, LGBTQIA2S+, first-generation college students, and all who seek support. Every story is valued here, and we create safe spaces where students can process struggles without judgment. As an insurance-based practice, we are in-network with Kaiser, OHP/Medicaid CCOs, Aetna, Providence, BlueCross BlueShield, MODA, PacificSource, United, and many other major insurers. We also accept private pay to ensure flexibility and access. Our mission is simple: to offer a place of safety, connection, and growth where students (and all clients) can find the support they need to thrive in school and in life. This stage of your life is important, and so are you!

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Hello, We can start with what is your immediate concern. That is likely to open the possibility of changes within you, that can open new possibilities for satisfaction and broader changes. Our goals will include more satisfying and close relationships for you.

I am a licensed clinical psychologist with 15 years of experience treating adolescents and adults. My approach to psychotherapy is warm, empathic, and compassionate. I treat each individual professionally and with respect. I appreciate the uniqueness of each patient and emphasize listening closely and thoughtfully, as we all possess the ability to tell our story regarding our strengths and our challenges, even when we sometimes do not realize it. I strive to create a safe environment where you can feel open to express and explore your feelings and experiences, without judgment or emphasis on what is “right” or “wrong.” I believe that therapy is an opportunity to learn more about ourselves and to express our feelings freely, in an effort to learn new methods of dealing with problems, being in relationships, and pursuing our dreams. My private practice is largely informed by modern psychoanalytic theory. I provide individual, couple, family, and group psychotherapy. I integrate themes of social justice throughout my practice, and am particularly thoughtful about the role that various cultural identifications, and their intersection, play in mental health and treatment. I also provide education, consultation, and training to professionals and students. A central aspect of my clinical thinking focuses on the role of power, privilege, and cultural dominance. Knowledge, concepts, and meaning are not developed on a solely individual basis, but rather are created through coordination and communication with others. Language is fundamentally important – it is the most essential way in which we construct reality. Our psychological experiences, including emotions, thoughts, somatic/bodily sensations, are subsequently developed within this context. I view problems in living, therefore, as relational, contextual, interpretive, and situated within the dominant discourse, expression, response, and cultural norms.

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

At Mind Body Soul Mental Health we strive to support clients in learning from past and current experiences that are contributing to stress, anxiety, depression, trauma. We look at therapy from a holistic lens which includes: mind, body, soul and how they all contribute to the whole person. I specialize in working with adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder and ADHD and embracing their neurodiversity. I also have extensive experience in helping adults comprehend boundaries, reasons for codependency and issues with self esteem. I help students navigate stress due to college pressures and social adjustments. I am trained in EMDR for clients that want relief from trauma and anxiety. Mind Body Soul Mental Health is a space that supports diversity, inclusion and welcomes everyone.

I enjoy working with college students and I am passionate about helping neurodivergent adults (autistic, ADHD, etc) with my affirming and strengths-based perspective. I have training and specialize in helping people adjust to visible and invisible disabilities such as chronic illness/pain or physical injuries. I am non-religious and have training and experience working with religious trauma. I also enjoy working with artists, musicians, and other creative types, as well as anyone looking to integrate mind and body and incorporate mindfulness into their life. I use a somatic (body-centered) approach and am certified in working with trauma. I also do Autism/ADHD assessments for adults.

I provide comprehensive medication management for ADHD, depression, insomnia, PMDD, PTSD, and weight management. But I don't just treat symptoms. I treat the whole person. That means we're going to look at the full picture: your sleep habits, screen time, nutrition, movement, stress levels, and how you communicate. Because all of it matters. Your brain doesn't exist in a vacuum, and neither do your symptoms. If you're running on autopilot, procrastinating on work, can't focus, can't sleep, can't stick to the routines you know would help... you're frustrated with your eating habits, your exercise patterns, or how you feel during certain times of the month, or maybe you just don't feel like yourself lately. I can help. If you're ready to stop wasting energy on what drains you and start investing it where it actually counts, let's get started.

I work with adults and adolescents who are often times struggling with anxiety or depression. Sometimes, there aren't obvious symptoms; instead, there's a sense that something seems to be interfering with their ability to be happy, their relationships, or the life they want to live. I help people see themselves from a new angle, uncovering unconscious beliefs and seeing the collective parts of themselves from a new and accepting perspective. I am accepting new remote clients in California and remote and/or in-person clients in Oregon. Please visit my website to learn more.

Often our first response to misfortune is to fight against it. While we may have skillful ways of doing this, our efforts nevertheless become futile and disconnect us from others. Our energy gets bound up, we get stuck in elusive cycles. However, our truths are complex and deserve to be recognized. I provide a focused and understanding space that supports you opening to your own aliveness and your voice. I bring my full attention, my honest feeling, and I will share what I see will help you. In a setting of mutual respect and trust, and with your active participation, I will encourage and challenge you to take risks to be more honest and vulnerable with yourself and in your relationships. The result is often a more comfortable, effective and empowered sense of self from which one can thrive. I offer individual therapy to adults who are interested in exploring one's relationship with oneself, including through dreams and creative process. I have a special interest in working with anxiety, depression, grief and self-esteem.

Are you looking for more fulfillment? I specialize in providing therapy to LGBTQIA+ folx looking for a deeper understanding of their sexual or gender identity. Your years at unversity can be challenging as you figure out more about yourself and your place in the world. I'm excited to help you through that journey!

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Pacific Northwest Psychiatry Associates is a group of psychiatric mental health practitioners serving the entire state of Oregon. We work in collaboration with children, families, and individuals to provide evidence-based individualized care to attain mental wellness and improve the quality of life. It is our belief that mental wellness or illness is a dynamic interplay between environmental, physical, psychological, and social factors with the individual or family at the center of the healing process.

My work is based on mindful and somatic approaches.

Welcome! I specialize in working with adult women aged 18+. I love working with college students. I offer both telehealth and in-person appointments in my office in Lake Oswego. Please check out my website for more information!