Portland Therapy Center
Sarah Voruz

Sarah Voruz (she/her)

Clinical Psychologist

PsyD

Please note: I currently have an active wait list - when I have cancellations I offer these appointments to the folks on my wait list.

Client Status

waitlist

Contact

971-377-8762

1210 SE Oak St.

Portland, 97214

Email Website

At a Glance

Me

Rate: $145-$165

Provides free initial consultation

Provides telehealth services

Practicing Since: 2009

Languages: English

Services

  • Individual

Insurances Accepted

  • Out of Pocket
  • Out of Network
  • Aetna
  • First Health
  • PacificSource

My Ideal Client

I enjoy seeing clients from a range of backgrounds and a variety of therapeutic needs and interests. I believe that the mind and body are closely connected and problems in one often creates or exacerbates problems in the other. I particularly enjoy working with people on finding their identity, breaking out of painful beliefs about the self and others, and integrating and making meaning of significant experiences, whether it's trauma, existential awakenings, or psychedelic journeys.

My Approach to Helping

Working from a contemporary Gestalt therapy orientation, I help my clients increase self awareness to give them more choices in their lives and address both short- and long-term issues. Creating a safe and trusting relationship with my clients is of the utmost importance so that my clients can explore themselves and confront the obstacles to making changes in their lives. I also aim to facilitate a lively therapeutic process by focusing on the present moment, offering creative experiments to try out new ways of being, and connecting the dots to provide a bigger picture understanding of how our past influences the present. I find that emotions are an important part of the puzzle, being the vehicle through which we process previous experiences and identify current needs. I see myself as a guide to assist my clients in removing the barriers to knowing themselves deeply and living authentically. We all have the inner wisdom needed to heal and thrive and I'd love to help you rediscover it.

My Personal Beliefs and Interests

I see therapy as a platform not only to heal the individual, but to heal the world. We are living in a time where emotional isolation is pervasive and I see a dire need to learn how to compassionately connect with ourselves, each other, and the natural world. I want my clients to feel supported to open themselves up for social justice work if they are interested, by understanding their beliefs, biases, and barriers to showing up in this way. I'm also an advocate for the decriminalization and therapeutic use of psychedelics. When used with adequate support, these are invaluable tools for self-awareness and feeling connected to others, the world, and the universe. Thankfully, Oregon voters passed Measure 109 in 2020, however we are now in the midst of a two years period during which a committee is figuring out how psilocybin therapy will be implemented. I plan to pursue this work when the standards are set, but for now, stay tuned!

Techniques I Use

Specialties

  • Gestalt External link

    I have trained for 7 years with the Gestalt Therapy Training Center - NW. In addition to my clinical training, I was on the planning committee to organize the conference The State of the Art of Gestalt Therapy that happened in Portland in October 2015. I also organize meetings for the Portland Gestalt Community.

  • Holistic External link

    My approach gives special attention to the fact that you are more than just a brain. Emotional issues live in our body, and physical issues can affect us emotionally.

  • Mindfulness-based External link

    A big focus in Gestalt Therapy is the present moment. My training in this orientation helps me focus my clients on experiencing, rather than interpreting. I have a meditation practice of my own as well as done retreats.

Issues I Treat

Specialties

  • Personal Growth External link

    Many people come to me for help managing symptoms, but our work often eventually transforms into helping people not only survive life, but thrive. I invite reflection on the finite reality of life and the importance of identifying what's important to you to feel like you have lived it well.

  • Men's Issues External link

    Through my work at Allies in Change, I came to understand how the societal expectation that boys 'toughen up' and hide their emotions can lead to a host of difficulties as an adult, including depression, unfulfilling relationships, substance abuse, and other ineffective coping strategies. My training and experience has taught me how to help men reconnect with themselves and others.

  • Self-Esteem External link

    I believe that we can only have good relationships with others if we first have a good relationship with ourselves. Through research, training, and my own growth work, I have a rich understanding of some of the common ways we lose our connection to ourselves and how to get it back.

  • PTSD External link

    I primarily work with people who may not recognize trauma in their history, but were impacted on a foundational level from chronic invalidating or neglectful experiences growing up. The ripples this has into adulthood are vast and I offer long-term work to heal wounds that prevented the development of identity, healthy self-esteem, and a trust in oneself and others to meet one's needs.

  • Depression External link

    Though depression is a common term, the roots and felt experience of each person living with depression are very different. I have worked with a lot of people with depression and my Gestalt therapy orientation provides an excellent path to understand where each person's depression comes from and what they need to heal it.

Contact Sarah

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