Therapists for college students near Portland State University

Hello, I’m Sarah. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with more than 15 years of experience working in youth and family mental health services. My background includes work in community mental health and school-based programs as both a therapist and school social worker. My training and clinical experience have focused on supporting youth and families, survivors of childhood sexual abuse and their families, and individuals experiencing school-related challenges. I work with teens ages 14 and older, as well as adults, and strive to create a space where clients feel safe, respected, and supported. I believe therapy works best when built on trust, collaboration, and genuine human connection. My approach is strengths-based, skills-focused, and collaborative. I believe you already possess strengths, resilience, and capabilities that can serve as a foundation for growth and healing. Together, we’ll build on those existing strengths while developing practical skills to help you navigate challenges more effectively. Depending on your needs and goals, this may include strengthening communication skills, emotional regulation, coping strategies, mindfulness, boundary-setting, or problem-solving techniques. My goal is to provide a supportive, nonjudgmental space that focuses on your strengths, goals, and capacity for growth rather than simply on what may be “wrong.” I want you to feel heard, understood, and empowered as we work together to help you move toward the life you want.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

College can be a lot. You’re figuring out who you are and what you want, while also trying to keep up with classes, relationships, responsibilities, and everyone’s expectations—including your own. Sometimes things that felt manageable before suddenly don’t, or experiences from your past start showing up in ways you didn’t expect. I enjoy working with students who want a place to slow down, be themselves, and make sense of what they’re feeling. You don’t need to have the right words or know exactly what you want from therapy. Maybe you know something needs to change, or you just want to understand yourself better. We can start there. I’ll meet you with warmth, curiosity, and respect for who you are and what you’ve been through. Together, we can explore what’s getting in the way, notice what you need, and help you feel more connected to yourself and the life you want to create.

I am a board licensed clinical social worker (LCSW/LICSW) in the state of Oregon and Massachusetts with a particular passion for working with youth and adults navigating life transitions. I have advanced training in perinatal (pregnancy and postpartum) mental health and am honored to support you on the profound journey to parenthood. Therapy is not about “fixing” or “changing” who you are; it is an ongoing process of self-reflection and discovery. Together we will work to identify areas of your life that are not working and make shifts towards well-being. I work from a relational model and primarily use acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), mindfulness, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and elements of internal family systems (IFS). Please explore my website to learn a bit more about who I am and what services I can offer. If you feel like we might be a good fit, please fill out some information about yourself and I will reach out to you for a consultation.

Do you find yourself feeling stuck despite your best intentions? Do you criticize yourself, engage in self-defeating behaviors, or find yourself nursing old wounds despite your desire for personal growth and greater happiness. I can assist you to tap into your own natural capacity for healing and thriving. I have over twenty-five years of experience. I work with a variety of issues, including anxiety, depression, anger, relationship difficulties, addiction and other self-harming habits, trauma, dissociation, grief, life transitions and concerns related to physical health / pain, school, work, gender identification, spirituality / purpose, and family of origin. While affirming your uniqueness I assist you in disentangling from patterns that no longer serve you. At the same time I collaborate with you in strengthening essential parts of yourself that you may have forgotten but can help you move forward and engage life with a greater sense of purpose, strength and wholeness. I have advanced training and significant experience in Jungian psychology, EMDR, Sensory Motor Psychotherapy (body-centered work), family systems, addictions and narrative techniques.Together we will discover your inner wisdom and self-compassion enabling your to heal and refocus your life. My clients are diverse in terms of culture, gender identification, age, socio-economic background and beliefs.

My primary focus is on helping individuals and couples who are dealing with the impact of such issues as ADHD/ASD/AuDHD, anxiety, depression, recovery from narcissistic abuse, and PMDD. The therapy I offer is active and focused on creating change in specific areas, established by the client. I customize therapy to the individual or couple, using a variety of approaches, including Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, to assist the client in boundary setting/holding, improved communication skills, and healthier emotion regulation. My goal is to help people see how the various pieces of their lives have shaped their responses, so that they can connect with self-compassion, gain insight around where they are getting stuck, and learn new beliefs and skills. If you are looking for support navigating how to create change for yourself, I hope to hear from you!

I believe that a trusting relationship with you is of the utmost importance. During our time together I will work to create an atmosphere of warmth and acceptance so you feel free sharing and exploring whatever is troubling you. My approach is a trauma-informed and culturally-sensitive integration of attachment theory, psychodynamic therapy, and cognitive therapy which emphasizes (1) trusting the client as an expert of their own reality, (2) exploring the patterns through which we come to understand ourselves, others, and the world, and (3) seeking meaningful emotional experiences in a safe therapeutic relationship. I will work to build a supportive, trusting, and safe relationship with you so you can bravely identify and confront the challenges you're facing. Counseling can seem like a daunting task to take on, but it also be incredibly rewarding and life-changing. If this sounds like a journey you would like to begin, then please contact me!

I am a licensed professional counselor dedicated to supporting college students through their unique journeys. I offer a warm, open, and accepting space where all parts of who you are are valued. Understanding that adjustments and transitions associated with higher education can be challenging, I am here to provide a supportive space to talk through the highs and lows of your experiences. Let’s navigate this journey together.

I believe that change can occur when a person is provided with a safe and supportive space for exploration and understanding of one’s true self. I work with children, preteens, teens, and young adults from a developmentally sensitive and trauma informed perspective. My approach is based on the belief that the client is the expert on their life and they have internal strength and resources to heal. My role is to accompany you on this journey to find your authentic self. My approach is strength-based, creative and integrates play and humor into therapy. I have specialized training in EMDR, Interpersonal Neurobiology, Mindfulness, Expressive arts, Play and Sand therapy, and sensory processing, I am a culturally competent LGBTQ+ ally and have experience with gender questioning, gender queer, non binary and trans clients

From the outside, it may look like you have everything under control. You're responsible, capable, and driven. But beneath the accomplishments, your mind rarely slows down. You're constantly thinking about what's next, replaying conversations, second-guessing decisions, or feeling guilty when you try to rest. I specialize in working with driven young adults and professionals struggling with chronic anxiety, perfectionism, and self-imposed pressure. Many of my clients feel exhausted by overthinking, overwhelmed by expectations, and frustrated that success hasn't brought the peace or confidence they hoped for. Together, we'll work to quiet the constant mental noise, build self-trust, and create a healthier relationship with stress and achievement. Therapy is about helping you understand what's keeping you stuck and developing practical tools to move forward with greater clarity and confidence. My approach is collaborative, down-to-earth, and LGBTQ+ affirming. Many clients begin therapy feeling overwhelmed by pressure and responsibility. Over time, they often find themselves carrying less emotional weight, responding to challenges with greater confidence, and creating a life that feels as good on the inside as it looks on the outside. If you're ready to stop carrying it all alone, I'd be honored to connect.

My passion is to assist people who desire to get unstuck, be more confident, feel more relaxed, connect with others, feel less irritable, communicate better, understand their dreams and are looking for meaning and purpose in their lives. We might be a good fit if you are someone who has difficulty with boundaries and assertiveness or think of yourself as a "people pleaser." Another good fit would be if you feel that you are lacking direction in your life or feel like "something is missing" but aren't sure what it is or how to find it.

Are you having a hard time dealing with changes in your life? Feeling stressed or overwhelmed? Or are you a couple struggling to connect & communicate? You are not alone. Through the many phases of life, we transition & face hard things. Many people find it hard to cope & stay connected with others when change keeps happening. Although you might think hope is lost right now, change IS possible. Even in the midst of transition & stress, individuals can find calm, clear-headedness & capacity for reaching their goals. Despite hardship & disconnect, couples can learn to reconnect, & deepen intimacy. I work with adults going through life transitions, those experiencing stress, & couples struggling to connect, communicate. Through our work together, you can gain the tools you need to cope with difficult life stuff, repair & rebuild your intimate relationship & discover that you have what it takes to weather any of the storms that life throws at you. If you are struggling, it may not feel like it, but you have the capacity to overcome challenges, & increase intimacy with those you care about. Reaching out for help is a humbling & vulnerable step, but it’s courageous. Through our work together, I will provide the guidance & encouragement you need to reach your goals & reconnect to what matters to you. Please note: I am only able to bill insurance for individual counseling. For couples work I accept out of pocket and am able to bill Lyra Health.

Are you struggling with managing anxiety? Do you worry frequently? I teach coping skills and we agree upon homework for each session. We will actively target the issues you want to work on so that you can be more aligned with your values. We can work on managing emotions, addressing anxiety, understanding the impact of trauma, problem-solving and organizing, and more. Reach out if this sounds like a good fit for you.

On paper, everything looks good. Underneath though, you're feeling unsettled and struggling. The people I work with typically look like they are doing well in school and in life, but are struggling to manage their feelings and feel settled in their bodies and mind. I help those struggling with anxiety and depression who are not sure why they feel the way they do. I help people find beneficial coping skills instead of relying on possibly harmful ones. Being a student and navigating the landscape, both locally and globally can feel very overwhelming. I help people break things down into manageable pieces in order to restore a sense of agency and confidence. If you have any questions or need some support, feel free to message me. I return inquiries within 24 hours during the week and on Monday if sent over the weekend.

Many of my clients come to me with emotional wounds. They often felt invisible, rejected, devalued, or deeply hurt by others. They learned to adapt to the unsupportive environment by judging themselves, tensing up, trying to control everything, disconnecting from themselves, numbing their feelings, not trusting others, hiding, or trying to please everyone. As time goes by, these strategies stop working and become symptoms we label as depression, anxiety, disordered eating, substance use, PTSD, self-harm, etc. I work with clients to break free from the past and live life in the way they want. I offer a safe space where clients feel seen, accepted and empowered. I collaborate with clients to set goals and identify/build on their strengths. I use body-based therapies (EMDR, SP, Mindfulness, etc) to help clients resolve past trauma. I incorporate ACT and DBT to help clients manage stressors more effectively and live more meaningful/fulfilling lives. As a BIPOC psychologist and bilingual immigrant, I have extensive experience serving clients with marginalized identities. I show curiosity and respect to client’s lived experiences related to their identities and feel honored to be able to support clients in breaking barriers and living up to their full potentials. If any of these speak to you, let’s chat!

I work with individuals navigating anxiety, stress, relationship challenges, and the impact of past experiences. Many students I see feel overwhelmed, disconnected, or unsure how to cope with everything they’re carrying. I offer a supportive, grounded space to help you better understand yourself, build coping skills, and feel more connected and confident in your daily life.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Christina is a United States Navy Veteran and holds a Master of Science degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Walden University. Christina is empathetic, compassionate, and dedicated to empowering and mentoring clients through their journey by building a trusting therapeutic relationship within a safe, non-judgmental environment. Christina understands how one’s environment can impact an individual’s cognition and behavior. Christina’s foundation is Person-Centered and aspires to help clients be their true authentic self. Christina enjoys working with adolescents, young adults, adults, and Veterans within our community.

College is supposed to be when you figure out who you are, which is a strange task to hand someone who's also drowning in problem sets, roommate drama, and a bank account that hits zero the week before rent. If you're queer, trans, neurodivergent, disabled, fat, BIPOC, or some combination, you're doing that figuring-out with fewer road maps and more people who think your existence needs an explanation. At Soma Roots Therapy, we work with students navigating identity, family expectations, body image, burnout, and the specific loneliness of being surrounded by people and still feeling unseen. Our approach pays attention to what's happening in your body, not just your thought spirals, and it starts from the belief that your struggles usually aren't a personal failing — they're a reasonable response to unreasonable systems (capitalism, diet culture, whichever one's currently ruining your week). We're LGBTQIA2S+ affirming, neurodivergent-affirming, and fat-affirming as a baseline, not a specialty. No pronoun explanations required. No convincing us your body is fine as it is. We show up, we listen, and yes, we'll probably crack a joke somewhere in there — healing doesn't have to be humorless, even when it's hard. We see clients by telehealth across Oregon and Washington, so therapy can happen between classes instead of instead of them. Check out our website to see which insurances we accept and to schedule your Free 20-minute Consult directly from our website to see if we might be a good fit for you.

Specialties: Anxiety, Autism, Psychosis, life transitions. Telehealth only for individuals who have PacificSource Health ins. My therapeutic philosophy is that it is very possible, with the right kind of support, to recover from most mental health and life challenges. Let’s have a discussion about what you want to achieve, and we can come up with a plan that will help you live your best life. I treat the people I work with as "people first," rather than labels, cases, or subjects. Since I have been involved with healing work, the definitions for "disorders" has continually changed. Because I believe in the absolute and intrinsic beauty and worth of human beings, I'm more likely to frame something as a challenge or a difficulty than as disorder. One of the nicest things about having been involved in this work for so long is that I've had the privilege to watch people change profoundly when they get the support and encouragement they need. If you work with me, we will spend time reframing whatever "disorder" you believe you have to make your work more precise.