Therapists for college students near Portland State University
At North Star Therapy Collective our team is committed to our individual growth, learning and self-care. We work to take genuine care of ourselves in deep and meaningful ways so we can show up as the best version of ourselves in our communities, our families, and for YOU - our clients. Each one of us struggles with our own perfectionism. At times, we burn ourselves out, overcommit, or overwork. It's in these moments we turn to self-compassion and to the support of one another so that we can pause, rest, and reset.
Welcome! We're glad you're here. We are a group of therapists with a diverse set of skills and experiences. Please see our website for therapist bios to see if we have a therapist who might feel like a good fit. We take a humanistic approach to working with people, and work to create a safe, welcoming environment. We use a variety of evidence based practices to support you in healing and creating change in your life. If you feel we might be a good fit, please get in touch!
As both a licensed professional counselor and a licensed massage therapist, I deeply value the strength of a holistic approach to healing that incorporates the mind, the body, and the spirit. I am interested in the meaning we make about our experiences, how these beliefs crystalize into our physical form, and the divinity in all of us that transcends our personalities. I have seen time and time again that the deepest pain can be transformed into the compost of our most profound joys and spiritual awakenings. I offer individual sessions that include both counseling and embodiment practices to address developmental trauma, PTSD, stress, anxiety, depression, addictions, chronic pain/auto-immune disorders, and spiritual/energetic issues. My approach uses somatic (body-centered) awareness and mindfulness as a way to enhance traditional talk therapy and draws from the wisdom traditions of yoga and Buddhism, the biodynamic field of the human energy system, and somatic psychotherapy. I have worked in the mental health field since 2001 in a variety of settings, including psychiatric, drug treatment, and youth corrections. It was disheartening at the time to see in many ways how these facilities and institutions provided an environment that kept people in traumatic stress, and not necessarily the safety and connection that allowed for deeper healing to take place—there had to be another way. I had a passionate drive to follow the path of yoga, spirituality, touch, and the possibilities of being fully human. After attending massage therapy school to pursue a career in the healing arts, I realized how powerful both mind and body therapies are for holistic healing. I am a fervent learner and have specialized training in somatic psychotherapy and craniosacral therapy, as well as an extensive yoga and meditation practice which greatly influences my work. I look forward to accompanying you on a journey of healing and transformation.
Hi. If you have ended up here chances are you are questioning if you need help trying to figure something out in your life. Don't close the page...You are here and that is good. Being in college can be a really difficult transition and so much harder than you thought it was going to be. Classes, grades, friends, socializing, drugs, sex, identity, expression, first time independence, and feeling home sick. Perhaps you have dealt with mental health issues before now or maybe this is the first time you are noticing something feeling different. Whatever has brought you to deciding to seek help, know you are making a good choice. Please take a moment to look at my site, and if I am not the right one for you, then look at others. Find someone to talk to today.
I specialize in working with college students, graduate students and early career professionals who struggle with anxiety, perfectionism, trauma, depression, burn out and more. If you're asking yourself "how am I supposed to balance school/work, having a social life, eating healthy, exercising, having hobbies and taking care of my mental health?!" you are not alone. Adulting is hard, especially when you still feel like you're new to it. You might feel like your thoughts are always negative or spiraling out of control or you're always tense or can't seem to stay in the moment for things that are "supposed" to be fun. My approach to therapy focuses on helping you learn to relax, reduce the impact of negative thoughts, savor the joyful things in life, and live in alignment with your values. In therapy with me you will learn concrete strategies to improve your life while also having time to just "talk it out" in a warm and supportive environment. I offer a free, 15-minute phone consultation prior to scheduling our first session to determine if I am the best fit for your care. Please call, text or email now to schedule a consultation. Looking forward to speaking with you!
This time of life can be overwhelming, so full of change and new that sometimes it feels like too much. It can be confusing trying to figure out who you are, what you believe, how to be in relationships with others and even with yourself! Developing autonomy is exciting and it can also be scary to have to “adult” so much. You are taking responsibility for yourself, but probably still feel like you are ‘not quite’ an adult. I love to help people navigate this in-between time.