Therapists for college students near Portland State University

Sankofa Counseling, LLC is a culturally specific clinic centering the mental health care of QT (Queer/Transgender) and Black, Indigenous and People of Color (B/I/POC).

My approach is warm and collaborative, creating a space where you feel truly seen and supported. I specialize in working with women who are navigating anxiety, relational challenges, and the lasting effects of trauma. Many of my clients struggle with high self-expectations, overthinking, and a constant sense of not doing or being enough. Together, we explore the roots of these patterns and create space for self-trust, balance, and lasting change. Using a combination of EMDR, somatic, and other evidence-based approaches, I tailor each session to your unique needs and goals. This personalized approach allows us to work through your challenges at your own pace. Whether we’re using EMDR or another approach, I stay attuned to what feels most supportive. I trust your innate capacity to heal and see my role as a guide in helping you reconnect with your resilience and sense of self. My goal is lasting, embodied change—so you can feel more grounded, empowered, and at home in your life.

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.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Are you seeking therapy to better understand yourself—how you think, feel, and move through the world? How you relate to the world, and yourself? Are you curious about the deeper, more elusive questions that live beneath the surface? Are you navigating breaking generational cycles, processing sudden life shifts, grief, trauma, anxiety, or depression? I’m here to support you. We are the cartographers of our inner world—and therapy is the mapmaking. My role is to walk beside you in that discovery, offering a collaborative pace where every part of you is welcome. Grounded in evidence-based practices, and guided by warmth, humor, and deep respect, I create a safe, gently challenging environment where real healing and transformation can begin. Since 2022, I’ve supported individuals from all walks of life in Oregon and Washington through telehealth therapy. Therapy offers relief. It lightens the burden of carrying it all alone—and makes space for clarity, possibility, and change.

Hello! I’m Jackie, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (which is just a fancy way of saying therapist). I’ve been serving teens and adults as a mental health therapist for the past ten years in (and around) Portland, Oregon. I worked for 5 years at a community college as a counselor and taught various courses such as college success and career exploration and understand the variety of challenges college students face with mental health, relationships, finding their path in life and more. My passion has always been in helping people through their life transitions, anxiety, depression, trauma and other life challenges. I am excited to share that I am EMDR trained and hold a 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training certificate and hope to incorporate those tools into therapy. Making the decision to start therapy isn't always easy, particularly when you feel exhausted, overwhelmed and even hopeless. But, I assure you I will do my best to meet you with compassion and provide a safe space for you to talk openly and feel understood. I invite you to contact me to schedule a free 15-minute consultation to ask any questions you have and to discuss your therapy goals. I look forward to hearing from you soon!

你说中文吗？可以点开看我的中文简介哦！ As a 1st generation Asian Immigrant and a relational therapist for almost a decade, I have been providing culturally sensitive care to clients from all walks of lives. With a training from the Northwestern University , I enjoys assisting individuals and couples working through pains to a deeply connected, authentic, and satisfying life for themselves and with each other. Using my knowledge in attachment theory, mindfulness and interpersonal neurology, I enjoy helping people slow down & attune to their wants, needs & desires. I help people sit with their emotions in a way that feels okay then help them become clear on what they truly need deep down & feels good about getting what they need. As a therapist with visible and invisible social-cultural identities, I uses my intersectionality in the therapy room to reflect, be with and gently challenge people coming through my door who are impacted by the bigger social political context towards personal exploration and transformation I became a therapist to help people reconnect with themselves in a kind way, to be happy with who they are, and to build authentic and loving relationships that they truly deserve. All are welcome here. 帮助人们找到与自己重新联结的方式，学会温柔地接受自己，喜欢真实的自己让我感到踏实和心安。同时，看见人们建立应得的真诚且充满爱的关系是我成为心理咨询师的动力 作为一名第一代亚裔移民，也是一名从业将近十年的关系治疗师，我喜欢为来自不同文化和背景的客户提供贴心、尊重多样性的支持。我的专业训练来自西北大学，而我最大的热情，是帮助个人和伴侣克服情感中的痛点，找到一个更加真实、深刻且令人满足的生活方式——无论是与自己，还是与彼此在一起。 毕业于全美顶尖家庭婚姻咨询项目(西北大学), 我拥有治疗一系列情绪与精神健康方面问题的专业背景，其中包括，抑郁，焦虑，原生家庭问题， 人生节点转换，以及 自我关爱与接纳。 另外，自身的十年海外求学的经验让我可以深刻体会文化适应、身份认同等议题的错综复杂。如果你目前在被这些问题困扰，我愿与您一起用智慧的，幽默的，以及关爱的方式去探索 理解与接纳。 在工作中，通过我对依恋关系，正念疗法以及神经科学的专业训练，我会陪伴你学着慢下来，倾听内心真正的想法、需求与愿望。我会帮助你在面对情绪时不再回避，而是找到一种让人安心的方式和他们相处，然后逐步清晰地看见内心深处的渴求，并对追寻自己的需要充满信心与力量。：） 作为一名有着显性和隐性文化身份的治疗师，我深刻理解社会文化背景可能对个体的影响。我喜欢在咨询中与你携手，通过我的多元视角反思你的经历，温和地探索那些可能让你停滞不前的困境，助力你进行深层次的个人成长和改变。在这里，无论你是谁什么样的取向，都将被欢迎、理解和支持。

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

Therapy offers the opportunity to make lasting positive changes in life and in relationships. By exploring the role the past has played in current difficulties and dissolving old, destructive patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving, life can be more balanced and joyful. As a licensed therapist, Christopher offers warmth, compassion, support, and insight to this process, with an approach that is direct, non-judgmental, and tailored to meet the specific needs of each individual. Utilizing cognitive-behavioral, emotionally-focused and schema-based therapeutic strategies, Christopher works primarily with individual adults and couples, specializing in depression, anxiety, communication impasses, life transitions, drug and alcohol, loss, abuse, and trauma. Therapeutic change is facilitated by working towards collaboratively building upon inherent strengths and gaining insight into childhood origins of insecure attachment patterns while recognizing how these habitual patterns might be related to current problems. Utilizing the art of non-judgmental awareness – mindfulness – Christopher explores these themes with his clients, by helping them holistically connect with the memories, emotions, thoughts, and bodily sensations fundamentally associated with the destructive, repetitive cycles individuals often struggle with. In this way, individuals are empowered to challenge these negative cycles and inevitably bring a greater sense of control, clarity, and balance back into their lives, while awakening inherent wisdom to more adaptively cope with life’s many challenges. Christopher obtained his Masters's degree in Counseling Psychology from Pacific University and currently works as a mental health therapist in private settings and at the hospital psychiatric ICU. Christopher enjoys working with individuals from various cultural backgrounds and lifestyle orientations.

I use experiential, mind-body therapies such as EMDR, IFS, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy to assist with a holistic experience to help reduce reactivity rooted in the past and increase people's ability to be choiceful in the current moment.

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.

I provide therapy for people navigating anxiety, depression, grief, and emotional overwhelm, with a focus on practical support and meaningful change. I offer a warm, collaborative space where we focus on nervous system regulation, strengthening boundaries, and developing more effective ways of responding to difficult thoughts and emotions. I work with teens, adults and college students seeking support for depression, grief, emotional overwhelm, relationship concerns, and life transitions. I also work with long-standing patterns shaped by stress or trauma, and support individuals living with chronic illness or ongoing health challenges, including women experiencing midlife or hormonal changes. I provide therapy in English and Español. As a therapist of color, my work is grounded in compassion and social justice. I work with immigrant and marginalized communities, including BIPOC, first-generation individuals, activists, and LGBTQIA+ clients. I support clients in building steadiness and agency. If you’re looking for this kind of support, I invite you to reach out.

I am drawn to working with clients who are struggling with self esteem, anxiety, substance use, self-identity. I love working with folks struggling to overcome big barriers and who struggle to feel hope that things will ever get better. I have a personal history with addiction (in long term recovery) and trauma and am drawn to working with folks who have had similar experiences.

I work with folks who identify outside of the box and don't fit into the "norm." My practice specializes in serving the queer community, folks in larger bodies, and those who find themselves to be “other.” I provide neurodiversity-affirming care for individuals who think, feel, and experience the world differently. I specialize in working with autistic and ADHD clients, as well as those who identify as neurodivergent in any way. I strive to bring empathy, compassion, and openness to every session. I value a collaborative approach where clients can guide treatment in the direction that feels most meaningful to them. Everyone’s story is unique, and I am here to honor yours. I believe that we all deserve a safe space to grow, heal, and be truly seen.

My work is to support you in realizing your most authentic, integrated self. I offer holistic, mindful somatic psychotherapy (Hakomi method), to create deep and lasting growth and change. In our work together we'll turn towards your physical sensations and emotions, for the sake of the information, and to allow integration and wholeness, and a future that does not look like your past. A respect for the intelligence of nature, Jungian archetypes, Eastern Philosophies (having spent 20 years as an acupuncturist), and a love for writing and creative practices is woven into my work. I love supporting women in life change. Relationship loss and grief, career shift or desire to shift, perimenopause, empty-nest, or partnering - these are times ripe for discovery and exploration. Therapy can support your evolution - find deeper connection with yourself and others, heal unresolved hurts, embody your strengths, develop a stronger identity and self-worth, and discover direction or post-traumatic growth. Anxiety, depression, issues of self-worth and relational issues - through this process of witnessed self-reflection, you'll develop greater insight, capacity to interrupt self-defeating patterns, and opportunity to create more aligned choices and preferred experiences in your life. I love supporting women in life change. Relationship loss and grief, career shift or desire to shift, perimenopause, empty-nest, or partnering - these are times ripe for discovery and exploration. Therapy can support your evolution - find deeper connection with yourself and others, heal unresolved hurts, embody your strengths, develop a stronger identity and self-worth, and discover direction.

I have lived in Oregon since 2006. As an active person and outdoor enthusiast, I enjoy hiking, yoga, kickboxing, cycling, and paddle sports. I spend my time relaxing with my husband, friends, family, and 7-year-old adorable black Labrador mix. I enjoy traveling and have been able to explore Africa, Central America, South America, Asia, and Europe. Don’t worry…Australia and Antarctica are on the list! I have been practicing therapy since 2009 and working in mental health services since 2001. I received my Master’s in Applied Psychology in Mental Health Counseling from Southern Oregon University in 2009 and my bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of California in Santa Cruz in 2003. I have worked in a variety of therapeutic environments including a sub-acute hospital for adults with severe and persistent mental illness, a residential treatment program for adolescents, treatment foster care for children and youth, community-based services for families in crisis, foster care settings for children, youth, and young adults, outpatient mental health for adults, and in clinical research for youth and young adults struggling with suicidal thoughts and self-harming behaviors. I am a licensed professional counselor in the state of Oregon. My license is registered under my maiden name: Kristen Semelsberger. License number is C5039.

I believe you have answers inside yourself to solve all the problems you might encounter. This self-knowing can get foggy in times of high stress, worry, anxiety or depression. Using solution focused therapy we will work to find your way back to your strong inner self. Relationships are challenging. I have over 10 years of experience helping people navigate all types of relationships; intimate partner, parent/adult children, roommate difficulties.

I believe that feeling heard is where healing begins and I strive to provide a nonjudgmental, safe space for you to feel heard and understood. I am passionate about working with people that are struggling and want to work towards achieving their best life, with more peace and joy. I specialize in working with clients that have experienced trauma and/or are struggling with substance use, depression, anxiety and having difficulty with managing emotions and stresses. My goal as your therapist is to support you in clarifying your needs, your goals, find meaning in life and become the best version of yourself. If we choose to work together, I will do everything I can to make sure you feel heard, respected and understood. It would be my honor to support you in setting and achieving your goals.

My clients are often struggling to find peace in their relationships to food, movement, and themselves. They are often motivated to find healing but unsure of where to start. They may have struggled with an eating disorder or disordered eating, but not always. I believe my clients are already holding the tools they need to work towards a more harmonious life.

Is being away at school a little trickier than you had expected? Maybe you're a bit lonely even though there's always loads of people around. So many challenges and expectations--it can be overwhelming even while it's gratifying and fun. We all need support at times. Together we work toward cultivating the inner strength, confidence and wisdom needed to fully and successfully transition into a meaningful and autonomous adulthood. Anything that is causing distress is welcome: grief, confusion, difficult relationships. I'd like to help.