Portland Therapy Center
Liz Ward

Liz Ward (they/them)

Licensed Marriage Family Therapist

LMFT

Relationship & individual therapist for adults specializing in non-monogamy, kink/BDSM, relationships, LGBTQIA+ issues, and gender identity.

Client Status

accepting clients

Contact

610 SW Alder St

Portland, 97205

Email Website

At a Glance

Me

Rate: $185-$215

Provides free initial consultation

Practicing Since: 2021

Languages: English

Services

  • Individual
  • Relationship

Insurances Accepted

  • Out of Pocket
  • Out of Network
  • Aetna
  • MODA
  • OHP CareOregon/HealthShare
  • PacificSource
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My Ideal Client

While I work with people of all backgrounds, most of my experience has been working with clients who are navigating LGBTQIA+ issues, gender identity, queer identity, non-monogamy/polyamory, kink/BDSM, sex and sexuality, asexuality, geekiness/nerdiness, religious/spiritual trauma, ADHD, Autism, relational and family trauma, anxiety, and depression. I work with couples/polycules and individuals who are 18 years and older.

My Approach to Helping

Therapy is a place where a person is provided the space to create change and growth in their emotional and mental wellbeing, which with time, can extend to other areas of their life. I believe that this is possible through fostering a therapeutic relationship where one feels safe to explore all the pieces of themself. As a therapist, I believe in the connection between our bodies and minds, and in allowing new experiences to propel growth. My work is grounded in queer theory, awareness of systemic injustice, and trauma-informed care. In the practice of therapy, I lean into somatic practices, mindfulness, emotions, and experiential components. I am DBT Trained. While I use some elements of DBT when appropriate, I also draw from other modes of therapy such as Emotionally Focused Therapy, Somatic Psychotherapy, Narrative Therapy, and Acceptance and Commitment therapy.

Why I am a Good Fit for You

As a non-binary, queer, non-monogamous, white, AuDHD, and invisibly disabled person, I aim to understand all the parts of your identity and how they may show up in your life. I seek to understand you as best as possible knowing that you are a unique person with a depth of life experience that has led you to where you are today. My best work is done collaboratively, supporting you in achieving the outcomes you want to see by bringing my knowledge to the room. My goal is to empower you to build and maintain the life that you want to be living. If you are interested in working with me, feel free to reach out at the contact form below. I offer free 20-minute consultations so we can determine if we'd be a good fit to begin therapy.

Techniques I Use

Specialties

  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) External link

    I am DBT Trained and integrate aspects of DBT into therapy as appropriate. I find DBT helpful in navigating challenges with emotional distress, emotional dysregulation, interpersonal challenges, and foundational skills that can help create a baseline to engage in life from.

  • Couples Counseling External link

    One of the reasons I decided to be a therapist was to work with couples, especially folks who are non-monogamous, knowing that there is not enough support for ENM and polyamorous people. I spent much of my graduate studies along with education afterwards focusing on how to help people develop relationships that work for them.

Issues I Treat

Specialties

  • Polyamorous and Open Relationships External link

    Relationships don't always fit the story our society has taught us to expect. I come from the perspective that relationships work best when they can be defined and agreed upon by the people within them, and I aim to help you explore what that would look like for you.

  • Gender Identity External link

    Gender is a complex and nuanced spectrum of experience. It is different for everyone, and worth examining to understand what your unique gender experience looks like. Exploration of gender identity is for everyone - you don't have to be transgender to explore your gender identity!

  • Relationship / Marriage Issues External link

    Relationships are hard! It is completely normal to have ebbs and flows in our relationships, especially if they are long-term. Just because it's normal to hit rough patches doesn't mean it's easy to navigate. I am here to help you navigate next steps in your relationship, whether that is making conscious and intentional efforts towards staying in your relationship, changing the agreements or structure of your relationship, or even if it means ending the relationship altogether.

  • Sexual Problems External link

    Sexuality can be challenging to navigate, especially considering the things we have learned (or that we didn't) about what sexuality means for us as individuals. Our sexuality is linked to so many aspects of our experience. I can help you gently sort through all these layers and understand how the things you learned have impacted you today so that you can engage in your sexuality in a way that feels best for you.

Contact Liz

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