Therapists for college students near Portland State University

Hi there! My vision of successful therapy is that you feel at home in yourself and maintain that center as you engage with the world around you. You will experience more ease, compassion, connection, balance, expansiveness, and a clarity about who you are and where you stand in relation to the experiences that brought you to therapy to begin with. Your issues may include not feeling like yourself, feeling stuck, grieving a loss, feeling flat, numb, or disconnected, sensing that something is missing or off, struggling with identity or life transitions, being in need of support in parenting, or just sensing that this is important somehow. Our work will bring you back to your center, wholeness, and new possibilities by providing corrective and missing experiences, acceptance, and connection through mindful, experiential, supportive and body-based therapies. The relationship between a therapist and client is the foundation of transformation and I invite inquiries to see if we could be a good fit for one another.

Among all the uncertainties of life, making the choice to start therapy is yet another risky plunge into the unknown. Before you decide to give me a call I’d like to try and give you a sense of who I am and what it might be like for us to sit together. Although my title is doctor, my clients call me Sarah. I think of my role as one of accompaniment, you’re the lead and it’s my job to follow your pace, your volume, your moments of free expression. Together we get curious in a way that is, open, receptive, and non-judgmental. Sometimes this process is playful, and sometimes I encourage us to look deeper at the hard things. I am always holding your experience with profound respect and the certainty that you have been doing your best to survive in a world that challenges your flexibility. Whether you’re somewhere along the path of higher education or starting off your career, the challenges of young adult life are uniquely complex and ripe for psychological distress. At this stage in life, you may find yourself with more questions than answers and more pressures than solutions. Stressors and concerns may run the gamut from challenges in relationships, family conflict, financial/housing/food insecurity, or answering questions like, “Who am I” and “What do I want in life?” I can appreciate the need for a space to unpack it all, take a step back, and find more clarity.

After working in the mental health field for nearly 15 years, specifically in crisis intervention, I set out on a new path to work with people before life becomes unbearable. Most recently, I served as a high school mental health counselor. Flexibility and openness are two of my core values. Do you know what you value? Understanding what we care about most and what brings meaning to our lives is essential to living with intention and living well. I believe therapy is about exploring these values along with memories, current circumstances, and feelings in order to help the present-self move forward. Too often we drift through our days without asking for the support we need because it can feel as though we are not worthy of that focus. Please know that you are worthy of that focus because once you do, positive change and growth are not only possible, but inevitable. My passion is to center each person I work with and learn how they experience the world around them. My background thus far has been working with youth and adults experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, suicidal ideation, identity issues, self-harm, and school frustration. I hold a bachelor's degree in Spanish and a masters in social work (MSW) from Portland State University. Outside of my work, I love to run, play video games, and have always been into playing/watching sports. There is no song I wouldn't try to karaoke even though I'm, like, an objectively bad singer.

My work is guided by the belief that mental health care should be compassionate, collaborative, and personalized. With a background in community mental health and primary care behavioral health, I offer an integrative, culturally responsive, and values-based approach to therapy. I believe therapy is most effective when it goes beyond symptoms—when we explore your values, goals, and passions together. Through this lens, we co-create a foundation rooted in curiosity, connection, and emotional safety, opening space for healing and growth. I’ve had the privilege of expanding gender-affirming care at a community health system in Seattle and helped develop a behavioral health department embedded within a community center—where I facilitated programming focused on emotional wellness and connection. These experiences have shaped my commitment to making therapy accessible, affirming, and grounded in real-world community values. My value of community and connection continues to be nourished at Aspire Psychology.

Anxiety, worry, and intrusive thoughts are incredibly isolating and I am passionate about joining my clients in their journey toward reclaiming their lives and conquering their fears. You don’t need to do this alone anymore! My clients are often high schoolers, college students, and/or adults that are overwhelmed by perfectionism, high expectations, anxiety, and/or OCD’s rules about how to live their lives. They may also be going through major life transitions or struggling with looming uncertainties. Finally, my clients courageously lean into discomfort and learn new skills to ride the waves of uncertainty impacting their lives. My therapeutic approach includes the following evidence-based treatments: Exposure and Response Prevention, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness strategies and Motivational Interviewing. I collaborate with my clients to determine the best approach for their individual needs and goals. If you’ve made it this far, you’ve already taken a very big step forward in your wellness journey. I encourage you to reach out to me and schedule a consultation to discuss if my approach may be a fit for what you’re looking for. Regardless, I’m wishing you all the best in your journey and am honored to have crossed your path.

Matthew is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the State of Oregon. He provides counseling to individual adults, couples and geriatric clients. He is a certified geriatric and dementia expert (U. of Michigan). Matthew utilizes the Rogerian approach to therapy, empowering patients by leaning on nonjudgmental, positive regard, building strong rapport and trust with patients. Matthew incorporates strength-based approaches of Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Narrative Therapy. He wants the patient to explore their strengths and examine their challenges through a self-reflective lens so the patient can recognize why they struggle in certain areas of life. He sees patients that are facing difficulties with anxiety, depression, PTSD, chronic pain, grief and loss and relationship issues with marriage and parenting. He also has experience with crisis training to help military and first responders. Matthew employs several interventions including challenging negative thought patterns, relaxation training, sleep hygiene, and exposure therapy. Matthew earned his Masters in Mental Health Counseling from Wake Forest University. He is a native of New Orleans, has a wife, five children and three dogs. He is an avid walker, fisherman and sports enthusiast.

The ValueCore philosophy is that you have absolute value based on your intrinsic worth. This is how we see you; and the core from which we offer treatment. With you, we may utilize talk therapy, medication management, education, evaluation, encouragement, accountability, and self-discovery, which leads to insight, direction, and meaningful change. Together we work to foster the realization that happiness is the rule for you and not the exception. As you accept your personal value and implement the changes you need for yourself, we hope you will be free to grow, relax and recreate, socialize, work and serve others, educate, and live a fulfilling life. Now accepting new patients ages 5-64.

Are you struggling or wondering about what is happening and going on inside of you? Struggling with connecting, communicating, how you see yourself, or feeling different when around others? Do you feel your values and morals have become different then your family or community due to life experiences or learned knowledge? Let us talk and explore for yourself and your life experiences to help calm your thoughts and body.

I believe that anyone can benefit from therapy. Whether you’re facing life’s challenges, experiencing anxiety or depression, or you are just interested in growth and strengthening your sense of self; we all need a neutral person to talk to from time to time. I carry with me a warm, grounded presence. I have a nonjudgmental demeanor and prefer to avoid giving advice, but instead work together to explore options and possible solutions to issues. I have an eclectic approach that is primarily rooted in psychodynamics and tailored to the needs of the individual and their circumstances. I am open to working with anyone interested in pursuing therapy; some examples of challenges I am skilled at working with are anxiety, depression, interpersonal challenges, grief, life transitions, relationships, gender, sexuality, family issues, existential challenges, and individuation. I am LGBTQ+ friendly and poly friendly

I am a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in working with adults who are experiencing a wide variety of mental health issues including but not limited to depression, anxiety disorders, behavioral problems, relationship conflict, and trauma recovery. In addition to individual work, I also provide family therapy and parenting consultation, when indicated, to support parents and promote healthy communication and interactions. I strive to help each person feel safe enough to be open and honest about the state of their life. I believe that we all deserve someone that will listen without judgement and support us through life’s difficult moments. Through therapy, you can begin to make sense of your emotions, decrease your distress, and experience more fulfilling relationships. I utilize an integrative approach to psychotherapy, drawing from both cognitive behavioral and psychodynamic forms of treatment. I seek to help you better understand the root cause of your pain as well as discover practical strategies that will help to shift patterns of thinking and behavior that lie behind your difficulties. I view therapy as collaborative in nature and my hope is that we can partner together to help you make positive changes in your life.

College is a lot. Classes, deadlines, friends, jobs, family, figuring out your future—it can feel overwhelming. If you’re stressed, anxious, struggling with food and body image, or just not feeling like yourself, you don’t have to go through it alone. As a therapist, I create a supportive space where you can talk things out, learn tools to handle stress, and feel more grounded. Therapy is about helping you rise from the tough stuff and thrive in this season of your life.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

ADHD. Depression. Anxiety. Social Anxiety. We love helping students thrive. This is what we do best! We are a warm, safe, welcoming small group on a mission to help you discover your ideal health. We offer primarily medication management and evaluation. We offer convenient scheduling (in-person and tele-health), direct communication with providers and sufficient time to discuss your needs. We consider the whole person when considering your care needs. We know that college brings all kinds of unique challenges-balancing family, school, friends, work and fun can create all kinds of chaos. We will work to help you figure out the balance. Fill out an intro form as the first step before a quick intro call.

Do you often feel misunderstood and hurt? Do you feel as though your emotions are controlling you and you don’t know what to do to change that? Does it leave you feeling anxious and depressed? I know what that feels like and I can help with that. My Approach to Helping I believe that people are doing the best they can with the information and skills they currently have. I also believe that they can grow and create better lives for themselves with the appropriate support. My approach to helping clients develop the skills to effectively identify, regulate and communicate their emotions, needs and boundaries to others is validating and skills-based. Therapy with me is relational, non-judgmental, body positive, sex positive and LGBTQ+ and poly competent. My Personal Beliefs and Interests I'm a psychologist and certified alcohol and drug counselor. I have a background in research (on behavior change) and loved working in academia for a long time, before transitioning to working in community mental health for a few years. I love being a therapist. I am also a mother and an immigrant with strong progressive values and I bring that to the table as well. I believe that Black Lives Matter and that community action is more powerful than waiting for government to act in our best interest. I bring this perspective to my work.

I am a registered LPC and Clinical Art Therapist. I use art and talk therapy to support healing and positive change. I love working with individuals who are processing life challenges that are impacting their quality of existence, whether they are internal feeling or body states and/or external experiences impacting growth and functioning. I provide support so that they can move through and begin to heal; or increase their own skills while moving towards living their best life. I support individuals to see themselves through the light of their strengths and how they can take those strengths out into the world. I use neuroscientific brain science techniques mixed with art to manage/decrease anxiety and depression and symbolic narrative techniques with art to process trauma and other impactful/stressful life experiences to support integration of self, nervous system regulation and increase positive mood.

I specialize in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), an evidence based treatment for specific challenges like OCD, anxiety, panic attacks, phobias, and depression. This requires a collaborative and supportive process tailored to each individual. With the right treatment it is possible to see significant changes in symptoms so you can spend more time pursing what is most important to you. I am offering primarily telehealth based appointments within Oregon and in-person appointments within the Portland area as needed. Treatment is focused on creating behavioral changes, starting with areas where symptoms have had the most significant, and negative life-impacts. Focusing on one small change at a time can lead to greater freedom from symptoms, and more time spent actively pursuing what is most important in your life.

Dr. Kittinger is passionate about entering into the depths and carving out an intentional space that cultivates curiosity and authentic connection. As a relational psychodynamic therapist, Dr. Kittinger’s approach to therapy focuses on transformational change through the context of relationship. She engages her patients with a balance of acknowledging suffering and challenging difficult patterns to facilitate each persons own unique healing. Dr. Kittinger prioritizes the authenticity of the moment, attending to and unlocking conscious and unconscious patterns of how we relate to ourselves, to others, and to the world around us. She utilizes a soft but direct approach to explore with each patient what it means to increase awareness into their own needs, wants, and to increase agency in their own lives. Wherever you are at in your process, her hope is to co-create a space open to deep and thoughtful self-reflection established gradually with trust and safety to take steps toward healing, transformation, and personal fulfillment. Dr. Kittinger meets with patients in-person and virtually and is licensed in Oregon and Washington.

My practice is attachment-based, trauma-informed therapy that is neurobiologically grounded. I am an EMDR-certified (EMDRIA-approved) therapist and integrate EMDR with Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Somatic Processing Therapy (SPT), and Motivational Interviewing to support healing at both cognitive and body-based levels. I believe the mind and body heal together — sometimes one leads, sometimes the other — but sustainable change happens when we address both.

As a Licensed Marriage Family Therapist, I specialize in helping students navigate the unique challenges of personal, academic, and social stressors. My approach is built on understanding each individual’s story, and I offer a safe, supportive space for you to explore your thoughts, feelings, and experiences. I believe in the power of self-discovery and transformation through the therapeutic process. Billing Information: I accept OHP, OOP, and offer super bills for out of network. Approach: With a focus on anxiety, depression, self-esteem, stress management, and relationship issues, I offer a variety of therapeutic techniques tailored to your needs. Drawing from Narrative Therapy, we’ll work together to rewrite problematic stories that might be holding you back, empowering you to take control of your narrative and identity. Through Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), we’ll address unhelpful thinking patterns that contribute to anxiety, depression, and stress, and replace them with more balanced, realistic perspectives. I also integrate Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), especially for those facing relationship challenges, helping you understand and improve emotional connections with others. In addition, I incorporate Existential Therapy, which encourages deep exploration of meaning, purpose, and identity, helping you find fulfillment and clarity during the sometimes overwhelming college years. Whether you’re struggling with academic pressure, navigating personal relationships, or seeking to build stronger self-worth, I’m here to help you achieve growth and healing. My approach is collaborative, empathetic, and non-judgmental, focusing on your strengths and potential. Together, we will create practical tools and strategies to build resilience, improve mental well-being, and help you thrive both personally and academically.

We provide individual and group therapy. We have offices in Tigard and SE Portland. We also provide telehealth service throughout the state of Oregon. We have providers licensed in Oregon, Washington and Hawaii. We also provide Psychological Assessments in our Tigard office. **Therapist Spotlight** Véronique Nyounai-Herrera, MS, Professional Counselor Associate is currently accepting telehealth clients looking to address body image concerns, transitions, anxiety, stress management, self esteem, perfectionism, and relational challenges.