Licensed Professional Counseling

I currently work as a licensed professional counselor in Portland. I work with different types of clients on many different presenting problems. I am very comfortable performing individual therapy and couples counseling. In my therapeutic practice, I integrate psychodynamic therapy with cognitive therapy.

My Therapeutic Background

I have a very strong background in family and couples work. I received my master's degree in marriage and family therapy from the University of Southern California, and my bachelor's degree in child and family development from San Diego State University. Prior to going into private practice, I worked in the public school system providing individual, group, and family therapy to high-risk students. I also taught parenting classes on a regular basis. My therapeutic career started out at a crisis line here in Portland, where I mainly worked with people who were suffering from suicidal thoughts and severe anxiety. I have lived in Portland since 2005 and the bulk of my work focuses on seeing couples and individuals in my private practice.

Along with running a practice I also run a few websites. Portland Therapy Center helps people easily find counselors and therapists. Wellpdx helps people easily find acupuncturists, chiropractors, massage therapists and naturopaths. The Practice Academy helps health and wellness practitioners improve their digital brand attract more clients online.

PSYCHODYNAMIC THERAPY

Psychodynamic therapy focuses on the psychological forces that underlie human behavior. Its goal is to help one understand how behavior and mood are affected by exploring unresolved issues and unconscious feelings. This is achieved by making the unconscious elements in one's life a part of one's present experience. While psychodynamic therapy can be very healing in its own right, I also tie in other theories such as the cognitive theory.

COGNITIVE THERAPY

Cognitive therapy adds another dimension – the Here and Now – and therefore can spur change in a timely fashion. Cognitive therapy examines how an individual perceives and interprets meaning in his/her daily life. It is based on the premise that one becomes depressed because their thinking is biased toward negative interpretations. Cognitive therapy mixed with narrative therapy works well in this situation; it develops a new, healthy view of past and current life situations.

In addition to practicing the above therapies, I routinely study new and effective techniques in modern therapy, and I would be happy discuss my views and objectives with you.