Maddy Engelfried (she/her)

My Background and Approach

I have a background in art therapy as well as counseling, and I take a warm, compassionate approach to therapy. I’m genuinely fascinated by people, and I like to lead with my curiosity, both in getting to know clients and in helping to understand what they’re going through. Research has shown that what makes therapy work is the therapeutic relationship, so I focus on cultivating that with every client I work with. I think every behavior has a reason behind it. We don’t make ourselves miserable because we want to! However, the coping mechanisms that fit one circumstance don’t always transfer well to the rest of our lives. By figuring out why we do the things we do and what we can do instead, we can make real, lasting changes in how we live. Really. Therapy is hard work, but with creativity and humor, we can make real, lasting changes to our lives and relationships.

My Personal Beliefs and Interests

As an existential therapist, I think everyone has the right and the responsibility to figure out what brings meaning to their life and do it on purpose. I strongly believe in the power of personal narrative, and have noticed that many people who come to therapy have problems related to the stories they tell themselves about who they are and where their lives are going. Fortunately, we all have the potential to be creative, and we can harness that potential to take control of our life narratives and attack our problems instead of ourselves. As a nerd, I appreciate that it’s possible to think very hard about our problems and be intellectually aware of our feelings without feeling them. Unfortunately, the feeling part isn’t really optional. A large part of my work is helping clients learn coping mechanisms to process difficult feelings as they come up. When I'm not therapizing, I spend my time playing TTRPGs, drawing comics, and enjoying Portland's beautiful outdoors.