Portland Therapy Center
Kitty Carter

Kitty Carter (she/her)

Licensed Clinical Social Worker

LCSW, PhD

Hi! I'm Kitty Carter, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker specializing in working with children, youth and families.

Client Status

accepting clients

Contact

503-336-3476

1609 Willamette Falls Drive

West Linn, OR 97068

Email Website Schedule Now

At a Glance

Me

Rate: $170-$255

Provides free initial consultation

Practicing Since: 2000

Services

  • Individual
  • Family
  • Group
  • Child
  • Relationship
  • Teen

Insurances Accepted

  • Out of Pocket
  • Out of Network
  • First Choice Health
  • Medicaid
  • OHP CareOregon/HealthShare
  • PacificSource
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My Ideal Client

Is your child struggling and you find yourself worrying about them? Are you having trouble connecting with your child? Parenting is an adventure that can be both rewarding and challenging. With so many competing pressures and distractions, it can be hard to find time to build the kinds of relationships we want. I help parents and children build new skills and stronger connections so kids have a secure foundation to develop into their full potential.

My Background and Approach

I received my PhD in Social Work and Social Research with an emphasis on children's mental health and caregivers work-life balance in 2007 at Portland State University. I completed my MSW in 2004. I have been working in the field of Children's Mental Health for over 25 years in a variety of settings including residential treatment for youth, as a Child and Family Therapist, Clinical Supervisor, Outpatient Clinical Manager, Division Director, Adjunct Professor, and mental health researcher. I have been licensed in the State of Oregon for 15 years and have worked with all kinds of kids and families with various strengths and challenges. My approach to therapy is eclectic and flexible to best meet your needs. My work is shaped by attachment theory, trauma informed practices, cognitive behavioral approaches, neurobiology, child development, the family life cycle, family systems and mindfulness practices. I attend regular training to stay abreast of the latest advancements in the field.

My Personal Beliefs and Interests

I am a Native Portlandian, wife, mother of one human and two fur babies. In my free time, I enjoy getting out in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, connecting with friends and family and enjoying this amazing food scene we have here. I have spent my entire adult life dedicated to children's mental health and working with kids and families. I love it! Mental health matters! As a Social Worker, I believe in the dignity and worth of all persons. I believe in keeping families together. I believe recovery is possible. I have been on an Equity Advisory Council, participated in Equity Leadership Training, and have specialized training in culturally responsive practice and equity and inclusion. I believe in trauma informed care and have specialized training and experience in organizational models of trauma informed care and trauma specific treatments.

Techniques I Use

Issues I Treat

Specialties

  • Child or Adolescent Issues External link

    I have specialized training in early childhood (child parent psychotherapy, Parent Child Interaction Therapy, play therapy), childhood development from early childhood to teens, and neurobiology-- which is a fancy way of saying brain development. I also integrate trauma informed approaches and specific treatments (trauma focused CBT, Attachment, Self-Regulation and Competency Model) in my work with children, as well as family systems approaches to help build stable systems and connections.

  • PTSD External link

    I have extensive training in treating child abuse and trauma. I have worked with adult survivors of childhood abuse and trauma, as well as children and teens. I use Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), the Attachment, Self-Regulation and Competency (ARC) model and Child- Parent Psychotherapy (CPP). I am currently working on additional modalities to treat trauma and PTSD.

Contact Kitty

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