Portland Therapy Center
Melanie Ahlf

Melanie Ahlf (she/her)

Professional Counselor Associate

MA

Supervisor: Annie Johns, LCSW

This is your sign-I can offer you support through the process of facing the avoidance and fear that keeps you stuck and spiraling.

Client Status

accepting clients

Contact

Email Website

At a Glance

Me

Rate: $155

Provides free initial consultation

Practicing Since: 2023

Services

  • Individual
  • Group
  • Teen

Insurances Accepted

  • Out of Pocket

My Ideal Client

Whether you have an existing OCD/anxiety disorder diagnosis or are just beginning to understand the symptoms that are challenging you & impairing your life, I can help. Willingness to sit with discomfort is the crucial ingredient to successful treatment outcomes. It’s also incredibly important to find a clinician you trust and feel comfortable with when undertaking treatment for OCD, generalized anxiety disorder, rumination, specific phobias and social anxiety.

My Background and Approach

I am compassionate because this is tough work, but I will also encourage you to do the hard things that can lead to successful treatment, which may greatly improve your quality of life. I have a Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and completed a clinical internship at an anxiety clinic where I specialized in treating OCD and anxiety disorders. I have extensive training and experience in ERP (exposure and response prevention), which is an evidence based treatment for OCD and Anxiety Disorders. I ground my work in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). I also utilize interventions from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and encourage deep work around self-compassion. Sharpening awareness and noticing (mindfulness) is a necessary aspect of this work, which I will offer guidance around.

My Values as a Therapist

I believe that people can change, but it is deep work and requires intention and desire. I am happy to share aspects of my life/identity that may feel helpful, however I don't think it's necessary for people to have the same lived experience to do meaningful, collaborative therapeutic work. But please ask and I will gladly share! I am an inquisitive person/clinician and will be engaged in our sessions. I believe that counselors/therapists owe their clients their undivided attention and that it's vital to the therapeutic process and positive treatment outcomes. To be seen and heard is powerful. I love the outdoors, plants, dogs and animals of all kinds. I am fascinated by consciousness. I believe in kindness and acceptance of all living things.

Techniques I Use

Issues I Treat

Specialties

  • Anxiety External link

    Please see my profile for my background in treating anxiety disorders. Building tolerance to discomfort creates confidence. Facing avoidance builds evidence of your ability to overcome anxiety rather than reenforcing it.

  • OCD External link

    I have extensive training and experience in utilizing ERP (exposure and response prevention), which is an evidence based treatment for OCD. I believe that it's crucial to have a confident clinician guide you through exposure work. Psychoeducation is an extremely important aspect of this treatment so that you feel empowered by the knowledge/understanding of WHY you're doing this work.

  • Social Phobia External link

    I believe that a mix of CBT/ERP as well as self-compassion work to target low self-worth can be hugely helpful with social anxiety and phobias. Whether this is something that you've lived with your whole life or it's newer and was exacerbated by the pandemic, I can guide you towards meaningful growth/progress. We are social creatures and even introverted people need and deserve connection.

  • Loss or Grief External link

    PET LOSS. While I work with many types of loss & grief, I want to emphasize pet loss and grief because I personally understand the deep pain and devastation that this can cause. I find that losing a pet/animal companion is often more upsetting than a human's death. Our emotional connections with our pets can be deep and we often form intense attachments to our animal companions. I think it's incredibly important to have a counselor who will honor this rather than diminish/invalidate the loss.

Contact Melanie

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