Welcome

I am a Marriage and Family Therapist, licensed in Oregon

I believe that all individuals experience difficult situations in life, and that each of us has potential to make positive changes in outlook, interpersonal functioning, and lifestyle behaviors as we see fit to do so. This may mean choosing to enhance communication and conflict-resolution skills or alleviating depression, anxiety, grief, troublesome childhood issues, or trauma –– including sexual and other forms of abuse.

My role as therapist is to assist you in the process of understanding your past so as to make the changes in the present that will lead to a healthier and happier future. Because I think holistically, I encourage you to look carefully at your physical and spiritual functioning as well. Although I must acknowledge that, as an individual, I enter the therapeutic relationship with an established set of social and spiritual values, my intention is to honor the values the client brings. I encourage clients to explore the underlying beliefs that shape their lives. The overarching goal is to help you, the client, maximize the talents, abilities, and interests that make you unique, and enhance your enjoyment and performance in every aspect of life.

I work with:

Individuals, and Couples to treat such difficulties as anxiety, depression, marital and family conflicts, and adjustment to a wide variety of life and relationship stressors.
Parents, providing information about the child’s developmental needs, and coaching parents as they hone their communication, behavior management, and emotional management skills.
Children, helping them understand and resolve such issues as trauma, anxiety, and social problems, as well as helping parents learn the subtle skills that can enable them to more effectively counsel their own children.
Addictions, recognizing the powerful negative influences of our culture and times, I help clients explore the antecedents and impact of substance abuse or other addictive behaviors on their lives; together we explore ways to function optimally without addictions. I provide referrals to full-scale substance abuse treatment programs as needed.
I also provide therapy for students who are in training to become therapists.

EMDR

EMDR is often used to resolve both the large, significant traumas that are easily identified and the smaller traumas that can be pushed out of conscious thought, but disturb one’s peace of mind, nonetheless. EMDR is also helpful in generating inner confidence that an individual can successfully resolve life problems. This protocol is used by the armed forces as well as by many, many therapists in the treatment of trauma.

For further info see the EMDR - Francine Shapiro web site: www.emdr.com