Portland Therapy Center
Gary Alexander

Gary Alexander (he/him)

Licensed Marriage Family Therapist

MFT, CADC III, NCC

After nearly 20 years of practice, I have found a relatable, engaged, and honest approach are foundations to achieving growth and balance.

Client Status

accepting clients

Contact

360-836-4298

910 NE Minnehaha St

Vancouver, 98665

Email Website

At a Glance

Me

Rate: $175-$200

Provides telehealth services

Practicing Since: 2002

Languages: English

Services

  • Individual

Insurances Accepted

  • Out of Pocket
  • Out of Network

Our Ideal Client

I work primarily with adults over 30 years of age. A few of my specialties include working with: depression, trauma, grief, codependency, loss-of-meaning, relationship/family conflict, major life-transitions, betrayal, and anxiety. In addition, I have a passion for those who identify as Highly Sensitive and Anxious Attachment styles.

My Approach to Helping

While some of the issues leading us to start psychotherapy might be relieved relatively quickly, I have found as we begin clear away the initial symptoms we find that our issues may be much more complex and require time and the right attention to be effectively worked through. I believe the best work we have ahead of us isn’t merely to alleviate negative symptoms, but to help create real, deep, and lasting change; change that helps elevate us closer to our greatest potential. I strive to create the connection, bond, and sense of care needed for us to do this work together. Clients have described my approach as authentic, real, and interactive. I believe a relatable and engaged interaction with thoughtful feedback and reflection are the foundations to working through such important and big changes. Ultimately my goal is to build a strong, trusting, and reliable relationship together, helping you to further hear your true voice and in turn find direction and balance.

Why I Became a Therapist

My professional journey to become a therapist began some 30 years ago when I was 17 years old. Fresh out of high school, a bit lost and disoriented, I agreed to take a Certified Nursing Assistant and Home Health Aid course with a friend. After completing my training, I worked in a variety of hospital settings including med-surge, sub-acute, rehabilitation, and skilled nursing facilities. What proved to have the greatest impact on me was the work I did in hospice care with dying patients and their struggle to find meaning, as well as working in nursing homes with Alzheimer’s patients and their grief-stricken adult children. It was during this time that I came to understand this growing passion for wanting to know others’ pain, connect with them through their pain, and to help them alleviate this pain. This- combined with growing up in a family riddled with pain from mental illness, generational dysfunction, and addiction -paved the way for my passion to want to help others heal.

Techniques I Use

Specialties

  • Relational  External link

    Relational Psychodynamic Psychotherapy is a contemporary approach rooted in Freud's original Psychoanalysis. Psychodynamic therapy puts emphases on the psychological cause of emotional pain. Self-reflection and self-examination are its major focus. Relational Therapy (RT) asserts the relationship is in fact what is needed for true reflection, examination, and ultimately change. A few major tenants of RT include therapist’s stance, authenticity, presence, reflection, and full engagement.

Issues I Treat

Specialties

  • Codependency External link

    Codependency can be defined as the tendency to put others needs before your own; accommodating to others to such a degree that you tend to discount or ignore your own feelings, desires and basic needs. In codependency our self-esteem depends largely on how well we please, take care of and/or solve problems for someone else (or many others). In a sense, then only really know yourself through your role with others. Moving towards greater balance between self and others is possible!

  • Depression External link

    Depression can show up in many different flavors and intensities. It can affect our sleep, our appetite, motivation, and certainly our relationships. Some types of depression makes us feel sad and hopeless, while others can feel agitating, even rageful. Regardless, depression takes over our lives and negatively impacts our functioning. Getting to the root of what's pressing down on us is key to recovering.

  • LGBTQ Issues External link

    Working to develop healthy, happy lives and relationships within the queer, poly, lifestyle, and sexual minority communities.

Contact Gary

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