Approach to Therapy

If you are anything like me and many other people, relaxing can feel impossible at times. You might feel like your thoughts are always spiraling out of control, you're always tense or can't seem to stay in the moment for things that are "supposed" to be fun. Some of us don't know why we feel this way and could use guidance to identify the underlying reasons. Others of us feel like "I already know where my issues come from, but what do I *do* about it?" and would benefit from trying a different approach and learning concrete strategies. With my approach to therapy, I strive to meet you wherever you are in your mental health journey.

My goal as a therapist is to teach you skills to help you relax more easily, reduce stress, and not get so caught up in difficult thoughts and feelings. I also strive to create a warm, welcoming and accepting space for you to process life’s many challenges. I work primarily from an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) model, while also integrating methods from other types of therapy to best suit your individual needs. What this means is that I will work collaboratively with you to first fully hear out what you’ve been struggling with and get to know you, your life context and what you’ve tried in the past to meet your mental health goals. Next, we will work together to create a personalized set of goals and a treatment plan that is reasonable and achievable for you. Finally, I will teach you concrete skills in our sessions that are designed to help you cope with life’s stressors, relax more easily, and interrupt the spirals of negative thoughts that we tend to get caught up in. Therapy with me will be quite active and experiential, with in-session skills practice and (achievable) at home practice, balanced with space to just talk it out. 

In the past I have particularly enjoyed working with college and graduate students, and I am trained to provide therapy for adults of all ages. I also have a particular passion for assisting folks who hold marginalized identities to navigate and cope with the complex and oppressive systems in which we live. My approach acknowledges the impacts of oppression and the effects of our environment on our physical and mental health.

About Me

I was born and raised in Ashland, OR before moving to Portland to complete my bachelor’s degree in psychology from Portland State University. After taking a 2-year-break from school to work in a residential mental health treatment center, I returned to school and earned my doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Pacific University. Now that I've graduated, I am a Psychologist Resident working toward full licensure as a Clinical Psychologist. I live in Southwest Portland with my partner of nine years and our two cats. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, paddle boarding, trying new restaurants, listening to podcasts and spending time with my partner and pets.
 
Please note that I am currently a pre-licensed Psychologist Resident. I am supervised by a licensed psychologist, Dr. Kim Coppersmith. I accept Moda insurance as well as self-pay. I offer a free, 15-minute phone consultation prior to scheduling our first session to determine if I seem like the best fit for your care. I look forward to speaking with you!

Contact Auburn

Phone: 503-298-5241
Email: beebe@valued-insight.com