Portland Therapy Center
Gus Culbertson

Gus Culbertson (he/him/his)

Licensed Clinical Social Worker

LCSW

My name is Gus Culbertson, LCSW (he/him/his). I am here to help you recognize your strengths, cultivate balance & nourish authenticity.

Client Status

accepting clients

Contact

(267)2258421

Email Website Schedule Now

At a Glance

Me

Rate: $90-$130

Provides free initial consultation

Practicing Since: 2019

Languages: English

Services

  • Individual

Insurances Accepted

  • Out of Pocket
  • Out of Network

My Ideal Client

I work with individuals navigating life transitions, unhelpful self-expectations & perfectionism, imposter syndrome, people-pleasing, procrastination, attention & focus issues, grief, depression, anxiety, identity exploration, spiritual connection & psychedelic integration. Many of those I work with learn to engage intentionally with the range of emotions, communicate effectively, incorporate mindful practices, nurture holistic wellbeing, reconnect with choice & explore differing perspectives.

My Approach to Helping

I have over six years of experience in the field of mental health and recently transitioned from being a full-time clinician at a post-graduate student counseling center to solo practice. Over my years as a caregiver, I have come to believe that when you take an intentional look at the perspectives you hold about yourself and the world around you, then make this into a practice, it can allow you to lean into your most authentic and balanced self. I am a firm believer in the power of the therapeutic relationship as a catalyst for change. My approach is tailored to you and is rooted in a values-based, emotion-focused, and mindful practice. My goal is to help you recognize your strengths, develop appropriate coping strategies, take intentional actions, and cultivate self-confidence to find the fulfillment you deserve. I offer both short-term and long-term therapy depending on your needs/wants from therapy. As a care manager, I also support clients to navigate complex healthcare systems.

My Personal Beliefs and Interests

As a member of the Queer, poly, kink+, psilocybin-assisted therapy, and animism-rooted spiritual communities, I believe in meeting people where they're at so they can move towards where they'd like to go. I believe no one can "fix" anyone else; my role as a therapist is to help you rediscover your own sense of empowerment through exploring choice. As a social worker by training, I hold awareness of power, privilege, and oppression in the therapy space and in our world. It is a primary intention as a clinician to be aware of my own intersectional and cultural identities and how that shows up in my work with clients. With training in multicultural & trauma-informed counseling and a commitment to continuous self-reflection, I aim to understand my clients' perspectives and work in solidarity throughout their therapeutic journey. By openly discussing power dynamics, privilege, and systemic oppression, I hope to build a trusting relationship that supports clients from all walks of life.

Techniques I Use

Specialties

  • Mindfulness-based External link

    I consider myself to be a mindful therapist; and also offer mindfulness coaching external to my therapy practice. I am trained in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) from the Myrna Brind Center for Mindfulness and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) from the San Diego Center for Mindfulness. I also use mindfulness-based skills from DBT. Mindfulness practice changed my life, and I appreciate the opportunity to support people in building enhanced presence to the present moment.

  • Solution Focused Brief Therapy External link

    I utilized SFBT for over 5 years while working for a post-graduate student counseling center. Sometimes focusing on a single goal to help gain stability & clarity around a specific challenge can be the generator for momentum towards meaningful growth & change. Often this modality is used for clients who have a specific goal in mind and want to focus on that for 4-6 sessions. This involves building up practical coping strategies to navigate the immediate & pressing stressor.

  • Emotionally Focused External link

    I have completed numerous trainings related to EFIT and it is a modality that is near and dear to my heart (*pun intended...cringe*). Emotions are an integral part of existence yet are often avoided in our society when we judge them as "hard" or "negative." When we are able to connect to the holistic range of emotion, we then reconnect to the intuitive signals from our mind & body. These signals then inform and guide our healing and ways of relating & interacting with ourselves & others.

Issues I Treat

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