Portland Therapy Center
Elizabeth Knutsen

Elizabeth Knutsen (she/her)

Licensed Clinical Social Worker

LCSW

Liberation is not something we can do in isolation. None of us are free until all of us are free.

Client Status

waitlist

Contact

503-744-7269

1110 SE ALDER ST

STE 301

Portland, 97214

Email

At a Glance

Me

Rate: $200-$220

Provides free initial consultation

Practicing Since: 2018

Languages: English

Services

  • Individual

Insurances Accepted

  • Out of Pocket
  • OHP CareOregon/HealthShare

My Ideal Client

I work with individuals who are interested in building a deeper level of understanding of limiting beliefs held about themselves and the world that keep them from living the fully expansive lives they deserve. Do you feel curious about building an authentic relationship with yourself and others? My clients are sex workers, those struggling with eating disorders/disordered eating, non-monogamous, kinky and queer populations. Please note I only provide telehealth sessions; I no longer live in OR

My Background and Approach

Mind and body connection is one of the main portals to gaining a deeper understanding of ourselves. I utilize Somatic Experiencing and Mindfulness to help support my clients build safety and connection to their bodies to support their healing and growth process. A goal I have in the therapy room is to not recreate traditional power dynamics that we often see. I am deeply committed to obtaining consent and feedback from all of clients to ensure they are getting their needs met in our time together. It takes courage to show up as one's authentic self and to be vulnerable; I do not take that lightly! It is an honor to witness your pain, grief and joys. You are in control over what happens in our therapy space. Let's human together! I will validate the hell out of you and also provide reality checks when needed. Your feelings are real and they need space AND we can explore new ways of being in the world. Have you ever had feelings of being too much? Spoiler alert: you're not!

Why I am a Good Fit for You

We'll be a good fit for one another if you appreciate direct feedback that has a softness to it. If you are ready to consistently show up and feel. I actively strive to dismantle beliefs that have been socialized in me that are harmful to others and myself. In the therapy space I create, I will often "punch up" at systems of oppression that hurt us all. We all live in a world that doesn't always support expansion and safety. Let's explore building safety in ourselves and our world. Let's look at some of the ways your beliefs and actions may not be aligning with your values so we can come back home to those values. If I have a shared lived experience that I think you might benefit from knowing about, I will always ask you consent before sharing. I think the more human I can be with my clients, the better. I don't have all the answers, and I myself, and a flawed human with many beautiful imperfections. I would love to be imperfect with you.

Techniques I Use

Issues I Treat

Specialties

  • Compassion Fatigue External link

    Many sex workers often burn out from the level of emotional engagement their job requires. Holding boundaries for yourself and with clients takes so much energy -- especially when you safety is at risk. It makes sense you're feeling burnt out. Let's build some skills around taking care of you and allow for space for burnout without normalizing it as a "right of passage" under capitalism.

  • Eating Disorder External link

    If you struggle with your relationship to food and movement -- I can help. I approach Eating Disorder treatment from a Health at Every Size and Joyful Movement approach. May of us struggle with internalized fatphobia and I can provide you resources and tools to dismantle this belief that was socialized into you.

  • Codependency External link

    How do you show up in relationships? Do you flee intimacy? Do you cling to emotionally unavailable people? You might feel interested in learning more about your attachment style(s) and how attachment shows up in your relationships.

  • Personal Growth External link

    Personal growth is a wild ride. I know in my lived experience that I was never told how painful and lonely it can be. Often personal growth involves grief and letting go of what our lives used to look like and radically accepting where we're currently at in our journey while still dreaming of what we want our future to be like. It's a lot to hold! I'd love to help support you in opening up space for the most authentic version of you.

  • Polyamorous and Open Relationships External link

    Are you in a non-monogamous relationship or are curious about what those relationship structures can look like for you? Get some support around building, maintaining and growing your most intimate connections all while building awareness around power dynamics, communication and wants and needs in your interpersonal relationships.

Contact Elizabeth

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