Therapists for college students near Portland State University
I believe that therapy is an investment in oneself, a space to learn about your personal emotions, life patterns, and ways you want to live your life. Everyone deserves to have a non-judgmental individual in their corner! As an old soul, I have a deep well of compassion which I balance with some "real talk" that encourages one to examine their lives. I enjoy working with people throughout the life spectrum.
I enjoy working with adults of all ages to make sense of transitional moments in their lives, including launching into adulthood, new parenthood, or newly single. I offer grief counseling as a significant portion of my practice as well. It is an honor for me to provide an affirming relationship to which you can bring all the different parts of yourself, and come to know and love them more.
Are you seeking therapy to better understand yourself—how you think, feel, and move through the world? How you relate to the world, and yourself? Are you curious about the deeper, more elusive questions that live beneath the surface? Are you navigating breaking generational cycles, processing sudden life shifts, grief, trauma, anxiety, or depression? I’m here to support you. We are the cartographers of our inner world—and therapy is the mapmaking. My role is to walk beside you in that discovery, offering a collaborative pace where every part of you is welcome. Grounded in evidence-based practices, and guided by warmth, humor, and deep respect, I create a safe, gently challenging environment where real healing and transformation can begin. Since 2022, I’ve supported individuals from all walks of life in Oregon and Washington through telehealth therapy. Therapy offers relief. It lightens the burden of carrying it all alone—and makes space for clarity, possibility, and change.
Hello, my name is Sarah Nelson (she/her/hers), I come to my work as a therapist holding tight to the knowledge that all people want to live meaningful lives with deep loving connection to others. Perhaps you are feeling a loss of meaning, a loss of connection, or are in the midst of a life transition and that has led you here. Whatever has led you to seek therapy, I am glad you are here and I welcome you as you are, as you were, and as you would like to be. I approach my work with a desire to connect and to understand, to hold hope, and to guide towards insight. As a counseling psychologist I am trained to work with a wide variety of presenting concerns and within many modalities. My approach to therapy is rooted in warmth and connection and you: who you are, where you come from, and what is meaningful to you. Our work together will be deep and relational. Within this person-centered approach I bring attention to early attachment and current relationships through the lens of feminist liberation psychology. This lens means that I see your context on a historical, local, and cultural scale as inextricable from your current mental health. INDIVIDUAL THERAPY: I provide person-centered, holistic, and contextualized individual counseling that is rooted in attachment, connection, liberation and social justice. I am trained to work with a variety of concerns and using a variety of modalities and most often work with: anxiety, depression, identity development and transitions, grief and loss, relationship concerns, sleep concerns, transgender mental health, sexuality, and existential concerns. COUNSELING FOR TRANSITIONS: The transitions into and out of college and into and out of careers and jobs are frequently moments of fear and anxiety. These transitions can also be seasons of growth in self-understanding and moments for powerful shifts in identity. I have specialized training in career and academic counseling as well as business consultation and leadership development. I offer person-centered, compassionate, and contextualized therapy for these seasons of transformation, whether you are: transitioning from college, moving between jobs, reentering the job-market after family leave, longing for a more balanced work and home life, or developing your ability to lead. PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT: I offer psychosocial affirming evaluations for gender affirming and confirming surgeries and interventions following the WPATH standards of care guidelines. I am able to provide these assessments and letters of support to any resident of Oregon. I am committed to making such assessments accessible. PERINATAL AND PARENTING SUPPORT: The seasons of pregnancy and parenthood are marked by layered, sacred, and complex transitions and changes in identity and relationships. I offer inclusive, holistic, and holding therapy for individuals who are trying to get pregnant, are pregnant, have experienced pregnancy loss or fertility concerns, abortion, miscarriage, or for those who are transitioning to parenthood or have parenting concerns. I am particularly interested in helping individuals build intentional parenting patterns through better understanding of their own relationships and mental health. I have specialized training in life-span development, particularly in prenatal and postpartum counseling and in parenting.
please check out my website for the best overview of my practice.
I work with folks who identify outside of the box and don't fit into the "norm." My practice specializes in serving the queer community, folks in larger bodies, and those who find themselves to be “other.” I provide neurodiversity-affirming care for individuals who think, feel, and experience the world differently. I specialize in working with autistic and ADHD clients, as well as those who identify as neurodivergent in any way. I strive to bring empathy, compassion, and openness to every session. I value a collaborative approach where clients can guide treatment in the direction that feels most meaningful to them. Everyone’s story is unique, and I am here to honor yours. I believe that we all deserve a safe space to grow, heal, and be truly seen.
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Stuck in anxiety? Feeling trapped in trauma? I love working with clients seeking to heal their anxiety, trauma, and PTSD through a somatic approach. This trauma often masquerades as anxiety, which makes it confusing. We'll find just the right starting place, and I'll teach you practical tools. Whether you're feeling trapped in trauma, anxiety, or just wanting a deeper understanding of your human experience - we'll figure out together how to create more peace in your life and less exhausting hypervigilance and worry!
I have lived in Oregon since 2006. As an active person and outdoor enthusiast, I enjoy hiking, yoga, kickboxing, cycling, and paddle sports. I spend my time relaxing with my husband, friends, family, and 7-year-old adorable black Labrador mix. I enjoy traveling and have been able to explore Africa, Central America, South America, Asia, and Europe. Don’t worry…Australia and Antarctica are on the list! I have been practicing therapy since 2009 and working in mental health services since 2001. I received my Master’s in Applied Psychology in Mental Health Counseling from Southern Oregon University in 2009 and my bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of California in Santa Cruz in 2003. I have worked in a variety of therapeutic environments including a sub-acute hospital for adults with severe and persistent mental illness, a residential treatment program for adolescents, treatment foster care for children and youth, community-based services for families in crisis, foster care settings for children, youth, and young adults, outpatient mental health for adults, and in clinical research for youth and young adults struggling with suicidal thoughts and self-harming behaviors. I am a licensed professional counselor in the state of Oregon. My license is registered under my maiden name: Kristen Semelsberger. License number is C5039.
Have you been longing for a more fulfilling, meaningful life? If you are feeling paralyzed or trapped by worry or sadness, you may benefit from an in-depth psychotherapy approach that allows you to break old patterns and grow into a deeper understanding of yourself. I offer online (video-based) therapy to treat trauma, grief/loss, anxiety, and depression. I use CBT and Mindfulness based techniques in my work, but the foundation of my therapeutic approach is from an Existential Therapy perspective, which allows us to slow down and look closely at your current experience so that together we can shape the future you want to have. I feel honored to be a part of helping people grow, fulfill their potential, and thrive in areas that correspond to their values. I have lived in several countries and speak English, Spanish, and Portuguese. Both as a therapist and professor, I have served individuals of many cultures as well as marginalized populations which informs my practice & worldview. If you are invested in personal growth toward a life of purpose, I invite you to contact me or visit my website to learn more about how you can find healing & meaning in your life. Take that step and schedule a free consultation!
Hello! College is a wild ride, full of questions about who you are, where you're headed, and how to juggle all of the changes. I've navigated my share of life's transitions too, so I know how overwhelming it can all feel. As your therapist, I'm here to offer a supportive, compassionate space where you can sort through it all. My approach is warm and collaborative, I'm here to help you gain clarity and confidence as you move through this time of change. I draw from evidence-based approaches, strength-based and trauma-informed care. Together we'll build tools and perspectives that support your growth and well-being.
Welcome to my practice! I am a psychotherapist who provides counseling services for individuals, couples and families navigating myriad challenges including relationship concerns, academic stressors, feelings of anxiety and depression, trauma, life transitions, grief, identity, self-esteem, illness, and others. My goal is to provide a trustworthy, authentic, consistent and loving space which honors the many complexities of our shared humanity. If you have questions, or would like to set up an initial complementary consultation, you may contact me at 503-705-8489, or head to my online booking page. Feel free to browse my website for more detailed information. My study of medicine and counseling continues to awaken my awe and sensitivity to the challenges and wonders of being human. I offer a holistic, openhearted approach to therapy which welcomes all of who you are and rests on the belief that you hold trustworthy impulses for health, wholeness and Self-love. Our work together will be a safe and collaborative journey through which you lead the way through your life’s digestion process. A crucible for transformation, deep intimacy with oneself or another requires courage and authenticity. I embrace multicultural humility and affirm people of all genders, abilities, races, ethnicities, spiritualities, religions and other intersectional diversities I am both a physician and an individual, couple and family therapist intern. I obtained a MS from Portland State University while also immersing in a year-long internship at the M.E.T.A. Institute (Mindfulness Experiential Therapeutic Approaches) where I studied Hakomi and other mindfulness-based approaches, including Re-Creation of the Self and Attachment Therapy. I have also studied Richard Schwartz's Internal Family Systems (IFS) (Level 1 and 2 graduate, and Toni Herbine Blank's Intimacy from the Inside Out (IFIO ) (Level 1 graduate), Diana Fosha's attachment-based Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP), (Level 1 graduate), and Les Greenberg's Emotion Focused and Susan Johnson's Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), (level 1 externship), and Emotion Focused Therapy with Dr. Charles Edwards and Jaime Lynn Edwards. I have studied PolyVagal Theory with Deb Dana, Re-Creation of the Self with Jon Eisman, Fierce Love with Dr. SueAnne Piliero and the AEDP Institute, and Attachment Theory with META Institute. I also hold a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from Midwestern University in Chicago. I completed a Radiology Residency at the University of Chicago and a Body-Imaging Fellowship at the University of Chicago. I was a faculty member at the University of Washington School of Medicine Department of Radiology prior to transitioning to private practice.
Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.
The human experience presents unique challenges, opportunities, victories, and struggles for us all; we experience life and our feelings on various spectrums in shared systems: Sometimes the universal feelings of sadness become clinical depression. Sometimes the universal feeling of nervousness can become clinical anxiety. We describe difficulties in processing life events in terms of trauma. We look at compounding impact of transitions as stress. Therapy presents a unique opportunity to join with a trained helper in a safe environment for growth, healing, and change: both in feeling differently and exploring life changes. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor who relies upon the experiential approaches of Gestalt Therapy and story-shaping techniques of narrative therapy. I regularly incorporate the techniques from evidenced-based interventions in cognitive-behavioral therapy, person-centered therapy, and solution-focused brief therapy in treatment planning and assessment. I encourage you to give therapy a chance - say 3 sessions and consider how you feel about continuing. Let's explore your goals and consider a plan for growth, healing, and change. I will work collaboratively with you in treatment planning, providing regular clinical assessments to gauge your progress, and give you practical homework to make change happen.
My clients are often struggling to find peace in their relationships to food, movement, and themselves. They are often motivated to find healing but unsure of where to start. They may have struggled with an eating disorder or disordered eating, but not always. I believe my clients are already holding the tools they need to work towards a more harmonious life.
Welcome! I can help with anxiety or depression. I also specialize in sexual issues for both men and women. Schedule online directly from my website. (Please note that I am only in-network with Pacific Source insurance, email me directly for any other insurance questions, thanks!)
Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.
My clients are dedicated athletes grappling with eating disorders or OCD, facing the dual challenges of their mental health and a desire to perform at their peak. They are often overwhelmed by the demands of their sport, which can blur the lines between passion and harmful habits. Their primary goal is to reclaim their lives and their love for their sport, seeking not just recovery, but transformation—an opportunity to realign their beliefs and values towards a healthier, more balanced existence. They crave empowerment, resilience, and the ability to thrive both in their athletic pursuits and personal lives.