Portland Therapy Center
Whitney Summerer

Whitney Summerer (she/her)

Professional Counselor Associate

MA

Supervisor: Jed Rendleman, LMFT License#: T3141

I help individuals navigate attachment & relationships—warm, trauma-informed, neurodivergent-positive. LGBTQ+, ENM/poly, grief, trauma.

Client Status

accepting clients

Contact

5034546311

917 SW Oak St

Suite 417

Portland, 97205

Email Website

At a Glance

Me

Rate: $100-$200

Provides free initial consultation

Practicing Since: 2022

Languages: English

Services

  • Individual
  • Relationship

Insurances Accepted

  • Out of Pocket

My Ideal Client

My ideal clients are curious, insightful people interested in deepening their self-understanding and improving their relationships. Whether navigating ethical non-monogamy/polyamory, relationship challenges, grief, life transitions, or questions of identity, my clients value vulnerable exploration both inside and outside of session. I welcome creatives, LGBTQ+, neurodivergent folks, and non-conformists.

My Approach to Helping

My therapeutic approach is warm, relational, and deeply collaborative. I create a thoughtful, affirming space where you can explore your emotions, relationships, attachment experiences, and core beliefs with curiosity and compassion. Drawing from attachment theory, narrative therapy, psychodynamic depth psychology, and parts work (IFS-inspired), I help you gently examine patterns that no longer serve you, develop new insights, and integrate meaningful changes into your life. Our sessions will not just be about talking, but also about building self-awareness, resilience, and practical skills for growth. I’m neurodivergent-positive and affirming of all relationship structures, identities, and experiences. Whether you're navigating ethical non-monogamy, relationship complexities, grief, or life transitions, my aim is to help you cultivate deeper connection, clarity, and a sense of genuine belonging within yourself and your relationships.

My Personal Beliefs and Interests

I believe therapy is most impactful when rooted in authenticity, curiosity, and meaningful connection. My practice is deeply informed by anti-oppression principles, feminism, and intersectional awareness. I’m committed to providing affirming, culturally responsive care to clients of diverse identities, relationship structures, and experiences. As a queer, polyamorous person myself, I understand firsthand the value of compassionate, stigma-free support. I'm particularly passionate about supporting creative and non-conforming individuals, and advocating for increased visibility and acceptance of bisexuality and ethical non-monogamy. My work is also shaped by my ongoing commitment to learning—regularly pursuing specialized trainings in attachment-focused therapies, polyamory and ENM-affirming practices, and somatic and trauma-informed approaches.

Techniques I Use

Specialties

  • Attachment Theory External link

    I utilize attachment-focused therapy to help clients understand their relational patterns, heal attachment wounds, and build secure, connected relationships.

  • Couples Counseling External link

    I specialize in helping couples strengthen connection, improve communication, and repair cycles of disconnection. My approach draws from Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), attachment theory, the Gottman Method, and a systems lens to support all types of relationships, including queer and non-monogamous partnerships.

  • Family Systems External link

    I help clients understand their relational patterns within family contexts, exploring intergenerational dynamics and promoting healthier interactions. My approach explores dynamics and past experiences to help clients gain insight, resolve inner conflicts, and make meaningful, lasting change.

  • Accelerated Resolution Therapy External link

    I offer Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), a gentle and effective, evidence-based approach that leverages the brain’s natural process of memory reconsolidation to resolve trauma, anxiety, grief, and stuck emotional patterns. ART uses calming eye movements and guided visualization to help reprocess distressing memories quickly—often leading to significant relief in just a few sessions. Unlike traditional talk therapy, ART doesn’t require sharing every painful detail and can create lasting chan

Issues I Treat

Specialties

  • Polyamorous and Open Relationships External link

    As a poly-affirming therapist, I offer guidance in exploring boundaries, managing jealousy, fostering trust, and creating authentic, sustainable connections.

  • Relationship / Marriage Issues External link

    I specialize in navigating complex relationship dynamics, helping clients improve communication, build deeper intimacy, and resolve patterns of conflict.

  • Loss or Grief External link

    I provide compassionate support to those experiencing grief, aiding them in processing loss and finding meaning during life transitions.

  • Personal Growth External link

    I work with clients seeking deeper self-understanding, helping them explore identity, challenge limiting beliefs, and cultivate a more authentic life.

  • PTSD External link

    My trauma-informed approach integrates attachment-focused, nervous system, and narrative techniques to help clients heal past wounds and rebuild resilience.

Contact Whitney

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