Looking for a great therapist in Portland, OR.

October 5, 2009 10:15 AM

Please recommend a therapist in Portland, Oregon.

I've been taking medication for a little over a year, prescribed to me by a psychiatric nurse practitioner. The medications have worked wonders, but I've come to the point that I'd like to try therapy. My current psychiatric nurse practitioner doesn't really do therapy, and while he has been very helpful, I don't think he would make a good regular therapist for me. I need to continue taking medicine, but I can keep getting the prescription through the RN, so the therapist need not have prescribing powers.

A few caveats:

-my big issues are depression, anxiety and a general difficulty enjoying/getting through life.

-I'm generally skeptical of therapy and the ability of therapy to really be helpful. Part of the reason for this may be because I had really not-so-great experiences with therapy when I tried it in college. I saw several therapists at student health services and they were just awful - I felt treated like a big inconvenience, more than anything, and their advice was usually, "just take a mental health leave," (I didn't), which was not really helpful advice.

-I'm a male, but I tend to have kind of a hard time talking to other men, to say nothing of discussing deep, personal issues with a man. Thus, I would prefer a female therapist. I would just be more comfortable.

-I have insurance through Providence, if it matters. I live close-in; however, convenience is not a huge deal. I'm willing to make the jaunt if the therapy is worth it.

Thank you all in advance.

posted by anonymous to health & fitness (3 comments total)

MeMail me.
posted by bennett being thrown at 12:31 PM on October 5

This is an older woman..very savvy. Unusual in that she actually will dispense advice.
Very results oriented. Highly recommend her.


Etta Martin
516 Southeast Morrison Street
Portland, OR 97214

Phone: [phone]
posted by naplesyellow at 7:04 PM on October 5

I've had success with the Community Counseling Center at Portland State University. They are typically between $15 and $30 per session. It's from a pool of graduate students, so if you're don't click with the person you've been working with, often you can request to try someone else.

I have had previous bad experiences with therapy, and I liked that they were results oriented rather than interested in diagnosing what in my history caused some disorder or another.

Mefi mail me if you have questions or can't find the number.

I also asked this question: Here
posted by thankyouforyourconsideration at 8:28 PM on October 5