Portland Therapy Center
Heather Ackles

Heather Ackles

Licensed Professional Counselor

LCSW

Identify Values. Find Purpose. Empower Growth.

Client Status

not accepting clients

Contact

503-498-6879

Email Website

At a Glance

Me

Rate: $150-$180

Provides free initial consultation

Services

  • Individual

Insurances Accepted

  • Out of Pocket
  • Out of Network
  • Aetna
  • First Choice Health
  • PacificSource
  • Regence Blue Cross/Blue Shield
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My Ideal Client

I provide virtual therapy for adults (18+) who: *Are in difficult relationships/dating/divorce *Experience depression and anxiety symptoms *Are dealing with challenging jobs/vocational stress *Want life balance and organization *Have physical injury/sport injury/concussion & brain injury

My Approach to Helping

I aim to assist you explore, rebuild, and define goals connected with values, purpose, and intention. I practice Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) (interlaced with the Gottman method regarding communcation) for depression, anxiety, relationship difficulty, life change events, and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Want to learn more? See if we are a good fit? Give me a call - I offer free initial consultation: 503-498-6879

My Personal Beliefs and Interests

I spent my adolescence growing up in the agricultural surroundings of California’s Central Valley. In 1996, I moved to Portland, Oregon to attend Reed College with a focus on History. In memory of my valley roots, I wrote a thesis titled: Who You Callin’ Okie? (Based on love for Steinbeck, Merle Haggard, and Dorothea Lange.) *Fast Forward: During my fabulous tenure as Metropolitan Public Defender Alternative Sentencing Advocate, I decided to be a therapist. And, before graduate school, I was running in NE Portland and was hit by a car (35 MPH.) *Long (resilient) story short: I am a Brain Injury Survivor. This experience shifted my perspective. It allowed me to step back and recognize gratitude and the power of being alive. *Here and Now: I value barre, spin, dance, art, and music. I value therapy as a source of connection. All humans are interesting, complex, and different - similar to my love for music: Vivaldi (Four Seasons), Otis Redding, and HAIM.

Techniques I Use

Issues I Treat

Specialties

  • PTSD External link

    I have experience working with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) survivors. I created/facilitated the THINK B.I.G. Brain Injury Group weekly Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT) group for Brain Injury Survivors. I Collaborate with Center for Brain Injury Research and Training (CBIRT) & provide Brain Injury training. I am a Love Your Brain Foundation Clinical Connector.

  • Compassion Fatigue External link

    I have experience working with professionals who are amidst "compassion fatigue." (Very connected with 'burn-out') I facilitated the weekly Metropolitan Public Defender Engagement Group for lawyers/legal support staff - which specifically addressed compassion fatigue, a variety of difficulties within the work, as well as work/life balance (AKA: the lack of/guilt connected with work/life 'balance').

  • Insomnia External link

    I have many 'tools' in the toolbox to help people experiencing sleep difficulty and recurrent nightmares. I was the Facilitator/Creator of ReScript Nightmare Group - a closed group for those experiencing recurrent traumatic nightmares. I have experience/training with Exposure, Relaxation, & Rescripting Therapy (ERRT).

Contact Heather

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