Portland Therapy Center
Jessica Besner

Jessica Besner (she/they)

Licensed Professional Counselor

LPC, M.S.

Hi there, I'm Jessica. I’m an empathic, intuitive and flexible therapist with a passion for learning, adventures, and live music.

Client Status

accepting clients

Contact

503-389-0315

Email Website

At a Glance

Me

Rate: $100-$120

Provides free initial consultation

Practicing Since: 2015

Languages: English

Services

  • Individual
  • Group
  • Teen

Insurances Accepted

  • Out of Pocket
  • Aetna
  • Cigna
  • Regence Blue Cross/Blue Shield
  • United Behavioral Health

My Ideal Client

My work is centered around empowering womxn and gender diverse folx, especially those who have experienced interpersonal trauma, with a focus on complex trauma and dissociation. I enjoy working with adolescents/young adults, neurodivergent folx, and have special interest in working with those who have experienced religious trauma, survivors of narcissistic abuse, and those interested in psychedelic integration work.

My Approach to Helping

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) with over seven years of experience and a background in clinical psychology. I offer psychotherapy for healing from developmental trauma and attachment wounding from a holistic, feminist, and resilience-based lens, using Internal Family Systems (IFS, aka parts work), Dialectical-Behavior Therapy (DBT), and both mindfulness-based and somatic approaches. I have years of experience diagnosing and treating ADHD, and am currently offering ADHD evaluations in a limited capacity. I am currently completing training in Ketamine-Assisted Therapy (KAP) and plan to offer this in the near future. I am also currently enrolled in a Somatic Attachment Therapy Certificate program, and recently completed a certificate in Integrative Somatic Trauma Therapy. Past completed trainings include Internal Family Systems and Psychedelic Integration. I completed my doctoral internship at PSU, and hold a master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University.

Why I Became a Therapist

Growing up as a deeply sensitive, neuro-divergent child in an invalidating environment, I know what it’s like to experience abandonment and feel like there is something wrong with you. I understand how difficult it can be to be open and vulnerable when your experiences and emotions have not been responded to adequately, resulting in attachment wounding. It is my belief that we all have the capacity for secure attachment, and that all healing occurs through safe connection with self, one another, and with nature. Being human can be both deeply painful and joyful, and I am here to hold space for it all. My own personal healing journey was propelled by spirituality, yoga, and psychedelics. I believe in the power of psychedelics and plant medicine as a pathway to healing for some, and am here to walk with you and guide you on this path, should you choose. My values and approach: - Heart-centered - Strengths-based/feminist - Cultural humility, anti-racist -LGBTQ+ affirming -HAES

Techniques I Use

Specialties

  • Attachment Theory External link

    Currently completing a Somatic Attachment Therapy certificate, completed coursework in Attachment & Complex Trauma.

  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) External link

    Was a focus throughout my early training, co-facilitated several DBT skills groups for adolescents, adults and college students. Continue to integrate DBT skills into sessions. Completed training while living in Vermont.

  • Feminist External link

    specifically Relational-Cultural framework. This became a foundation for my work after moving to Portland and working with more diverse folx. It is also trauma-informed which laid the groundwork for my specialization in trauma work . Takes cultural trauma and social context into consideration and normalizes traumatic responses. Collaborative approach which reduces power differential in therapy and allows for attention to the ways that privilege and power shows up in relationship.

  • Internal Family Systems (IFS) External link

    Completed PESI's intensive training on IFS in 2020, have been practicing since then. Continuing to learn about somatic IFS and the value of bottom-up processing. Also interested in using this modality for KAP and psychedelic work.

  • Somatic Therapy (Body Centered) External link

    Studied somatic methods during my training, including Trauma-Sensitive Yoga for Complex PTSD. Attended body-centered conferences in early training. Currently completing Somatic Attachment Therapy Certificate and hold a certificate in Integrative Somatic Trauma Treatment, both from the Embody Lab.

Issues I Treat

Contact Jessica

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