Therapists in 97215
Kerry L Powers
Licensed Professional Counselor, MA, LPC
Verified Verified
2 Endorsed
Portland, OR 97215 (Online Only)
Waitlist for new clients
I am profoundly blessed to do work that I love. I strive to deeply witness, understand and hold space for you in your moments of pain and uncertainty. In times of hardship we must be compassionate with ourselves and our process. We all have uniquely rich and complex stories that shape our own meaning and understanding of ourselves and our world. I provide a safe, encouraging and non-judgmental therapeutic environment. My style is warm, collaborative and direct. I believe compassion and humor are vital ingredients for happiness and healing. My approach is integrative, I utilize a strength based, humanistic and relational perspective.
I am profoundly blessed to do work that I love. I strive to deeply witness, understand and hold space for you in your moments of pain and uncertainty. In times of hardship we must be compassionate with ourselves and our process. We all have uniquely rich and complex stories that shape our own meaning and understanding of ourselves and our world. I provide a safe, encouraging and non-judgmental therapeutic environment. My style is warm, collaborative and direct. I believe compassion and humor are vital ingredients for happiness and healing. My approach is integrative, I utilize a strength based, humanistic and relational perspective.
Opal & Sage Art Therapy, Amy Swallow
Licensed Professional Counselor, LPC, LCAT, ATR-BC
Verified Verified
Portland, OR 97215
Not accepting new clients
If you are experiencing a difficult life transition or emotional pain, such as grief/loss, trauma, depression, anxiety, or illness, art therapy can be highly beneficial.
Opal & Sage offers individual and group art therapy and counseling services that are person-centered and strengths-based. I welcome adult clients of all ages and abilities, with any personal concerns and conflicts regarding mental health. I specialize in working with individuals with dementia, traumatic brain injury, developmental disabilities, and physical disabilities.
If you are experiencing a difficult life transition or emotional pain, such as grief/loss, trauma, depression, anxiety, or illness, art therapy can be highly beneficial.
Opal & Sage offers individual and group art therapy and counseling services that are person-centered and strengths-based. I welcome adult clients of all ages and abilities, with any personal concerns and conflicts regarding mental health. I specialize in working with individuals with dementia, traumatic brain injury, developmental disabilities, and physical disabilities.
See more therapy options for 97215
Chronic Pain Therapists
How does chronic pain therapy work?
Engaging with a psychotherapist to help treat chronic pain does not mean that one’s pain is all in their head. Therapy for chronic-pain patients has been shown to benefit both the mind and the body, targeting physical symptoms and increasing daily functioning. In other words, for many, addressing their emotional health through therapy affects their physical health. A therapist can help a client challenge unhelpful thoughts about pain and develop new ways to respond to it, such as distraction or calming breathing techniques. Studies have found that therapy can be as effective as surgery for certain cases of chronic pain and many doctors recommend trying psychotherapy in advance of considering invasive surgery.
What are the most effective treatment options for chronic pain?
Stress, anxiety, depression, catastrophizing, ruminating, lack of activity, and social withdrawal all make chronic pain worse. Addressing these issues, research shows, can help people gain control over their pain symptoms. Therapeutic approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy, biofeedback, and mindfulness-based stress reduction, along with greater pain-management education, have been found to help people reduce fear and disability.
Are there new treatments for chronic pain?
Many cases of chronic pain, particularly those involving back pain, remain medically unexplained. But there is evidence that changes in the brain or nervous system are caused by previous physical ailments such as tissue damage; in such cases, the brain may continue to send out pain signals despite the physical cause having healed. To aid patients under these circumstances, a recently developed treatment known as pain reprocessing therapy (PRT) is designed to help the brain “unlearn” this response. A PRT practitioner helps individuals to reduce the “threat value” of their ongoing pain signals until they can reappraise them as less threatening and fear-inducing. They also help an individual to develop new emotional regulation skills.
How long does therapy for chronic pain take?
There is no set timeline for recovery from chronic pain, especially as there may be a range of physical and psychological causes for any individual’s discomfort, but most patients should expect to see a therapist for a number of weeks or months, typically spanning at least 12 sessions. Studies of pain reprocessing therapy found that many individuals’ experience of pain lessened in eight sessions over four weeks.