Daniel Payton Sterba (he/him)

My Background

I’m Daniel Payton Sterba, a psychiatrist at Mindful Health NW. Originally from Wisconsin, I moved to Portland in 2017 for my psychiatry residency at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU). Prior to joining Mindful Health NW, I was a faculty member at OHSU and practiced inpatient psychiatry. I am accepting new patients for medication management and psychotherapy (primarily Acceptance & Commitment Therapy). I am also able to provide psychiatric consultations over 1 or 2 appointments. PLEASE NOTE: I provide tele-psychiatry appointments and am unable to accommodate in-person appointments at this time. I am only licensed in Oregon, so patients must be physically located in Oregon during their appointments. Due to federal regulations, I do not prescribe controlled substances (psychostimulants, benzodiazepines) through tele-psychiatry appointments and am not accepting new patients who require medication management of a controlled substance at this time.

My Approach to Helping

In my practice, I rely on evidence-based standards for medication management and psychotherapy to ensure safe, effective, and personalized treatment. I draw from therapeutic approaches like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), psychodynamic therapy, and schema therapy. I also emphasize the importance of lifestyle factors such as sleep, physical activity, nutrition, and light exposure. I teach mindfulness, meditation, and breathing techniques to help you manage stress and feel more grounded. I work best with adults who want to make meaningful changes in their lives, even if they’re feeling stuck or uncertain. My approach is collaborative and respectful of your values and goals. ACT, one of the core therapies I use, helps you build psychological flexibility—so you can respond more skillfully to painful thoughts and emotions and move toward what truly matters to you. Above all, I aim to listen with care, help you understand yourself more deeply, and support you in building a life th