Therapists for college students near Portland, OR

You may be coming to sex therapy now because you are needing a bit more expertise around how to talk about and process the sexual relationship with yourself or partner. You may be tired of not feeling good in your body or in your relationship and can remember a time when it felt better. You are ready to find out why you feel so disconnected from yourself and from the person or people you care about most. You’ve been having the same conversations over and over again, arriving at the same destination, and feeling as though you can’t get out of the spiral. You want to feel safe. You want to feel heard. You want to be seen. You are ready to make the commitment to know yourself in a deeper way. We will start by figuring out when you noticed there was a problem. Did something happen? How are you making sense of the problem? What have you tried to fix the problem? At times, getting good information and experimenting is all you need to start feeling good. Sometimes we need to keep digging.

I draw from person-centered care, treating anxiety through mindfulness-based therapy, and evidence-based approaches including Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). I especially enjoy working with college students navigating career and life transitions, as well as adults experiencing anxiety, depression, or Bipolar II Disorder. My style as a psychologist is warm, collaborative, and grounded in kindness, while also making space for humor and lightness when appropriate.

Sometime we need help with today's stress or past experiences. I worked in college counseling at large state schools and small liberal arts campus for five years. I have knowledge about how to navigate campus systems and some unique aspects of college life. I love walking with folks through life transitions, including entering or exiting college and grad school, and relationships. I work with anxiety, depression, trauma, sexual assault, and dissociation. I was trained as a generalist mental health counselor and have held positions as a trauma specialist. I have a passion for working with queer folks, nonbinary folks, and trans individuals. I enjoy working with neurodivergent clients. I believe that trust and choice are essential to therapy. Therapy can increase understanding of your emotions and mind. This understanding can increase feelings of empowerment and trust in yourself. I am EMDRIA certified in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and trained in Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT). If you are curious if we are a good fit, please reach out for a free 15 minute virtual consultation!

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

We provide individual and group therapy. We have offices in Tigard and SE Portland. We also provide telehealth service throughout the state of Oregon. We have providers licensed in Oregon, Washington and Hawaii. We also provide Psychological Assessments in our Tigard office. **Therapist Spotlight** Véronique Nyounai-Herrera, MS, Professional Counselor Associate is currently accepting telehealth clients looking to address body image concerns, transitions, anxiety, stress management, self esteem, perfectionism, and relational challenges.

Everybody deserves a space where they can feel truly seen, heard, and understood without judgment. As a clinical psychologist, I strive to provide therapy that is collaborative, effective, and uniquely tailored to every client. Many clients have described my clinical style as "real and authentic." I enjoy working with clients on a wide variety of issues including, but not limited to: depression, anxiety, ADHD, perfectionism, self-esteem, family-of-origin, cultural identity, codependency, stress, etc. My areas of specialization are: Gender Affirming Care for transgender and gender diverse individuals and Substance Use (ie: people concerned about their alcohol and/or drug use.)

Healing is often a journey in which it is best to have good company, and I would love to join you on yours, to help you find hope, and create space for change, growth, and self-expansion. My approach to counseling is collaborative, compassionate, and strengths-based. We focus on growing internal and community resources while decreasing the negative impacts of anxiety, depression, life transitions, relationship challenges, shame, and stigma. I work to be culturally responsive and come from an anti-oppression framework. I seek to invite the cultures, spiritualties, and identities of each of my clients into sessions. I am passionate about working with people within LGBTQ+ communities and specific issues faced by these individuals and their relationships. I also have experience working with people in non-monogamous relationships, kinky folks, people with a history of complex trauma, people living with HIV, and those working to change their relationship with substances. I believe that everyone has the capacity and strength to heal, but that we may need others to help us access these parts of ourselves. It is a brave thing to ask for help and support, you have already done so much! Please contact me by email or phone to set up a free 15-minute phone consultation to see if we might be a good fit.

Living in a world filled with poverty, marginalization, oppression, and pandemic(s) can feel daunting and lead people to feel as though they have little agency. Therapy can be a helpful place to explore the places in our lives where we do have agency, where we are able to make tangible changes-often times this is in our interpersonal relationships. I work from an attachment focused and relational cultural perspective that is grounded in feminist practice which prioritizes the exploration of identities, oppression, intersectionality, and their impact on social and emotional functioning. I draw upon interventions from psychoanalytic psychotherapy, attachment focused therapy, emotionally focused therapy, radical acceptance, and health at every size. I have experience working with people struggling with issues related to depression, anxiety, life transitions, gender identity, queer issues, and relationship and family challenges. I take a non-pathologizing approach to working my clients, with a particular focus on those have been marginalized by the mental health profession in the past.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

My practice is attachment-based, trauma-informed therapy that is neurobiologically grounded. I am an EMDR-certified (EMDRIA-approved) therapist and integrate EMDR with Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Somatic Processing Therapy (SPT), and Motivational Interviewing to support healing at both cognitive and body-based levels. I believe the mind and body heal together — sometimes one leads, sometimes the other — but sustainable change happens when we address both.

My counseling style is warm, compassionate, casual and accepting. I want you to know you are seen and heard, and I am curious about what it’s like to be you in the world. I strongly believe that you are the expert on you and that, once given a little time to breathe in a safe space, you will begin to connect to important parts of yourself that will foster healing and growth. I will be your partner in this process, helping you to gain fresh insight, feel self-compassion, and see your strengths.

I specialize in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), an evidence based treatment for specific challenges like OCD, anxiety, panic attacks, phobias, and depression. This requires a collaborative and supportive process tailored to each individual. With the right treatment it is possible to see significant changes in symptoms so you can spend more time pursing what is most important to you. I am offering primarily telehealth based appointments within Oregon and in-person appointments within the Portland area as needed. Treatment is focused on creating behavioral changes, starting with areas where symptoms have had the most significant, and negative life-impacts. Focusing on one small change at a time can lead to greater freedom from symptoms, and more time spent actively pursuing what is most important in your life.

I have always had a passion for giving back to my community and supporting the creation of positive change in ways that are meaningful and respectful to the unique beliefs, needs, and cultures of others. As a therapist I strive to fulfill this passion by helping folks feel empowered to heal, grow, and live authentically. My work is grounded in the belief of the inherent strength of each person, and I am dedicated to helping clients build resilience, self-compassion, and agency in their lives. The approach we decide is best for you will be tailored to your unique needs. Whether you're navigating major life transitions, processing trauma, or exploring gender and sexual identity, I am here to provide a safe, empathetic, and judgment-free space—with just a touch of humor. Together, we’ll identify meaningful strategies to help you build the skills and confidence to move forward in ways that align with your values and goals. Originally from the Midwest, I earned my Bachelor’s in Social Work from Saginaw Valley State University (2017) before moving to Portland. In 2022, I completed my Masters of Social Work from the University of Denver, with an emphasis on trauma and social justice, and have since had the privilege of providing therapy at a local community mental health agency, serving a wide range of folks struggling with complex generational trauma, major life transitions, relationship issues, grief, and gender/sexual identity exploration. Through this experience, I had the privilege of further developing skills specific to LGBTQIA+ folks, a group of individuals near to my heart, which has allowed me to more meaningfully connect with, and help, my community. When I’m not working, you’ll likely find me running around the city or Forest Park training for the next half-marathon, at the coast or a hiking with my two wiener dogs, and most importantly spending time with my friends and loved ones. How I Can Help If you're looking for LGBTQIA+ affirming therapy in Portland or support for anxiety, trauma, relationships, or life transitions, I’m here to help. My goal is to provide compassionate, trauma-informed care that empowers you to create meaningful change. Whether you're seeking CBT for anxiety, trauma therapy, or support navigating gender identity, I offer a collaborative, affirming, and client-centered approach to help you move forward. I offer both in-person and telehealth therapy, making it easier to access care in a way that fits your needs. Education & Licenses MSW, University of Denver (Trauma & Social Justice Focus) Clinical Social Worker, OR License #L30027

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor with over 15 years experience in the field. I earned my Masters in Counseling from George Fox University in 2010 and my Bachelors in Psychology from PSU in 1993. My clinical specialties include trauma, anxiety, depression, grief/loss, life transitions, addictions and burnout. I believe we all have our own inner wisdom and guidance, and therapy is a process of getting in touch with that. Insight is valuable and yet we often need more than that, including a compassionate witness, and skilled guidance through the change process. I value the therapeutic relationship and am an engaged therapist, doing my best to attune to where you are and what can best serve you in our work. I use evidence-based practices that are client-centered and Mind/Body/Spirit oriented. I have been trained in multiple modalities including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Heart-Centered Hypnotherapy and Internal Family Systems (IFS). I am also currently enrolled in the IFS certification program after having completed Level 1 training. Outside of therapy I enjoy the great outdoors, especially hiking and trail running, caring for stray/feral cats, meditating, listening to music and connecting with friends/community. I welcome all races, all religions, all socio-economic status, all sexual orientations, all gender identities and expressions, all abilities, all ethnicities, all bodies, ALL PEOPLE.

Your mental health is important! Connecting with family, friends and the world around you can be difficult if you are struggling with worry, extreme sadness, stress or trauma. Counseling can lessen the burden of your daily struggles and foster a healthy life. We specialize in evidence-based approaches to help you cope with burdens of the past, worries about the future, and improve resiliency. With the right skills, each individual has the capacity to accomplish their goals and prosper! Our therapists' diverse backgrounds and specialties are why clients come to Salus! Our therapists provide counseling for adolescents, and adults,. We have experience with a wide variety of concerns and create a safe space to explore, process and discover well-being.

Therapy can help us discover new parts of ourselves, challenge barriers to growth, and develop new skills to create our own paths. We as individuals hold these strengths within us already, but at times life can lead us to believe we are lacking. My hope is to help you discover these strengths! My style is direct yet gentle and I speak from an honest heart. I will often bring humor into the session, as life can funny at times or we may just need a bit of laughter to get through the challenges. I pull from various models but most often utilize Narrative Therapy, CBT, and mindfulness based techniques. Through a combination of these modalities, I work to help clients re-write unhealthy narratives and adjust patterns or ways of thinking that reinforce these inaccurate self-views. I believe in assisting clients in better understanding their own emotions and how their bodies can communicate these emotions. Once we are able to understand this, we can slow down and create new habits that are more effective in meeting our needs and managing symptoms.

Our therapists love working with college students because they are at such an important time in their lives and it’s a rich time for growth and deeper self understanding. The clients we help the most are committed to the process of self awareness and change, even if it’s hard. Going to college can be scary and bring up a lot of challenges. It can be hard to live separately from your family for the first time. There can be so many difficulties at college that you didn’t expect. We are here to help. Our therapists are relatable and effective in their work. We welcome you!

Our compassionate and skills counselors help people grow more into themselves and their resilience. With a strengths-based, culturally-affirming, trauma-informed approach, we can support you through the stress of what life is bringing you. A therapeutic relationship is powerful and productive. We're here to see you do well, all the way through the hard and heartache, and into a hopeful future. If you are struggling but motivated to process, reflect, and experience some change, this is the right time to connect with us! We look forward to next steps with you. You can learn more about us and start the process through our website: www.SecondGrowthCounseling.com

Hi. If you have ended up here chances are you are questioning if you need help trying to figure something out in your life. Don't close the page...You are here and that is good. Being in college can be a really difficult transition and so much harder than you thought it was going to be. Classes, grades, friends, socializing, drugs, sex, identity, expression, first time independence, and feeling home sick. Perhaps you have dealt with mental health issues before now or maybe this is the first time you are noticing something feeling different. Whatever has brought you to deciding to seek help, know you are making a good choice. Please take a moment to look at my site, and if I am not the right one for you, then look at others. Find someone to talk to today.

We’re a small team of Oregon-based therapists who get how overwhelming and complicated college life can feel. Between classes, relationships, work, and figuring out your future, it’s easy to feel stretched thin or misunderstood. Here, you’ll find a space where your identity is respected, your pace is honored, and your story is taken seriously. We know trust takes time, especially if you’ve felt dismissed or unseen before. That’s why we move at your pace, creating room for the full complexity of what you’re going through—without rushing toward quick fixes. Our approach is trauma-informed, accessible, and affirming — always centering your safety, your voice, and your unique way of being. In this space, you don’t have to perform, explain yourself, or shrink down. You can just show up as you are.