Therapists for college students near Portland, OR
Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.
My approach is compassionate, non-judgmental and focused on creating a supportive, trusting connection with you. What I do in therapy is help you work with your emotions, instead of pushing them away, so you can be more grounded, confident and connected. I support people with anxiety, depression, trauma, grief and ADHD. I tailor my approach to your unique needs by drawing on a variety of therapeutic techniques. My past clients have described me as compassionate, grounding, and calming. It is my hope that you find a therapist who feels like a good fit too. If you feel ready for change, please reach out. I’d love to talk more about what you're looking for in therapy.
College is a time of growth, change, and self-discovery—but it can also feel overwhelming. Whether you're struggling with anxiety, self-doubt, relationship challenges, or the pressure of figuring out who you are and where you're headed, you don’t have to navigate it alone. I specialize in working with college students who are feeling stuck, anxious, or uncertain about their identity, future, relationships, or place in the world. Many of my clients are navigating major life transitions, questioning their sense of self, or working through the challenges of living independently for the first time. You might be adjusting to new academic pressures, dealing with imposter syndrome, exploring your values and beliefs, or feeling the weight of expectations—whether from family, school, or yourself. In therapy, you’ll have a supportive and non-judgmental space to explore your emotions, experiences, and goals with self-compassion. My approach is rooted in evidence-based practices, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT). Together, we’ll work on understanding and reshaping negative self-beliefs, building confidence, and developing skills to help you navigate life’s challenges with more ease. Starting therapy can feel intimidating, but taking that first step can help you feel more grounded, confident, and connected to yourself. I offer online scheduling and reduced rates for students through ThrivingCampus. Your growth and well-being matter. Contact me today to schedule your first session.
I provide individual teletherapy for adults across the state of Oregon. I have a passion for helping people heal from trauma, decrease anxiety, and improve their self-esteem. Before patients come to see me, they “feel bad” almost reflexively and frequently experience high anxiety. They are wracked with feelings of guilt and may be afraid of upsetting people. They often over-extend themselves in the name of service to others. On the outside, my clients look like they have it together but feel internally like they are just treading water. If that sounds familiar, you’ve come to the right place. Counseling may be for you if: You find it easier to focus on other’s emotions and needs than on your own. You like to think and are insightful, but don’t always know how to feel. You have difficulty experiencing emotions beyond an overwhelming sense of guilt or just “feeling bad.” You feel resentful that other people don’t work as hard as you, but are terrified to ask for what you want or need from others. You are often anxious or tense; relaxation and rest feel nearly impossible. You feel trapped by family pressures or relationships that refuse to evolve. I specialize in treating trauma (especially complex or childhood trauma), anxiety, and difficulties with self-esteem.
Have you ever felt like you're either "too much" or "not enough"? This could be a general struggle, or it could be related to a specific trait (i.e. too Asian/not Asian enough or too Queer/not Queer enough). Perhaps you struggle to belong and don't feel like you quite fit anywhere. Or maybe factors such as perfectionism, self-doubt, overthinking, or comparison to others are creating problems. All of these issues are quite common, but can also be extremely nuanced. I understand and I can help. Let's explore your unique identity, coming to a better understanding of who you are. I'd like to help you unconditionally embrace and accept yourself. We can build a therapeutic relationship that supports you in meeting your goals. I hope to accompany you in your growth and healing as you laugh, cry, learn, explore, set goals, and gain skills along the way. Finding a new therapist can be an overwhelming process. I'd really like to support you in finding the right fit, so I offer a free initial phone consultation. I am open to working with all adults, but particularly enjoy helping those in the Asian and LGBTQ+ communities. Reach out to set up a time to chat; I'm here to help.
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.
You’re different from those around you. You sometimes feel stuck in patterns that don't work anymore, but you don't know what else you're supposed to do. Maybe you are adjusting to being in school here in the US, and the cultural differences between you and your professors, worry about what’s happening at home, and struggling to find comfort in an impermanent place. I can help. My ideal clients are hard working and driven, both by your own strengths and a desire to make your family and maybe even your country of origin proud. I work with students struggling with anxiety, trauma, ADHD and attention troubles, conflict with family and friends and figuring out systems that work for them. I love working with queer and trans students especially on figuring out how you can make space in your academic field of interest as a queer person. I provide compassionate, trauma-aware, attachment-focused therapy to help clients heal from trauma, manage their ADHD, and reduce anxiety. I love working with international students in college and university: you’re here to make the world better and are dedicated to your education and career. As an Adult Third Culture Kid (TCK) I especially want to serve that community. I also am LGBTQ+ affirming and polyamory-aware. I am Jewish and like supporting Jewish students navigate tradition, spirituality and living with non-Jews for the first time, and am comfortable supporting Hindu, Muslim, Sikh & Buddhist clients, as well as clients from other religions and traditions. I can help you make meaning of your time here, and work on developing coping skills for worry, loneliness and sadness. I use parts work, mindfulness, emotion regulation skill building and story telling (IFS, DBT, Narrative, Emotion Focused and EMDR, for folks who like a little jargon) to help clients heal trauma, work through conflict and build a better life for themselves.
Are you feeling stuck or dissatisfied with life? Have you felt trapped in cycles of self-doubt, sadness, worry, frustration, and stress? Do you feel disconnected from others or yourself? My work involves supporting you in connecting to your internal experience so you can make sense of where you are, where you've been, and where you dream of going. My approach involves connecting you to your intuition and inner wisdom through mindfulness-based practices. My hope is to align you with what matters to you so you can take steps toward a life of enhanced meaning and purpose.
Have you been longing for a more fulfilling, meaningful life? If you are feeling paralyzed or trapped by worry or sadness, you may benefit from an in-depth psychotherapy approach that allows you to break old patterns and grow into a deeper understanding of yourself. I offer online (video-based) therapy to treat trauma, grief/loss, anxiety, and depression. I use CBT and Mindfulness based techniques in my work, but the foundation of my therapeutic approach is from an Existential Therapy perspective, which allows us to slow down and look closely at your current experience so that together we can shape the future you want to have. I feel honored to be a part of helping people grow, fulfill their potential, and thrive in areas that correspond to their values. I have lived in several countries and speak English, Spanish, and Portuguese. Both as a therapist and professor, I have served individuals of many cultures as well as marginalized populations which informs my practice & worldview. If you are invested in personal growth toward a life of purpose, I invite you to contact me or visit my website to learn more about how you can find healing & meaning in your life. Take that step and schedule a free consultation!
I'm Skylar first, therapist second. This means that while I take professionalism and the American Counseling Association's Code of Ethics very seriously, I bring my authentic self to each session. The relationships I form with clients are real, and necessarily so, because it is through genuine human connection that clients find their way. I am not one who finds utility in elaborate hypotheses filled with flowery psychobabble. I work primarily within frameworks of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, as well as Existential Therapy, and I consider psychodynamics to be a crucial component of the therapeutic process. I am LGBTQ+ affirming and welcome clients from all walks of life, experiences and identities. On a personal note, I grew up on the southern Oregon coast and I am a member of an indigenous community, the Tolowa Dee-Ni Nation. I have taught in Oregon public schools, traveled throughout various countries as an ESL teacher, worked in port administration as well as local politics. I enjoy spending time in nature, dancing Argentine tango, sailing and frolicking with my corgi Scuttle. My life experiences have left me with a deep appreciation for how many different ways there are to live meaningful lives, and as a counselor I consider it a great privilege and honor to be a witness to yours. -Skylar p.s. I accept clients on the following Oregon Health Plans: CareOregon, Health Share, Trillium
Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.
Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.
Individual telehealth therapy only. Finding the right therapist is a key part in having a positive and effective therapeutic experience. Whether you are beginning your therapeutic journey or continuing on, the growth toward self-discovery and healing is truly a commendable one. I am here to provide guidance toward gaining insight, authenticity to self, confidence, and an opportunity to break patterns. I specialize in: family of origin concerns, creating meaning in difficult hardships, accessing your strengths, rewriting narratives causing distress, and empowering you to be your best self. My approach toward therapy is from a systemic perspective, which seeks to address not only you at an individual level but also through your lived experience within your intersectional identity. In collaboration with you we tailor treatment to meet your specific needs as it relates to talk therapy.
I work with people in transition or who are preparing for change. Artists, actors and writers. Those in bereavement. Or who are living with a catastrophic health-related diagnosis, recent or of long duration. Caregivers. Mental health interns who need to explore their own issues in order to practice mindfully. Folks who are using substances more than they want. People who want to decrease their distress but who also have a curiosity about its sources. People who want to talk with someone about the most important thing in the world, perhaps to discover what that is. My specialty is the intuitive analysis of what is most important to you. My experience has shown me that we carry within us the answers we're looking for. My skill is in eliciting these answers and reflecting them back to you so you recognize them. I've been trained in Depth psychology, Narrative psychology and Cognitive Behavior therapy, in dream analysis and evidence-based practices like Seeking Safety. In addition to private practice I've directed multiple community mental health and recovery programs, as well as provided training and clinical supervision to new therapists.
Having trained at the University of Notre Dame (Ph.D., M.A.), UC Berkeley (APA-accredited internship) and Stanford (post-doctoral fellowship), I bring rigorous scientific expertise into my clinical work with college students. In fact, I worked at the University Counseling Centers at all three of these schools and have continued to develop a specialized private practice that focuses almost exclusively on college students. I also teach for Pepperdine University in their Graduate School of Education & Psychology. I help clients with a range of concerns including: anxiety, depression, career and academic concerns, ADHD, relationship concerns (situationships, am I right? :) ), body image and eating disorders, perfectionism, college/life transitions, as well as family of origin challenges (let's say it together, boundaries...). I often work with high-achieving students who often are managing academically but struggling internally. My clients often put others first and themselves last. By the time they come to therapy, concerns have been going on for some time and they've reached a breaking point. They may feel they "should" be able to handle things on their own. As a recovering perfectionist and someone who was riddled with anxiety throughout college, I get it. It wasn't until my own training in CBT that I learned how destructive such thought patterns were. It inspired my clinical approach, as well as three clinical workbooks I've published on Solution-Focused Therapy, CBT, and Positive Psychology with the top mental health publishers. Many of my clients who have been to therapy before often remark how "easy" I make the process. We laugh, we learn, and talk like old friends. Therapy doesn't have to be stuffy or stressful. It's about feeling respected, validated and heard. Learning to take care of yourself, set appropriate boundaries, and thrive! I'd LOVE to work with you! Please feel free to book a complimentary 15 minute consultation at my website below so we can connect!
Online and in-person therapy for making beautiful things happen in hard times. So, what might make me a helpful person to hear your story? First, I love building relationships. I’ve worked with teens and young adults in so many places over the last 16 years: backpacking trips, schools, therapy offices, beaches, camps. Specifically, I’ve worked mostly with adolescents and young adults who were also: immigrants, refugees, dreamers, queer, trans, non-binary, BIPOC, LGBTQ+. We can talk about who you’re becoming, relationships, dreams, and the hard stuff that keeps you up at night. I’m here because I genuinely like what I do and I’m excited to meet you. Second, I take the time to get to know more about your world and our world. I’m a queer person with a disability, and I’ve had to learn the power of believing in my own value, even when other people don’t see it. Maybe you have a similar experience. It helps to learn about how the world around us affects us so we can work to let go of things that aren’t our fault and change what we can. Third, I never stop training to be a more helpful therapist. One of my favorite methods is called Accelerated Resolution Therapy. It has some similarities to EMDR, but does not involve talking about trauma in great detail, unless of course that feels helpful! It often provides great relief!
I find I am most helpful working with individual transition age youth and adults seeking help with bipolar and mood disorders, identity exploration, setting boundaries and navigating relationships, learning coping skills, making sense of traumatic experiences, and unpacking privilege and learning to be a better ally. I am comfortable and knowledgeable about topics relating to sex and sexuality, gender affirmation, sex positivity, poly/non-monogamy, and intersections of identity. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. I have been practicing therapy since 2015 and have been in social services for over 15 years, serving youth and adults experiencing legal consequences, houselessness, and severe mental illness in both inpatient and outpatient settings. My style tends to be curious, nonjudgmental and empathic, and I take a relational and collaborative approach. You are going to be putting in hard work and it is my job to be a good guide by offering insights, direction, and skill building. I am trained primarily in narrative therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and solution focused therapy. I use an anti-oppressive, person centered, and trauma-informed framework. I strive to be culturally sensitive, anti-racist and queer/LGBTQIA+ affirming. I also know that I am not perfect, and I will ask for your honest feedback throughout the therapy process so that I can adjust and adapt my approach to best fit your needs. I am a queer [white cis male] person and have friends and family members with a lovely mix of intersecting identities. I started struggling with my identity, mental illness and legal run ins as a teenager, which led into a career path as a peer advocate, mentor, and mental health provider. I've done a lot of work on myself that I find valuable to my practice. While I believe my personal experience gives me knowledge, insight, and empathy, I also know that everyone has their own unique experiences; I am open to sharing parts of my story with you when it is helpful, whether that is to offer validation, challenge stigma, or to just get to know each other better. A bit more about me: I am a dog dad, artist, and gaymer. My recharging activities include chilling at the dog park, traveling and backpacking with friends, sketching, reading comic books and cooking.
Please check out my website for up to date information about my practice!