Portland Therapy Center
Michael Nagel

Michael Nagel

Professional Counselor

I am professional alternative counselor in private practice since 2003. My work invites you to the fulfillment that comes from engaging your life situations as opportunities for developing the life skills and personal growth that leads you to become your deeper, authentic Self.

Client Status

accepting clients

Contact

503.226.2771

Email Website

At a Glance

Me

Rate: $50-$90

Provides telehealth services

Practicing Since: 2003

Languages: English

Services

  • Individual

Insurances Accepted

  • Out of Pocket

I base my work on a deeper view that considers the very real and painful problems you face as necessary encounters with yourself and life - encounters often provoked by your deeper nature to further unfold your unique human potential. Within the safe container of our sessions, my unconditional acceptance of you and my trainings support you in your learning to trust and work with your experience thereby leading to your personal growth and fulfillment. Some of the skills you learn include how to quiet the inner critic, how to be with and “listen” to your experience in a way that transforms it, and how to become your authentic self. I also provide homework so that you may continue your inner work between sessions. My approach integrates my trainings in Focusing, Body-Oriented therapy, Existential and Spiritual approaches.

I am a trained alternative therapist in private practice since 2003, after having completed a successful 25-year career in the corporate world. I have a M.A. and a B.A. in Psychology. Additionally I have many years of training in different therapy modalities including: Focusing, emotionally focused therapy, body-oriented therapy, neuro-linguisting programming (NLP), hypnotherapy, and transpersonal therapy. My writing includes having authored two books, "How to Be Yourself" and "The Getting Grounded Manual", and my articles have appeared in a peer-reviewed psychology journal, popular magazines, and two other books. My specialties include personal growth, self-esteem, authenticity, and spirituality.

Techniques I Use

Specialties

  • Transpersonal External link

    The transpersonal orientation concerns the deeper, spiritual (not 'religious') dimension of our lives. It acknowledges a higher self which can be experienced personally, rather than taken on faith. Some of the concerns with which transpersonal counseling works includes spiritual exploration and inquiry, development, practices, loss of faith, spiritual bypassing, and spiritual emergencies.

  • Humanistic  External link

    The humanistic model orientation views life as a spectrum of possible personal development whereby you realize your unique human potential. The problems which the average person faces are not pathologized. In contrast, the medical model views clients as either ill or healthy with no consideration of their unique human potential.

  • Existential External link

    How do you take responsibility for your existence and live fully your unique human potential? This question is at the heart of the personal issues that we face. That is, at a deep level many of our issues result from our not taking our lives with a decisive seriousness. Our lives are real, and we alone are responsible for their fulfillment or lack of fulfillment. This is the existential view.

Issues I Treat

Specialties

  • Personal Growth External link

    In a way, we could say that we are not 'nouns' but rather 'verbs'; we are an unfolding process motivated by an inner drive that seeks to maximize our human potential

  • Spirituality External link

    Spirituality is not religiosity. My integration of a spiritual dimension in my practice offers non-sectarian support of my clients who are curious about the Mystery in which we live, and would like support and guidance in their search.

  • Self-Esteem External link

    In childhood, we learn to value ourselves according to how others such as our parents value us. As adults, we can learn that true self-esteem derives from being our own authentic selves.

Contact Michael

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