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Unfortunately, I am not accepting new clients at this time.

Counseling Services

In my practice, I work with adolescents, emerging adults and adults providing individual, family therapy and parenting support.

Individual Counseling

Individual counseling provides an opportunity for you to openly talk about your thoughts and feelings in a safe environment. Together, we can address your concerns including:

  • Life transitions
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Emerging adult development
  • Self-esteem / Self-compassion
  • Post Traumatic Stress
  • Stress Management
  • Sexual / Physical Abuse
  • Grief and loss
  • Creating healthy relationships
  • Change of life issues
  • College and Work related concerns
  • LGBTQ+ affirming therapeutic support
  • Gender-affirming therapeutic support

Adolescent Counseling

Talk therapy, parent counseling, and family therapy help adolescents and their families address difficult feelings that interfere with healthy development, school performance, and family and peer relationships. Therapy provides a unique and safe environment where an adolescent client can explore difficult feelings and relieve distress. Through the therapeutic relationship, an adolescent client begins to understand their feelings, learn new ways of coping, and improve self-esteem and self-compassion.

Parental involvement is a crucial component of therapy. Parents provide information about their their teen's development, behavior, and emotions and they are closely consulted regarding the goals of treatment. I view parents as partners in the treatment process and I rely upon you to evaluate the effective of your teen's therapy. Some issues that may be of concern include:

  • Behavioral issues
  • Anxiety
  • School difficulties
  • Depression
  • Fears and anxiety
  • Self-esteem
  • Sexual or physical abuse
  • Grief and loss
  • Family and relationship Issues
  • Peer conflicts
  • Adjustment to difficult life changes
  • LGBTQ+ and gender-affirming therapeutic support

Family Counseling and Parenting Support

Family dynamics can often be challenging, whether you have a traditional or non-traditional family, I can help. Family counseling provides an opportunity for everyone to openly talk about their thoughts and feelings in a safe environment. Together, we can try to solve many familial issues:

  • Parent-child conflicts
  • Family communication problems
  • Setting appropriate limits and consequences for behavior
  • Grief and issues of loss
  • Transitions after divorce or separation
  • LGBTQ+ and gender-affirming therapeutic support
  • Family and relationship Issues
  • Coping with sexual, physical and/or emotional abuse
  • Blended family issues
  • Adoption and foster care issues
  • Parenting skills
  • Behavioral challenges in family

The Therapy Process

During the first session we will discuss the concerns that brought you and/or your family into therapy as well as general history and relevant life experiences. Information that is important is anything that you feel impacts your life, either currently or in the past. Among other things, this may include your general thoughts and feelings, significant relationships, family dynamics, history of abuse or trauma, drug or alcohol use and school or work experiences. Based on this information we will develop goals and a treatment plan best suited for you, your child, and/or your family.

Sometimes therapy can be a difficult and painful process as you begin to confront difficult issues and memories. Change in general is often a struggle as you begin to develop new and unfamiliar thoughts and behaviors. My goal is to help and support you through these changes and I encourage feedback or concerns you may have about any aspect of the process.

The length of our work together will be a question we visit over time and depends on your needs and goals. Together we will decide on the type of therapy, how long, and how often we meet. Often therapy starts out weekly and then may move to once or twice monthly.

My experience is that, once you decide that the therapy seems useful, the results will come more quickly depending on the depth of commitment to the work. The effort you put in will likely be one of the best investments in your life.

Sheryl Dunn Watson, MA, LPC, LMHC, CCMHC

Licensed Professional Counselor

Licensed Mental Health Counselor

Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor

4800 S. Macadam Avenue, Suite 350

Portland, Oregon 97239

Phone: 503.684-7948 • Fax: 503-715-1830

Pager: 503.955.5097 Text pager for Urgent Calls Only.

Email: sdunnwatson@gmail.com

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