About Me
Welcome! I'm glad you're here. My name is Deirdre (pronounced DEER-druh), my pronouns are she/her, and I am a counselor based in my home of Portland, Oregon where I have lived since 2008. Over the course of my life I have spent time as both a client and a counselor, and I have experienced how therapy can benefit people at all life stages, of all backgrounds, confronting a wide variety of challenges.
It has become increasingly evident that counseling can provide vital support to people experiencing marginalization and oppression. Over the past several years this has become my priority and the focus of my work with the LGBTQIA+ community. I have found that when my professional training and experience combines with a therapeutic relationship based on shared lived experiences, the results can be profound.
My Approach
My approach to counseling is based in relationship. Building a strong therapeutic relationship takes time, but it is important that people I work with feel safe and supported so that we can take risks together and talk about challenging topics that clients may have no other opportunities in their life to discuss. I combine principles of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) with Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT) and Existential-Humanistic Therapy into a style that is conversational, but with an eye towards exploring deeper meanings and identifying patterns of thoughts and feelings that are interfering with a client's well-being.
I believe in a holistic approach to mental healthcare which acknowledges and incorporates many aspects of a client's identity including ability, ethnicity, gender, orientation, and spirituality. The intersections of all these facets impact an individual’s mental health, and taking the time to understand these interactions can deepen our understanding of the specific challenge that brings a client to therapy and how best to address it.
Thank you for taking the time to get to know me a little bit! If you are interested in meeting, please send me a message on my Contact page to schedule a free consultation. I look forward to hearing from you!
Education and Credentials
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) #C6461, 2021 to Present
National Certified Counselor (NCC) #884701, 2017 to Present
Master of Science in Counseling, Portland State University Class of 2017
Work Experience
Private Practice, 2022 - Present
Mental Health Counselor, Brave Space LLC, 2020 - 2022
Service Coordinator/Counselor, EASA Program at Lifeworks Northwest, 2017-2020
Mental Health Counselor, Beaverton High School, 2016-2017
Student Counselor, Portland State Community Counseling Clinic, 2015-2016