Graham Borgman

Graham Borgman (He/him/his)

Licensed Professional Counselor

People are often wounded in relationship, and paradoxically it is through relationship that those wounds can be tended to. I have training in a number of specific interventions that can be utilized for certain issues, but relying on tools is no substitute for a genuine relationship.

Client Status

not accepting clients

Contact

503-878-8990

2106 NE 40th Ave

Portland, 97212

At a Glance

Me

Rate: $120

Provides free initial consultation

Provides telehealth services

Practicing Since: 2015

Languages: English

Services

  • Individual

Insurances Accepted

  • Out of Pocket
  • Aetna
  • First Choice Health
  • PacificSource

I base my practice in the depth psychological tradition. What this means for your therapy is that I will accompany you in your effort to discover meaning or purpose in the face of feelings of disorientation or hopelessness. Your body and mind constitute an original and resilient Self, and we will base your therapy on its resources. Whether it is an unexpected sense of emptiness, loneliness, or overwhelming life circumstances, the problems which bring you to therapy can become opportunities to work toward re-integrating your unique sense of Self and to alter problematic life patterns.

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor and hold a Master's degree in counseling psychology with an emphasis in depth psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute. Prior to beginning a practice here in Portland, I provided psychotherapy to adults in an LGBTQ community mental health center for two years. I also have experience in working with adults with persistent psychiatric disturbances in a semi-residential setting as a counselor. I specialize in working with the following issues: Depression, anxiety, existential concerns, trauma, grief, relationship problems, LGBTQ issues, and more.

Techniques I Use

Specialties

  • Depth Therapy External link

    Depth therapy refers to an approach to the human psyche that acknowledges the activity of the unconscious in life. 'Unconscious' is simply a scientific term that designates something as unknown. Curiosity about the unknown dynamics and structures upon which our consciousness is based is necessary for the therapist as well as for the patient of depth-oriented therapy.

  • Relational  External link

    I include the relational orientation to communicate the fact that as a therapist I participate fully in the therapeutic process. The relationship between therapist and patient is the single most important factor for the effectiveness of psychotherapy.

  • Existential External link

    A response to the social, political, and religious fragmentation that occurred in Europe in the last century, existential philosophy forms the basis for an existential-oriented therapy. The seemingly meaningless and random nature of existence and the emotional turbulence that accompanies it are collective human issues which, when embraced fully, can yield unexpected joy and vitality.

Issues I Treat

Specialties

  • Personal Growth External link

    Personal growth is a term that encompasses something unique for every person. A fundamental assumption of depth psychology is that the psyche tends toward expression and vitality throughout the life-span, and coming to therapy for something along the lines of 'personal growth' may be a good sign that a part of your personality is ready to be lived more fully.

  • Men's Issues External link

    The rites of passage which have existed in nearly every culture across time and place and function to provide the male-identified person with a coherent understanding of how to organize one's life have all but vanished for many of us. An impoverished mythology of heroic economic achievement has come to fill this void, providing many with a vague emotional undercurrent of longing and frustration.

  • LGBTQ Issues External link

    Beside the emotional issues that crop up around being a member of a socially, politically, and economically marginalized community, the expression of gender and sexuality are remarkably intimate and personal parts of life that bring with them significant psychological dynamics. I work with the LGBTQ community whether or not you are seeking therapy for gender or sexuality issues.

  • Self-Esteem External link

    Our internal and external sources of praise and criticism form complex networks of motivations and self-evaluations. It is a difficult task for many to locate and feel the realistic, innate sources of self-esteem that constitute who you are, buoy your spirits, and provide you with energy for your work and relationships. Self-esteem issues are common and important components of therapy for many.

  • Depression External link

    The contributing factors to depression are as vast and varied as the individuals who carry it. Whether it is persistent and severe or infrequent and mild, depression is a psychological state that holds many within its grasp. Depression can open us to seeing difficult truths, and can also blind us from seeing others. Navigating depression with another human being, rather than alone, is crucial.

Contact Graham

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