Danica Williams

Danica Williams (she/they)

Social Worker

Supervisor: Leah Allen, LCSW

Warm, collaborative therapy for kids, teens, and adults navigating big feelings, identity, and life’s stuck or tender places.

Client Status

accepting clients

Contact

503-470-1100

8625 SW Cascade Ave

Suite 520

Beaverton, 97008

At a Glance

Me

Provides free initial consultation

Practicing Since: 2025

Languages: English

Services

  • Individual
  • Child
  • Teen

Insurances Accepted

  • Out of Pocket
  • First Choice Health
  • MODA
  • PacificSource
  • Regence Blue Cross/Blue Shield

My Ideal Client

I work with children, teens, and adults who are feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or unsure of how to move forward. My clients often navigate things like anxiety, trauma, identity exploration, neurodivergence, or big emotions that feel hard to manage. I’m passionate about helping people move through the world feeling more connected, grounded, and self-aware—able to show up as their full, whole selves.

My Approach to Helping

My clinical approach is grounded in curiosity, connection, and the belief that healing happens in relationship. I integrate trauma-informed care, systems theory, polyvagal theory, and interpersonal neurobiology to provide developmentally responsive and culturally attuned support. My work is also rooted in humanistic, relational, and critical intersectional feminist frameworks, which honor the impact of oppressive systems on our individual experiences. I draw from ACT, DBT, narrative therapy, somatic-based practices, & liberation health to support emotional regulation, identity development, & whole-person healing. I hold a dual Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Women’s, Gender, & Sexuality Studies and a Master of Social Work. Clinically, I’ve provided therapy in community, outpatient & school-based settings and have experience working with LGBTQIA2S+ and neurodivergent clients. Above all, I strive to meet people where they are and co-create a space that feels safe & meaningful.

My Personal Beliefs and Interests

I believe therapy is both deeply personal & inherently political. I approach this work as an intersectional therapist committed to anti-oppressive care, critical hope, and honest connection. My lens is shaped by queer theory, systems theory, and the wisdom of lived experience—my clients’ and my own. I’ve supported community at the Cambridge Women’s Center, worked with children in public schools and outpatient clinics, and I’ve shown up as a peer, advocate, and clinician in spaces shaped by resilience and injustice. I’m part of the LGBTQIA2S+ and neurodivergent community, and I’m passionate about helping folks move through the world with more safety, self-trust, and spaciousness. I became a therapist because I know how painful it can be to feel unheard, and how transformative it can be to feel truly seen. Outside of work, I recharge through cooking, photography, hula hooping, and being outside. I am from Boston, MA, and now live in Portland, OR, with my partner, our dog, and two cats.

Techniques I Use

Specialties

  • Relational  External link

    My therapeutic style is deeply relational, grounded in the belief that healing happens in connection. I work to build attuned, trusting relationships that honor each client’s pace, boundaries, and voice. I draw from attachment theory, interpersonal neurobiology, and trauma-informed approaches to support emotional safety and co-regulation in the therapy space.

  • Feminist External link

    Feminist theory is foundational to my clinical work and worldview. With a Bachelor of Arts in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, I ground my practice in critical theories and intersectionality, honoring each client’s lived experience within systems of power. I support clients in reclaiming agency, challenging internalized oppression, and fostering self-expression, connection, and healing through a relational lens rooted in critical hope and justice.

  • Somatic Therapy (Body Centered) External link

    I integrate somatic-based approaches grounded in my training on the impacts of individual and collective trauma. My work aligns with polyvagal theory, neuroplasticity, and interpersonal neurobiology to support nervous system regulation, body awareness, and healing. I use body-based practices to help clients reconnect with themselves, build safety, and process emotions beyond talk alone.

  • Psychodynamic  External link

    I draw from psychodynamic theory to explore how early experiences, relational patterns, and unconscious beliefs impact current emotions and behaviors. With a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Master of Social Work in clinical social work, I use this lens to help clients deepen self-awareness, recognize long-standing patterns, and move toward healing. Through a warm, collaborative relationship, I support insight, growth, and meaningful change.

  • Motivational Interviewing External link

    I’ve used Motivational Interviewing with clients across age groups to support behavior change, self-awareness, and values-based decision-making. I integrate MI in a warm, collaborative way that respects client autonomy and honors their inner wisdom and readiness for change.

Issues I Treat

Specialties

  • Child or Adolescent Issues External link

    I supported youth ages 5–18 in both the Social-Emotional Skills (SES) program at elementary schools & outpatient settings. In the SES program, I collaborated with teachers & paraeducators to implement developmentally responsive strategies to support IEPs and BSPs. In outpatient care, I provided individual therapy, co-designed and led a somatic-focused group therapy for adolescents, and partnered with families & interdisciplinary teams to promote emotional regulation and social-emotional growth.

  • Anxiety External link

    I supported clients with anxiety using ACT-, DBT-, and somatic-informed tools to build emotional regulation, grounding, and self-trust. My work focused on slowing down, connecting with the body, and making space for difficult thoughts without shame. Rooted in relational, trauma-informed care, I helped clients explore how identity, systems, and past experiences shaped their anxiety—and how to reconnect with safety and inner resources.

  • Depression External link

    I worked with clients experiencing depression using ACT-, DBT-, and somatic-informed practices that supported emotional regulation, motivation, and meaning-making. My approach was warm, collaborative, and rooted in relational and feminist values. I supported clients in exploring how external systems and internal narratives shape emotional pain, while building self-compassion, purpose, and capacity for change and connection.

  • LGBTQ Issues External link

    As a queer therapist, I provided affirming care to LGBTQ+ clients using ACT-, DBT-, and somatic-informed interventions to support embodiment, self-trust, and connection. My work was grounded in a relational, feminist, and trauma-informed lens that honored identity, community, and systemic realities. I held space for exploration, healing, and pride—centering safety, complexity, and the right to show up fully and be celebrated in your truth.

  • Suicidal Ideation External link

    I have experience conducting comprehensive suicide risk assessments and safety planning using evidence-based protocols such as Youth SAVE and CALM. I provided compassionate, collaborative care to clients experiencing suicidal thoughts, ensuring ongoing monitoring and connection to crisis resources. My training supports trauma-informed, culturally sensitive approaches that prioritize client safety and empowerment.

Contact Danica

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