Portland Therapy Center
Lesley Smith

Lesley Smith (they/she)

Licensed Clinical Social Worker

LCSW

Thanks for taking the time to find some support. I want to help you make life a bit easier for you, in a way that makes sense for you.

Client Status

accepting clients

Contact

5035978991

Email Website

At a Glance

Me

Rate: $175

Provides free initial consultation

Practicing Since: 2017

Languages: English

Services

  • Individual

Insurances Accepted

  • Out of Pocket
  • Out of Network
  • Aetna
  • PacificSource

My Ideal Client

Do you find it hard to do the things that were normally second nature? There's a lot going on in our world, which is already hard to navigate, especially when you're queer, neurodivergent, anxious, or just juggling a million responsibilities. I'm here to help you find ways to make your life work for you, based on what you want out of your life. And maybe part of that is even figuring out what you want out of life. I work with folks to help them feel like themselves and find their people.

My Approach to Helping

I like to tailor my approach to fit your needs, not what I (or anybody else) thinks your needs are. I like to take a holistic approach, helping you to identify your values, make sense of your emotions, and help you to regulate your nervous system - utilizing talk therapy (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy), body-based therapy (Somatic Experiencing), and music therapy (Safe and Sound Protocol). I want to help you figure out what is authentic for you, instead of focusing on outside expectations of you. Our work starts with identifying where you are struggling, from managing your responsibilities to building (or rebuilding) the relationships you want.

My Values as a Therapist

My main value is safety - I want you to feel safe during our time together. This is why I also say that I use anti-oppressive practice. To me, that means that I am constantly learning and growing along with you. It means that I am open to understanding the identities that you hold, beyond the labels, with the hope that you aren't needing to educate me. This also means that I will label racism, classism, ableism, homophobia, transphobia, and other oppressive systems when they show up in our time together. I do this because these systems of oppression impact our experience of the world and our relationships. I value curiosity and want to learn more about you and your relationships with the labels you hold. I take a non-judgmental stance and want to help you figure out what works best for you. also value creativity in the therapy space and want to make sure I am adjusting my approach to fit your needs. I look forward to exploring your needs and supporting you on your journey.

Techniques I Use

Specialties

  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) External link

    This is the primary modality I use. I took a course on ACT during my Master's program and an intensive training on 2018. I attend a monthly ACT consult group and continue to access books and other resources on ACT.

  • Somatic Therapy (Body Centered) External link

    I believe that our bodies hold so much information and need to be involved in the practice. I am being trained in Somatic Experiencing (currently Advanced Level 1 trained). To learn more about Somatic Experiencing check out - https://traumahealing.org/

  • EcoTherapy External link

    Nature has so much to teach us. I am trained in using ecotherapy to assist in treating climate-related distress.

  • Eclectic External link

    I incorporate aspects of Harm-Reduction into my practice. I am certified in Safe and Sound Protocol and incorporate this treatment, as appropriate.

Issues I Treat

Specialties

  • ADHD External link

    I have ADHD and continue to learn more strategies and information to make life easier for folks with ADHD. The world is built for neurotypical folks and it can be hard to try to make ourselves conform to that. So what if we tried to make things work for us?

  • Anxiety External link

    I have a history of working with individuals experiencing anxiety, whether it's constant racing thoughts, a specific fear, frequent panic attacks, or feeling constantly on edge. We can figure out how to cope with your anxiety and keep it from preventing what you want in life.

  • LGBTQ Issues External link

    I am a member of the LGBTQ community and have experience treating folks who are questioning and transitioning. I attend a weekly consult group with other providers who work with LGBTQ-identified folks.

  • Women's Issues External link

    I have experience working with female-identified people and am knowledgable on the unique experiences of these individuals and the ways that patriarchy influences our lived experience.

Contact Lesley

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