Portland Therapy Center
Caroline Shields

Caroline Shields (she/her)

Licensed Marriage Family Therapist

LMFT

Hi, I’m Caroline! I offer warm, affirming therapy for youth and adults to explore, grow, and build a life that feels authentically theirs.

Client Status

accepting clients

Contact

503.741.9951

Email Website

At a Glance

Me

Rate: $200-$225

Provides free initial consultation

Practicing Since: 2013

Languages: English

Services

  • Individual
  • Family
  • Child
  • Teen

Insurances Accepted

  • Aetna
  • First Choice Health
  • Kaiser
  • MODA
  • OHP CareOregon/HealthShare
  • PacificSource
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My Ideal Client

I love working with neurodivergent individuals, including those with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and helping people discover and embrace the things that make them uniquely themselves. I also enjoy supporting people as they navigate relationships, family dynamics, identity, life transitions, and the sometimes messy, uncertain process of growing into new versions of ourselves.

My Background and Approach

I’m a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in Oregon with over a decade of experience in behavioral health and developmental disabilities. I work with neurodivergent and neurotypical youth and adults navigating identity development, life transitions, relationships, emotional regulation, and family challenges. My background includes clinical care, advocacy, and behavioral health systems development, giving me an appreciation for the many layers that shape our well-being. My approach is neurodiversity-affirming, trauma-informed, and strengths-based, integrating mindfulness, somatic work, person-centered care, and family systems perspectives. I believe therapy should be a space where you feel understood, supported, and free to show up as you are. Together, we can explore your experiences, reconnect with your strengths, and find meaningful ways forward that feel authentic to you. I hold a MA in Clinical Psychology, with an emphasis in Spiritual & Depth Psych from Antioch University

My Values as a Therapist

I believe every person deserves to feel seen, respected, and valued for who they are. My work is grounded in compassion, cultural humility, social justice, and a commitment to making mental health care more accessible and affirming. I value the many ways people experience the world and believe our differences are not things to fix, but parts of ourselves to better understand and embrace. I’m especially passionate about supporting neurodivergent individuals and people whose experiences or identities may not fit neatly into society’s expectations. I believe healing happens through connection, curiosity, and creating space for people to discover what feels meaningful and true to them. I bring a strengths-based, person-centered perspective to therapy, with a deep respect for each person’s autonomy, lived experience, and capacity for growth. Above all, I hope to create a space where you can show up as your full, imperfect, wonderfully human self.

Techniques I Use

Issues I Treat

Specialties

  • Intellectual Disability External link

    I have extensive experience supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities through person-centered care, advocacy, resource coordination, and collaborative problem-solving. My approach is strengths-based and neurodiversity-affirming, focused on honoring each person’s autonomy, building on their unique abilities, and supporting meaningful connections, greater self-determination, and quality of life.

  • Child or Adolescent Issues External link

    I have extensive experience supporting children, adolescents, and families navigating emotional regulation, identity development, life transitions, behavioral challenges, and complex family dynamics. My approach is trauma-informed, strengths-based, and neurodiversity-affirming, with a focus on building trusting relationships, nurturing each young person’s strengths, and collaborating with caregivers and support systems to help youth feel understood, connected, and empowered.

Contact Caroline

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