Mary Bruce-Owenby

Mary Bruce-Owenby (she/her)

Licensed Marriage Family Therapist

LGBTQIA-affirmative couples therapist

I help couples work through issues of emotional safety and trust to re-establish their bond and grow their intimacy.

Client Status

accepting clients

Contact

503-205-0604

205 SE Spokane Street

Portland, 97202

At a Glance

Me

Rate: $185-$200

Provides free initial consultation

Provides telehealth services

Practicing Since: 2009

Languages: English

Services

  • Individual
  • Relationship

Insurances Accepted

  • Out of Pocket
  • Out of Network

My Ideal Client

I help couples move from pain and isolation to joy and connection. I have specific training and expertise working with couples--using the psychodynamic model combined with Gestalt and Collaborative Couples Therapy, Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), and the Developmental model (Ellyn Bader/Pete Pearson/The Couples Institute). I also have a small practice providing individual therapy.

My Approach to Helping

Through a flexible but structured process, together we work to de-escalate negative cycles, establish emotional safety, and begin the process of restructuring emotional patterns and rebuilding the bond so that you get back to enjoying and connecting.

My Personal Beliefs and Interests

I have a BA from Wellesley College, an MA in clinical psychology from Antioch University, and specialized training and experience in couples work, including working as a couples therapist at the Couples Clinic of Portland. I have also completed a program in Buddhist Psychology and Gestalt Psychotherapy and continue to train with the Gestalt Therapy Training Center Northwest ongoing, monthly. I recently completed a two-year program at The Developmental Couples Institute in California. I welcome seeing a diverse range of couples and individuals and offer a free, 30-minute consultation so that we may meet via Zoom and get a better understanding of whether we may be a fit for working together. .

Techniques I Use

Specialties

  • Psychodynamic  External link

    This approach is a form of depth psychology that explores and works through the often initially hidden impacts that early patterns have had on current functioning. I have completed five years of specific training in psychoanalytic/psychodynamic theoretical frameworks under the supervision of contemporary psychoanalysts and psychologists.

  • Gestalt External link

    I have trained in Gestalt therapy, a strengths-based, non-pathologizing therapy, during graduate school and in internship, and have incorporated its here-and-now, direct, honest and mindful approach to help clients work with and address deep-seated, unmet needs.

  • Emotionally Focused External link

    I have studied EFT in my training programs and use this approach in conjunction with others when working with couples. EFT's tools of engagement and attunement help us to first identify and deescalate negative patterns that have kept the couple isolated from one another, and then restructure and rebuild the trust, strengthening the emotional bond and renewing connection.

  • Couples Counseling External link

    I have training in Psychoanalytic, Developmental, EFT, Gottman, Collaborative Couples, and Gestalt approaches to this work. I also recently completed a two-year training program using the Developmental Couples Framework and approach.

Issues I Treat

Specialties

  • Relationship / Marriage Issues External link

    I thoroughly enjoy helping couples move from pain and isolation to joy and connection. I have specific training and expertise working with couples and work collaboratively with you to deescalate negative cycles, restructure and rebuild trust, and practice strengthening the emotional bond. Please note that I do not accept insurance for couples work.

  • Premarital Counseling External link

    I work with couples who would like to work through a broad ranges of struggles coming up for them that they would like to address before moving forward more deeply into their commitment.

Contact Mary

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