Therapists for college students near Portland, OR
The world is extra stressful right now and your plate may feel way past full. You know it's time for a change. Together we can work on overcoming stressors, calming anxiety, building self-compassion and breaking free of the cycle of worry.
* I am offering online therapy sessions for MA & OR residents on a HIPAA-compliant platform. Hello, my name is Cynthia (she/her). I am a licensed clinical psychologist in MA & OR. Prior to becoming a psychologist, I served as a public interest attorney in MI and OR. As a psychologist, I continue to work from an anti-oppressive framework, approaching therapy as a collaboration. I specialize in longer-term psychotherapy to enable deeper understanding of the meaning behind manifest symptoms by exploring one’s distinctive history, upbringing, and cultural context as it relates to the present. However, flexibility and collaboration are central to my approach for those desiring brief consultations for specific situations. I draw from psychoanalytic and attachment theories, which value understanding how our internal and external worlds interact. I pay attention to the contextual thread comprising our present selves including our early experiences and the cultural, sociopolitical milieu we inhabit. I have experience working with adults from diverse backgrounds in inpatient/outpatient hospital settings, community mental health clinics, and college counseling centers. I am especially interested in shifting patterns of psychological trauma to embolden one’s sense of agency and increase cognitive and emotional flexibility for a more compassionate and creative sense of being with self and others.
I identify as a queer woman and specialize with LGBT folks. Poly and kink friendly! I may be a good fit for you if you want a therapist who is genuine, transparent, warm, and friendly, who sees you as a unique individual and tailors our work to identify and meet your needs. I bring a social justice lens and understanding of systems of oppression into therapeutic work. I will tell you what I am thinking, will challenge you intellectually, and actively engage with you. I will be open and honest in answering your questions, work collaboratively with you, describe our options, and check in often. Clients often tell me that our work has helped them to sort through their thoughts and feelings to gain clarity, to grow, to learn about themselves, to develop confidence, and to feel empowered to make important decisions. I employ a flexible approach tailored to the needs of each client. I also provide assessments/letters for gender affirming surgery. It is difficult to find the right therapist based on a short profile! Feel free to contact me with any questions. I am currently accepting clients for telehealth only. I accept Aetna, GEHA, Pacific Source, and Meritain insurance and out of network insurance benefits.
My clinical practice is trauma informed and person centered. I enjoy working with people who are navigating difficulties related to major life transitions, sexual and gender identity development, conflicts within their family of origin, relationship issues and surviving and healing from trauma. I also value and strive to work effectively across cultural, ethnic and racial identities. I am EMDR trained, Internal Family Systems informed and believe strongly in the power of relationships to both form who we are and to heal. I received my MSW degree in 2010 from Smith School for Social Work in Northampton, MA. I have over 13 years of experience providing mental health care in different settings, including Portland State University Counseling Services. 15 minutes free phone consultations available and encouraged. New client slots available starting September 5th, 2023. Currently only offering Telehealth, with potential in-person appointments in the future.
I work with people who are seeking to decrease suffering, increase authenticity, build community, and pursue a life that aligns with their values. I also have a special interest in working with artists and creative types whose mental health is interfering with their full expression. I strive to be anti-oppressive in my practice by supporting individuals creating social change in their communities.
Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.
OUR MISSION: Empowering Your Wellbeing At MindRx, we believe in the integration of mind and body to achieve true well-being. With curiosity, positivity, and accountability as our guiding values, we provide exceptional, personalized care that goes beyond traditional practices.
I specialize in helping young adults who are detransitioning or desisting, or otherwise struggling with the current culture of identity politics and groupthink on college campuses. If you value nuance over black-and-white thinking, and would rather see yourself as a strong, resilient person than a perpetual victim of forces outside your control, we might be a match. I respect patients of diverse cultural, religious, and political backgrounds, as well as sexual orientations. Use the link below to book a free discovery call.
Our practice utilizes evidenced-based treatments, which anchor your care in the best scientific evidence available. The therapeutic approaches we employ are gold standard treatments based on large-scale randomized clinical trials. Our skilled psychotherapists will develop a tailored treatment plan based on current clinical research, as well as your preferences, values, culture, and life experience. This goal-directed and science-backed approach, coupled with your active engagement in the therapeutic process, will guide you along the path toward meaningful change.
I work with people who feel like they don’t belong. Together, we’ll find ways to reconnect you to your inner strengths and capacities, to community and nourishing relationships, and to the world at large. There’s many reasons people might feel like misfits, weirdos, or exiles. Many of us can’t or won’t fit into our socially proscribed boxes. I have particular experience working with queer and non-binary folks, with people on the autism spectrum, with multiracial and/or bicultural folks, with creatives, innovators, and activists working on the edge of social change, and with survivors of trauma. And I’m open to working with anyone who feels drawn to my approach, so feel free to reach out!
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.
I specialize in working with people who are struggling to resolve what they want in relationships and stressed out professionals and students. I also affirms those who have experienced emotional wounds from dysfunctional families and addiction find relief and security within themselves. Issues I work with most often are depression, anxiety, bipolar and mood swings, PMDD, trauma and PTSD. I am in the mental health field because I love hearing people's stories. I know how difficult it can be to share our stories, which is why I am honored to witness people's resilience. Something that stands out about my practice is I offer teletherapy and telepsychiatry, which provide you the safety and convenience of being in your own home for your therapy and medication needs.
Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.
I work with students navigating anxiety, relationship struggles, family dynamics, identity questions, and the pressures inherent in being in college like how hard it is to have it all figured out or to transition to new phases of life. My approach is grounded in warmth and honesty, using Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP) to help you feel seen, supported, and be able to really access your emotions and thoughts with out judgement. I care deeply about this time in your life and believe meaningful change happens when we feel safe enough to be ourselves, even the messy parts.
Are you feeling anxious or struggling to cope with your worries? Have you experienced trauma in your life & noticing it affecting your life today? Are you wanting to improve your relationship with food and/or your body? Maybe you are wanting to discover more about yourself and how you navigate the world. I believe it’s important to allow time to process experiences, learn about coping skills and also how to find healing in a way that aligns with you and your values. We'll also explore how different parts of yourself can impact you in different life experiences. My practice is culturally sensitive, gender affirming and welcoming to all body sizes. I work through a holistic approach where I believe in including your whole self in therapy, which includes the mind-body connection, your background, values, beliefs, identity and any other important aspects that make up who you are. Therapy can offer you a safe space to process these experiences, discover more about yourself and how you navigate the world. I do my best to meet people where they are. I understand if it’s someone’s first time in therapy or if someone is feeling nervous or hesitant about it, that it takes time to build trust with someone to eventually share your story.
My approach is warm and collaborative, creating a space where you feel truly seen and supported. I specialize in working with women who are navigating anxiety, relational challenges, and the lasting effects of trauma. Many of my clients struggle with high self-expectations, overthinking, and a constant sense of not doing or being enough. Together, we explore the roots of these patterns and create space for self-trust, balance, and lasting change. Using a combination of EMDR, somatic, and other evidence-based approaches, I tailor each session to your unique needs and goals. This personalized approach allows us to work through your challenges at your own pace. Whether we’re using EMDR or another approach, I stay attuned to what feels most supportive. I trust your innate capacity to heal and see my role as a guide in helping you reconnect with your resilience and sense of self. My goal is lasting, embodied change—so you can feel more grounded, empowered, and at home in your life.
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.
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.