Therapists for college students near Portland State University

Hi, I've been in the field since 2001. I have a master's degree in Buddhist psychology and use mindfulness throughout my work. I have a passion for working with college students. I have specialized in ADHD, trauma, and substance use and work with identifying the underlying issues related to these conditions. Being a part of the LGBT community I have a passion for gender-affirming care and addressing relationship issues. I also have experience with eating disorders, fitness, nutrition, and health related issues.

Accepting new clients! You are taking the time to make mental health a priority, and that is something to be proud of. I am honored to support you on your journey toward your goals. I approach your challenges from a holistic perspective, recognizing that every aspect of your life contributes to the present situation. I firmly believe that you are the expert of your own story, and that you possess numerous strengths that will guide you in overcoming any roadblocks along the way. Together, we will uncover and build upon these strengths, enabling you to achieve the growth and fulfillment you deserve.

I specialize in effective therapy for adults who are suffering from anxiety, depression, ADHD, trauma, and assertiveness issues. I enjoy working with individuals in the LGBTQ+ community and other minority populations. I have seven years of experience in working with college and university students. This has sparked my interest in working on topics such as life transition, career exploration, and examinations of one's identities. Many clients have expressed appreciation for my authenticity, warmth, and caring nature.

Many students come to therapy feeling stressed, anxious, or stuck in patterns that hold them back. Balancing school, relationships, and life changes can feel overwhelming. Therapy provides a supportive space to pause, reflect, and explore your experiences. I work with students to navigate emotions, stress, and relationship challenges while building coping skills and self-understanding. Together, we focus on what matters most to you and make meaningful changes in a supportive, relational space. Starting therapy can feel vulnerable, and I honor that courage. You’ll have a gentle, safe space to process challenges, reflect on your experiences, and build confidence as you move through school and life.

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.

Michelle is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with over 15 years of experience. She earned her Masters Degree from the University of Nevada, Reno, and eventually moved to Portland where she began a career focusing on helping individuals and families learn to heal and thrive. With experience working in healthcare and public education, Michelle understands the complexities and demands that so many members of our community experience. She is committed to addressing cultural issues around bias, racism, equity, and injustices for communities of color and those with diverse backgrounds. Her engagement with anti-racism learning is active, ongoing, and explicit. Michelle is collaborative, encouraging, and playful. She focuses on helping clients to identify their resilience and strength to overcome obstacles, and she offers a safe place to be open and honest without fear of judgment. She has experience working with children and adults struggling with depression, anxiety, women’s health issues, infertility and pregnancy, post-partum, life transitions, parenting issues, and addiction. Michelle approaches therapy with a trauma-informed lens and relies on her background and education in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Strength-Based Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Play Therapy, and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy. Michelle believes it is a true privilege to be able to work in this field and to share space with people during some of their hardest and most vulnerable moments. She remains continuously grateful for the opportunity her clients give her, and she is committed to continuing to grow and learn. When Michelle is not practicing, she can be found with her spouse, dog, and their two young children - exploring outdoors, skiing, paddle boarding, enjoying good food, and following that beautiful and often scarce PNW sunshine.

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.

I specialize in work with adult survivors of abuse, as well as anxiety and adjustment issues. I offer compassion and tools to help meet your goals. I offer both in person and telehealth appointments. If you're struggling and need help, reach out so you're not alone. I respond to all contacts within 24 hours.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Kim is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Oregon. She chose social work as a second career, after having spent 20 years as manager and mentor in various government agencies. It was her own therapeutic journey, providing the insight and understanding to help her find grace in navigating the journey of life, which led her to further her education and complete her Masters of Social Work program. “I learned why I made decisions and choices in the past and how to use this knowledge to accept myself and move on. This is why I became a therapist, and this is the support I hope to offer you as my client. I have experienced the delicate balance of having a career, raising a teenager, taking care of elder parents and trying to identify what I needed for self-care.” After earning her degree, Kim worked for several years in a hospital behavioral health unit. Her approach is non-judgmental, person-centered and strength-based, incorporating evidence-based modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance & Commitment Therapy, Psychodynamics, Family Systems Therapy, and Strengths-Based Therapy. Kim has lived most of her life in Oregon and, as a single mom, adopted her now young-adult daughter from Guatemala. She has since added a loving husband, a huge Newfoundland dog and two rescue cats. Her interests include gardening, cooking, traveling and yoga. “My intention is to use my life and clinical experience to offer you a safe, trauma-informed space to help you discover you, and to help you find your path. I will listen and be supportive, helping you identify and untangle what gets in the way of you living life to the fullest. Life can be tricky, and its challenges sometimes seem overwhelming.” “It would be my privilege to help you in this journey.”

Liberation Institute is a community mental health clinic that offers therapeutic services on a sliding scale. It first opened its doors on October 7, 2008, in San Francisco, then expanded to Portland in June 2020. Between the two locations, Liberation Institute helps 600 individuals, couples, and families a week by a staff of therapists, supervisors, artists, activists, meditation teachers and others who are committed to serving the community together.

Many of my clients come in feeling weighed down by anxiety, ADHD, chronic illness, eating and body image concerns, and patterns like perfectionism and people-pleasing that feel hard to break. I also work with trauma, relationship patterns, and stress related to school, work, or life transitions. This includes teens and young adults navigating growing independence, or those experiencing family stress such as divorce or major changes at home. I take a relational, collaborative approach to therapy. I draw from CBT, DBT, ACT, Motivational Interviewing, and person-centered therapy in flexible, realistic ways that fit your life. As someone who is neurodivergent and lives with chronic illness, I bring perspectives from both my clinical training and lived experience into our work. Therapy can be a space to slow down and make sense of what you are going through. My role is to help you better understand yourself by uncovering what gets in your way and what actually helps. If you are looking for support, I would be glad to connect and see if working together feels like a good fit.

At LiveWell, we give personalized psychiatric and wellness support to adolescents and young adults with a variety of needs and backgrounds. If you're between 15 and 55, feeling weighed down by ADHD, anxiety, depression, or major life changes, we're here for you. Whether you're juggling school, work, or relationships and it all feels like too much, we get it. Out goal is to offer practical tips, help ease your symptoms, and empower you to own your days. We cater to young adults and middle-agers aiming to find that sweet spot in life's chaos. Our style is straightforward and honest. We believe in meeting you where you are and tackling what matters most to you. We're big on telehealth for flexibility, dealing with major topics like mood, focus, physical wellness, sexual health, and addiction... without any medical jargon.

Hi there, I’m Annie (she/her). I’m grateful you are here. Therapy can be a big step into the unknown but can also be an opportunity for growth and positive change. I believe human beings make meaning through connection and the relationships we hold. I approach therapy with a systemic perspective and carefully consider the many complexities that work together to form our whole selves. Some of these complexities could include cultural, environmental, or societal factors that may be contributing to barriers or overall challenges to daily functioning. I work collaboratively with you in honoring your story and how it informs your life, while also helping to highlight new stories and meaning-making. Therapy can provide a space for you to reflect upon and better understand the many parts of you.

By developing insight into your emotions, thoughts, and behaviors, and by practicing new skills and ways of relating to yourself and others, our work together will help you heal emotional pain, increase self-understanding, improve relationships, and cope more effectively with future challenges. Offering therapy, psychiatry and medication services.

Note: In-person and video sessions. College life can be difficult at times, even more so lately. You have what it takes to get through it and I am here to help you recognize and develop your strength and capability. You may feel lost, alone, confused, conflicted, indecisive, anxious and that's an okay place to start. I have experience working at colleges and universities both in Portland and New York City. My hourly rates are lower than many since I am not accepting insurance but I can give you a receipt and/or statement that you might use for some reimbursement.

College can feel like a lot to manage at once. Classes, friendships, dating, family expectations, and trying to figure out who you are and what you’re doing with your life. I work with students who are dealing with anxiety, self-doubt, and relationship stress. A lot of the people I see are functioning well on the outside, but internally feel overwhelmed, stuck, or like they’re constantly overthinking everything. Therapy can help you quiet the mental noise, understand your emotions without getting taken over by them, and feel more grounded in your decisions and relationships. You get to slow down, sort through what’s actually going on, and focus on what matters to you. My approach is practical and collaborative. We start with your goals and what’s not working right now, then build clear, research-based strategies to help you feel better. I also pay attention to patterns, like overthinking, people-pleasing, or relationship dynamics that keep repeating, so you can understand them and shift them long-term. You know your life better than anyone. My role is to help you make sense of it and move forward in a way that feels right to you. I provide out of pocket sessions at a reduced rate with limited pro bono sessions available. If you’re curious about working together, you can reach out for a quick consultation and see if it feels like a good fit.

Are you caught in an unending cycle of feeling insufficient, regardless of your achievements or efforts? As you navigate various roles in your life – partner, friend, caregiver, parent/child, coworker, or manager do you constantly feel like you're falling short, despite your best efforts? Anxiety, depression, grief, burnout, and fear can be an overwhelming experience. You are “fine” and you’re waiting for that other shoe to drop. I specialize in helping adults struggling with trauma, grief, and life transitions by navigating intense emotions, finding peace, and rebuilding connections with themselves and others. As a multiracial therapist, I am deeply committed to supporting BIPOC individuals, particularly in addressing family of origin and ethnic identity/cultural concerns. I also enjoy working with military families. My approach is grounded in scientific principles, tailored to help you break free from a cycle that keeps you from the life you want. Whether stemming from past trauma, intricate learning histories, or the pressures of daily life, these challenges may make you feel like you're merely existing rather than truly living. If you're ready to move beyond survival mode and embrace a life that aligns with your true self, I'm here to support you every step of the way.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

My work is based on Mindfulness, Buddhist Psychology, and Gestalt Therapy. All are adept approaches to increasing awareness of our embodied experience and discovering more authentic ways of living a fulfilling life. My approach works to help clients develop resiliency, emotional flexibility, and explore the careful balance between acceptance and change. I support clients’ process of deepening into a more compassionate and loving relationship with themselves and the world by accepting who they truly are. Simultaneously, I challenge people to examine and move beyond rigid, habitual beliefs or behaviors and develop more alive, creative, and connective ways of being in the world.