Kelly Reams MSW, BCD Psychoanalyst

Kelly Reams MSW, BCD Psychoanalyst (She/her)

Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Lcsw, bcd

Talk therapy in a trusted, collaborative relationship for making enduring change-more joy, emotional aliveness, intimacy, and satisfaction.

Client Status

not accepting clients

Contact

503-224-1288

2106 NE 40th Ave

Portland, 97212

2106 NE 40th Ave

Portland, Oregon 97212

At a Glance

Me

Rate: $$200

Provides telehealth services

Practicing Since: 1982

Languages: English

Services

  • Individual
  • Family
  • Child
  • Relationship
  • Teen

Insurances Accepted

  • Out of Pocket
  • Out of Network

My Ideal Client

I see children, teens and adults with a wide range of issues that include anxiety, depression, "feeling stuck," identity, sexuality, relationships, and self growth.

My Approach to Helping

As a psychotherapist and contemporary psychoanalyst, I work with both situational, short-term issues or the more chronic concerns depending on your goals for therapy. I have found that establishing consistent meeting times at a particular frequency (once a week or more often) helps create a sense of safety and trust that supports you in making more fundamental changes on the inside and in daily life. We will jointly explore your inner world of feelings, hopes, dreams, fantasies, thoughts, anxieties, fears, secrets and memories to help you understand these profound influences that continue to impact us in the present in ways that we haven't known, before. I will deeply respect your unique self and self-direction based on confidence that with help, you will be able to experience new ways of being and understanding yourself that are liberating and transformative.

My Personal Beliefs and Interests

Over the past thirty years, I've actively sought out teachers, mentors, supervisors, play therapists, psychotherapists and psychoanalysts to help me develop the skills and knowledge needed to offer a range of treatment options that differ in depth and intensity depending on one's goals for treatment. After completing a M.S.W. (1980), I've worked as a psychotherapist with children, teens, adults and families in residential treatment, the Child & Adolescent Clinic at O.H.S.U. and have had a private practice for over 30 years which has included individual therapy, play therapy, couples and family therapy, consultation/ supervision and now, psychoanalysis. I finished a 6 year psychoanalytic training program (OPC) in 2004, am a certified analyst and a Training-Supervising Psychoanalyst. I also am a faculty member at OPC and continue to learn through study groups, continuing education, consultation, and as a consultant to mental health therapists.

Techniques I Use

Specialties

  • Psychodynamic  External link

    I've been practicing psychodynamic psychotherapy from a contemporary relational orientation for over 30 years. I selected my graduate program due to a strong emphasis of understanding both the conscious and unconscious factors that influence who we are. I both seek and provide mental health consultation within the rich variety of analytic perspectives

  • Psychoanalytic  External link

    I completed a six year psychoanalytic training program at the Oregon Psychoanalytic Institute in 2004 and see adults in psychotherapy and psychoanalysis. I also use this analytic understanding to inform individual psychotherapy, play therapy, couples counseling, consultation.

  • Play Therapy  External link

    I began learning play therapy 1978 in graduate school with analytic supervision using play technique to understand child's emotional and behavioral issues. Studied with the Child Therapy Study Group for over 10 years meeting as a group and weekly individual supervision. Also did 1 year child analytic training, Seattle, worked 8 years Child Psychiatry OHSU, 3 years residential treatment children.

Issues I Treat

Specialties

  • Child or Adolescent Issues External link

    I have over thirty years of psychotherapy experience with children and adolescents dealing with a wide range of emotional and behavioral issues in several settings. As a member of the Child Therapy Study Group for over ten years, I received individual consultation on my child therapy cases with psychoanalytically trained professionals and met with colleagues for ongoing clinical discussions.

  • Self-Esteem External link

    Training in developmental theory and contemporary psychoanalytic theories provide a solid base of information and experience working with the complexities around vulnerabilities of self-esteem. There are different ways these problems manifest and having a broad understanding and flexible therapeutic style helps me meet the patient where they are to strengthen self esteem from the inside out.

  • Relationship / Marriage Issues External link

    I have extensive experience working with couples and/or individuals dealing with relationship and marital issues. My analytic training with both attachment and relational theories provide the theoretical and technical skills that enable me to tailor a treatment approach that matches the individual or couple's needs. I am currently seeking consultation to expand my knowledge and skill level.

  • Loss or Grief External link

    A large percentage of the children and adults I see are seeking help with grief reactions or loss experiences, either contemporary or a past history of early loss. Trained as a psychoanalyst, I'm able to help patients access unprocessed grief that has been hidden away or not accessible for other reasons. I receive referrals from the Dougy Center for children and families with loss through suicide

  • Depression External link

    I am trained as a contemporary psychoanalyst with successful experience treating depressive symptoms in both adults and children/teenagers with intensive treatment. I also work collaboratively with physicians or nurse practitioners who may prescribe medications concurrently.

Contact Kelly Reams MSW, BCD

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