This means I’m not officially licensed yet. After many, many years of schooling and hours upon hours of seeing clients, I’m not considered a full-fledged therapist until I complete a certain number of clinical hours. During this time, I’m required to practice under the license of my supervisor, Emily Berry, LPC. I meet with Emily twice a month to ensure I’m practicing ethically and get guidance on clients’ concerns.

Becoming an official therapist takes a lot more time, even after graduating from grad school. I’ve completed my Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and have done over 700 client sessions at this point. It takes associates ~1,900 client sessions to become officially licensed, even after graduating with an advanced degree in counseling.

• The short answer is no. You may be eligible for partial reimbursement through your insurance if you have out-of-network (OON) benefits.

• Sessions are $160 - $220 depending on the length of your session.

• Previously, the only insurance I was able to accept was OHP Care Oregon. However, due to recent changes made by Oregon Health Plan, associates in private practice (that includes me) are no longer allowed to accept new clients with OHP insurance. This decision went into effect December 1, 2024 and will significantly reduce the number of available mental health counselors for OHP clients. If you are impacted by their decision to decrease access to care and want to submit a feedback form to them, you can do so HERE.

There are different forms of dissociation, many of which exist on a spectrum. Outside of grief processing, most of my clinical work is with folks who experience derealization and/or depersonalization (DP;DR for short). DPDR is a dissociative disorder that impacts our ability to stay connected to ourselves, others, or our surroundings.

Derealization is often described as being in a dream or virtual reality game, but not in a good way. Depersonalization can feel like an out-of-body experience or a feeling of watching yourself from afar.

Almost everyone experiences dissociation at some point in their lives and it can be a vital coping skill we automatically utilize as a way to survive. However, it becomes a disorder when it starts to impact your ability to function and/or causes distress. Dissociation as a disorder is typically brought on by trauma, anxiety, or substance use.

Please note that I specifically work with depersonalization and/or derealization and that I do NOT have the necessary training to work with Dissociative Identity Disorder (formerly, Multiple Personality Disorder).

If you are utilizing your out-of-network benefits, I am required to give you a diagnosis within the first session to put on your file. The diagnosis process will be done together, with transparency and collaboration so you feel as in control of your treatment as possible. For some diagnoses like ADHD or Autism, I can refer you to organizations that do official evaluations.

If you’re paying out-of-pocket without submitting a Superbill to insurance, a diagnosis is not necessarily needed and we can discuss the topic further in the first session.

I don’t see families, but I might take a couple or a polycule if we’re a really good fit and if I have enough openings. It’s important to note that although I have seen families and couples and have received training in those types of therapy, a majority of my clinical experience thus far has been with individual clients.

I strongly recommend 80 minute sessions for couples and polycules to give time to navigate multiple perspectives.

Either! You can choose to attend via Telehealth or in-person. My office is located in North Portland.

For in-person sessions (limited availability): the office is located on the second floor of a mixed-use building. Unfortunately, it can only be accessed by stairs. Free street parking is available in the neighborhood but please allow yourself time to find a spot. Because of the office location, there are sometimes dance or yoga classes down the hall. You may hear music or encounter other people in the waiting area but once you’re in the therapy room, there will be a white noise machine in the hallway so others can’t hear your session.

For virtual sessions: you’ll need a phone or computer with video and audio capability and a private place to do sessions. Some folks who don’t have privacy where they live have attended sessions from their (PARKED!) car, or have planned to attend from a friend’s home with a private room. This is something we can communicate about more if there are barriers.

Fill out the contact form HERE.

I’ll let you know if I’m accepting new clients. If I have openings, l’ll email you some timeslots to schedule a 20 minute phone call (free of charge) so I can gather some info about who you are as a person and what type of things you’re hoping to address in our sessions together. If we both feel like we’re a good fit, I’ll get you scheduled for our first official session together. From there, we’ll meet weekly or bi-weekly depending on your needs. You get to discuss any topics you want and you get to decline answering any questions you don’t feel comfortable answering. You always have the option to say no.

You don’t have to lay on a couch and talk about your relationship with your parents (although you absolutely can, if you want).

Break up with me!!!! The most important component of therapy is the therapeutic relationship itself! I want you to feel empowered to find a different counselor if you don’t think we’re a good fit. I’d even be happy to help you find someone else. I always appreciate feedback (the good, the bad, and the worst) so if there’s something I’m doing (or not doing) that isn’t working, let’s talk about it. I might be able to adjust my approach to better meet your needs, or you might feel like you want to see someone completely different and that’s okay.

If I do something to upset you, let me know! I would love nothing more than to engage in a repair process that feels good for you. If you have trouble bringing it up, you can always write it out in an email.