Therapists for college students near Portland State University

Are you caught in an unending cycle of feeling insufficient, regardless of your achievements or efforts? As you navigate various roles in your life – partner, friend, caregiver, parent/child, coworker, or manager do you constantly feel like you're falling short, despite your best efforts? Anxiety, depression, grief, burnout, and fear can be an overwhelming experience. You are “fine” and you’re waiting for that other shoe to drop. I specialize in helping adults struggling with trauma, grief, and life transitions by navigating intense emotions, finding peace, and rebuilding connections with themselves and others. As a multiracial therapist, I am deeply committed to supporting BIPOC individuals, particularly in addressing family of origin and ethnic identity/cultural concerns. I also enjoy working with military families. My approach is grounded in scientific principles, tailored to help you break free from a cycle that keeps you from the life you want. Whether stemming from past trauma, intricate learning histories, or the pressures of daily life, these challenges may make you feel like you're merely existing rather than truly living. If you're ready to move beyond survival mode and embrace a life that aligns with your true self, I'm here to support you every step of the way.

College can be a lot to juggle, not only are you balancing your classes and course work, but also relationships and expectations. All while trying to figure out what you actually want for yourself. As a first-generation child of immigrants, I understand the pressure that can come with balancing your own goals while staying connected to where you come from. I work with college students who are dealing with anxiety, burnout, identity questions, and major life transitions. You might notice overthinking, procrastination, people pleasing, or feeling like you have to show up differently depending on the space you’re in. A lot of my clients are used to pushing through, even when they feel overwhelmed or unsure of themselves. My approach is trauma-informed, relational, and culturally responsive. I help you make sense of your emotions, understand patterns that may be keeping you stuck, and build tools that actually work in your everyday life. Whether we’re talking through stress, working on anxiety, or exploring identity and relationships, we’ll go at a pace that feels right for you.

Hi, I'm Colette! I'm a queer, trans, white counselor. This world is hard. I believe we get through it together and talking can help, even in these times. The heart of my work is providing politically informed relational talk therapy. I believe some of the most impactful therapy comes from talking about the things that are hardest to say. Things like trauma, regrets, shame, fears, and that thing that may feel like it's not worth the time because you just can't figure out why it bothers you so much. What we uncover there could be a doorway to seeing and experiencing yourself, your relationships, and the world differently. I might be a good fit if you think it's time to talk about the hard stuff. If you're open to being vulnerable. If you find it helpful to say things out loud and want a counselor who will think out loud with you. If you want to feel both supported and challenged. And if you want to look at the politics and systems of oppression surrounding your life, relationships, and struggles. Check out my website to learn more about what I offer. And if you've got a good feeling about this, reach out and let's talk. I really value your considering putting your trust in me as a therapist and will try my best to do right by you.

Hello, We can start with what is your immediate concern. That is likely to open the possibility of changes within you, that can open new possibilities for satisfaction and broader changes. Our goals will include more satisfying and close relationships for you.

I am informal, goofy, sometimes loud, curious, imperfect, and you get all that and more when we start working together. Therapy with me commonly looks like laughing together, sometimes until we cry; actually crying together; laying on the ground; understanding that dark humor is often a necessary coping strategy for whatever life throws at us; talking with my hands; and my facial expressions being apart of the conversation (AKA having real reactions to real shit). Growing up between worlds can get messy, that weird in-between of always trying to fit in. As a transracial/international adoptee, I know how frustrating that pull between cultures and identities can be. Whether you're a fellow adoptee, mixed raced, or 1st gen, we’ll explore those layers - the deep identity stuff, aka the “laugh so you don’t cry” stuff, and find your way back home within the complexity. As a relational, trauma-informed therapist, I believe healing happens through connection. I focus on how your relationships, past and present, shape how you move through the world. My work blends somatic awareness with curiosity and compassion to help you build relationships that feel nourishing, real, and aligned with who you are. Finding the right fit may be time consuming, but shouldn’t be draining. Consults are a brief window into what the therapeutic relationship will look like - like a vibe-check. And if the vibes are right, the hard stuff will come naturally and not feel forced. This is why I offer 25-min consults. Reach out for a consult and let’s take it from there!

I believe in the unique resilience of each individual and tailor my treatment through a collaborative process with each person I work with. I offer a warm, non-judgmental and supportive space where we can develop a trusting relationship to allow you to explore yourself in the context of your world. Drawing from numerous treatment modalities and utilizing a trauma-informed lens, we can work together to help you meet your therapy goals. My favorite patient group is college students. I have worked in college mental health at Reed College for over 5 years and have developed expertise in working with people during this transitional age of their life. I have additional experience as a medical social worker at OHSU hospital. In my private practice, I see patients for individual therapy, and I also offer psychological evaluation for aid in immigration court cases.

We all face challenges in our lives…. Whether it be from the everyday stressors of school, work or relationships to the trauma of childhood events, abuse and/or neglect. Emotions such as anxiety, depression, shame and guilt often grip us and take over, leaving us feeling hopeless. Thoughts can become obsessive, sticky and ruminative leaving us feeling anxious and immobile. Reaching out for help is oftentimes one of the hardest first steps. Kristen McClard is a licensed psychologist with over 10 years of clinical experience. Her approach is practical, nonjudgmental, collaborative, and focused on problem-solving ways to cope with and/or overcome challenges. She specializes in Evidenced Based Treatments like Mindfulness, EMDR, CBT, DBT for the treatment of: Anxiety Mood problems Trauma Life transitions and choices Identity Body Image Self-Esteem Relationship problems

Margaret has over 25 years of experience working in various areas of the field of Mental Health. Margaret specializes in trauma, abuse, special needs, loss and grief and life transitions. She has training in Sensory Integration, Neuroeducation, Applied Behavioral Analysis, EMDR, and Life Span Integration. Her background and life experiences led her to a multivariate approach when collaborating with clients and the people who support them. She has been trained in traditional therapies but prefers modalities such as Lifespan Integration, EMDR, and Neuroeducation. She works with the client through a learning process anchored in movement to treat at the root cause while activating, integrating, and building on positive connections within their relationship with self, family and others. Margaret has been with her husband for 33 years. They have two adopted children and a biological son with severe complex neurological conditions resulting in severe behaviors and medical challenges.

We here at Brave Acorn help people in the greater Portland area align body, mind, and emotions in their daily lives. We are trauma-trained, take a Health at Every Size approach to food and weight issues, and encourage people to work with their body and emotions as allies (rather than enemies) on their journey towards growth and healing.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

I specialize in helping people sleep better. This work goes far beyond general sleep tips or advice you may have heard before. I use a structured, research‑based approach that directly targets the patterns keeping sleep stuck, and is shown to produce real, lasting improvement.

When people can feel safe being their most vulnerable and authentic selves, it is such a privilege to witness. I enjoy working with people from all sorts of backgrounds and experiences who are curious about themselves and willing to be open to the therapeutic process. We start by getting to know each other and ideally we move forward to identify and build upon your strengths and work in learning more about patterns that may be holding you back. We work on what we can change, what we must accept, and what we want to challenge in ourselves. We move at a pace that will suit you and I will provide feedback or listen more as you need. We work collaboratively.

By developing insight into your emotions, thoughts, and behaviors, and by practicing new skills and ways of relating to yourself and others, our work together will help you heal emotional pain, increase self-understanding, improve relationships, and cope more effectively with future challenges. Offering therapy, psychiatry and medication services.

At North Star Therapy Collective our team is committed to our individual growth, learning and self-care. We work to take genuine care of ourselves in deep and meaningful ways so we can show up as the best version of ourselves in our communities, our families, and for YOU - our clients. Each one of us struggles with our own perfectionism. At times, we burn ourselves out, overcommit, or overwork. It's in these moments we turn to self-compassion and to the support of one another so that we can pause, rest, and reset.

College can be exciting, but it can also be stressful and overwhelming. You may be struggling with anxiety, self-doubt, relationship challenges, family concerns, or the impact of difficult experiences from the past. Therapy offers a space to better understand yourself, navigate life's challenges, and build stronger relationships with yourself and others. Many of the students I work with are thoughtful, capable, and hard on themselves. They care deeply about their relationships, responsibilities, and future, but often find themselves overwhelmed or carrying more than they know how to manage. You don't need to have everything figured out before starting therapy. Sometimes what people need most isn't advice or a quick fix, but a place to explore what's happening, gain perspective, and determine what feels right for you. If this resonates with you, I'd be happy to connect. Feel free to reach out or schedule a free consultation to see if working together feels like a good fit.

Each member of our collaborative practice operates through a trauma-informed, intersectional lens. We bring different specialties to our work that can help you process trauma, anxiety, depression, life transitions, and offer the support you need in a way that helps you move toward living the life you want.

When therapy is conducted in a safe and warm environment, and a client or couple or family feels heard and understood without judgment, it can be an incredibly powerful tool in providing healing and growth for life's difficult past experiences and current challenges. As a strengths-based and client-centered team of therapists, we work with a client's existing internal strengths to partner with them to create goals that build towards healing, growth, awareness, and positive change. Our clinical experience and specialization has included Couples Therapy, CBT, EMDR, Emotionally Focused Therapy for individuals and couples, Trauma informed therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Solution-Focused, Family Systems Theory, and Attachment Theory. We work with couples, adults, adolescents, and families. Starting therapy can be overwhelming and anxiety producing. Our goal is to immediately build a safe place and therapeutic connection with you, and remove some of the anxiety that can often be part of reaching out and pursuing counseling.

I spent 25 years in the education system, so I know firsthand how college can be an exciting, wonderful time or an incredibly isolating experience. On top of schoolwork (which that alone can be enormously stressful), you might have work, personal goals, relationship problems, family stress, pets, roommate problems, all at a time when you really want to focus on figuring out who you are and what you want your future to be like. The modern university system is not set up to produce happy, well-adjusted people with a clear sense of belonging in a community. My focus is helping you define and achieve your goals, and find peace in the journey. despite (or with) the overwhelming stressors in your life.

Quimson Behavioral Health provides in-person and tele-health mental health services to patients located throughout Oregon. Our office is located on the westside of Portland, in Bethany Village. We are also close to Beaverton and Hillsboro. ​ We employ a balanced treatment approach which can include medications, education and talk therapy or psychotherapy. ​ Our current providers include board-certified psychiatrist Pia Quimson-Guevarra, DO and certified physician assistant Cayley Mesterheide PA-C. About Pia Quimson-Guevarra, DO: I am a board-certified psychiatrist; a medical doctor who specializes in mental health. I graduated from medical school in 2013 from Western University of Health Sciences in California. I completed my psychiatry residency training at Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) and pursued additional training in Forensic Psychiatry. My interests include community and forensic psychiatry. I specialize in helping those with anxiety and depression to get to a better place. I also help others explore the impact of society, culture, and relationships on their mental health. I am a BIPOC/AAPI/Asian provider and identify as Filipina-American. ​ My philosophy is to provide a supportive environment to encourage self-care. I help you explore your thought patterns as it relates to your feelings and actions. At times, this may be difficult, but processing and accepting these emotions will move you forward toward healing and growth. Types of therapy I employ include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Compassion-Focused, and Psychodynamic/Psychoanalytic. About Cayley Mesterheide, PA-C: As a certified Physician Associate (PA-C) specializing in psychiatry, I have experience with evaluating, diagnosing and treating a wide variety of psychiatric disorders and enjoy working with patients of all ages and backgrounds. My passion for psychiatry began before I started PA school while working as a nursing assistant in the psychiatric unit of a hospital. While working at the hospital, I achieved my Bachelor of Science in BioHealth Sciences degree at Oregon State University. I then went on to pursue my Master’s in PA Studies at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee. My approach to treating mental health is holistic and includes a focus on medication management while incorporating supportive therapy and lifestyle modifications. I strive to connect with each and every patient and make it my goal to ensure that they feel heard and understood. Helping patients to find the right therapeutic regimen that allows them to function best in life brings me fulfillment in my career. I look forward to meeting and collaborating with you to help you achieve your mental health goals.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.