Therapists for college students near Portland, OR
Do you feel weighed down by anxiety or depression? Are you struggling to feel connected to yourself or aligned with your life? You might be seeking relief, clarity, or a way forward that feels authentic. My mission is to guide and empower individuals through their emotional challenges—helping you build stronger relationships, rediscover your inner strength, and create the balanced, fulfilling life you deserve. I blend traditional therapy with somatic practices, focusing on the mind-body connection to support deeper healing. Together, we’ll release emotional tension, uncover patterns stored in your body, and build tools for resilience. Using breathwork, mindfulness, and tailored strategies, you’ll gain clarity, confidence, and live more authentically. You deserve a space where you feel truly seen, heard, and supported. In our work together, you’ll find a compassionate partner who will help you navigate life’s challenges and reconnect with your inner strength. Healing is possible, and you don’t have to do it alone. Let’s take this journey together toward greater peace, alignment, and growth.
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 25 years of experience in behavioral health and substance use treatment. I believe mental health is the foundation of overall wellness, and I specialize in helping individuals and families navigate trauma, depression, anxiety, and recovery. My style is warm, compassionate, and collaborative, creating a safe, nonjudgmental space where clients feel supported in their healing journey. I integrate evidence-based practices such as EMDR, Brainspotting, CBT, and DBT to help clients process trauma, regulate emotions, and build practical coping skills. Clients can expect to gain greater self-awareness, resilience, and tools they can use in daily life, often leading to stronger relationships, improved well-being, and a renewed sense of hope.
Greetings, I am so glad you found my practice. Please check out my website for more details about my approach and services.
Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.
I specialize in supporting college students who feel overwhelmed by the challenges of campus life—from managing academic pressure and navigating new social environments to handling personal transitions and stress. I understand that many students share common experiences such as balancing coursework, part-time work, and relationships, while also grappling with uncertainty about the future. Who I Help My approach works best for students who: Feel anxious about their studies or future career choices. Struggle with balancing social life, academics, and personal well-being. Are navigating significant life transitions (e.g., moving away from home, starting new relationships). Need a supportive, non-judgmental space to talk through their challenges. How I Work I use clear, everyday language to explain ideas and strategies—no confusing jargon here. Whether you're dealing with stress, low self-esteem, or just need someone to listen, my goal is to help you understand your situation better and build practical steps toward a healthier, more balanced life. Why This Might Be Right for You If you’re a student looking for a compassionate professional who understands the unique pressures of campus life, we might be a great fit. I’m here to help you explore your feelings, develop strategies to manage stress, and set you on a path toward personal growth and success.
We all look for empathy, understanding, and connection in our lives and relationships. When moving through the world with a non-dominant identity, it can be difficult to find acceptance, confidence and a sense of belonging. As a biracial Chamoru woman, I have been navigating these struggles throughout my life. I hope to work with others who are looking to cultivate relationships with their core identities, while navigating the challenges related to systems of oppression. My clients often identify as people of color, LGBTQ+, disabled, and/or chronically ill, as well as part of nerd, geek or techie communities. I work best with clients who are looking to build a warm, trusting, and collaborative counseling relationship. Relationships can be powerful and I believe that healing begins with feeling that you are being genuinely heard and cared for. If you think we may be a good fit, I warmly encourage you to reach out! I provide a free consultation appointment where we can get to know each other and assess your needs. Currently, I only offer online counseling to Oregon residents.
As a therapist, I believe that we are capable of many things. We have resources within ourselves to move through the difficulties that come with life. I view my approach to therapy as client-centered, strengths-based, intersectional feminist, neurodivergent-affirming, and fat liberationist. As a client-centered therapist, I will focus on your therapeutic goals and the best way to achieve them using your strengths. I view my work as walking beside you on your journey rather than leading the way. As a person with multiple minoritized identities, I do my best to understand and empathize with the experiences of my clients. I also work with many communities that are often marginalized. I consider myself to be sex positive (including sex work) and a fat liberationist. I am also kink-experienced and work with non-monogamous/polyamorous relationships. Clients experience me as warm, encouraging, and supportive. My style in the therapy room is very conversational and inviting. You can expect me to show up congruently and authentically, so you even might catch me laughing or crying with you.
I utilize a person-centered, narrative approach to therapy which means we will focus on helping you explore your remarkable life experiences while building trust through a collaborative dialogue. My approach has been described as warm, validating and filled with curiosity. Throughout our work together, my goal is to foster a non-judgmental space to help you work towards relief and self-understanding. Some clients work with me to explore childhood experiences while others want to focus on more recent challenges. I support people with a wide variety of concerns and am particularly passionate about supporting individuals who are navigating relationship challenges (familial, romantic, platonic), exploring their sexual or gender identities, and traversing stressors related to parenting, school, work, or other obstacles. I am also trained to provide treatment for OCD and ADHD. I strive to work from an antiracist, LGBTQA+ affirming, and Health At Every Size-informed perspective. If it sounds like we would be a good fit, please contact me to set up a free 20-minute consultation.
Hi! I’m a bilingual Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) licensed in Oregon and Idaho with 19 years of experience supporting individuals from diverse backgrounds and life experiences. I enjoy working with college students navigating stress, anxiety, identity, relationships, burnout, life transitions, and self-esteem challenges. My approach is compassionate, collaborative, and nonjudgmental, with the goal of helping you feel supported while building practical tools for everyday life. Reaching out for support can feel intimidating, and I strive to create a space where you can feel comfortable being yourself.
You are enough. There is nothing wrong with your body. You have always been deserving of love, respect, and softness. Yes, even you! Whether it’s strengthening your relationship with yourself through developing more self-compassion, guiding you in how to communicate more effectively with your partner, or helping you navigate a rough conflict with your best friend, I am here to provide you with non-judgmental support every step of the way. My clients are often fat folks, queer besties, sex workers, and people experiencing chronic pain or chronic illness. This is a space for you to be seen, heard, and validated in your beauty and complexity. I will always be transparent with you about the ins and outs of the therapeutic process because I believe that collaboration and consent are vital to creating safety and trust in our time together. I view therapy as a potential cozy space for corrective, reparative experiences that can start to soften clients’ inner experiences. That’s the whole idea behind the name “Soft Spot”: melting away the hardness that our society or trauma forces unto us and, in place, deepening into more of the lovely softness that’s always been there. You get to delight in the pleasure of being you.