Hope and healing for ages 18+

I work with adults, in the Portland, Oregon, metro area, ages 18+, providing individual and group sessions.

• Our brains develop from the bottom to the top, and inside out, sequentially  — from simple (the brain stem) to complex (the neocortex). This growth happens from before birth till about age 30.
• Our work builds and enhances the growth of neural pathways and the cross-brain connections. These developing brain areas take outside input from reacting in our “reptilian brain” through our “mammalian brain” that accesses memories and relationships to the problem-solving part of our brain in the frontal areas.
• We strongly encourage parent/guardian and family involvement in the process. Healing and change do not occur in a vacuum. The individual coming to therapy sessions benefits greatly from having a community that understands the work and is making efforts to change all the folks involved.
  

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  Voluntary “Task work” may be provided on password-protected pages on our site, with links to additional information to learn and reinforce your growth between sessions.

• A brief Feedback Measure is used every session to review progress and client/therapist connection. These include the ORS and SRS measures.

Co-Parents

PLEASE NOTE: Equine work is currently on hold. All other experiential work is available. 

A healthy relationship doesn’t occur with our partner, co-parent or family member just because we live together or share custody.

• A strong internal sense of connection contributes to secure attachment with feelings of safety and trust whether or not we are physically present with the other person.

Co-Parent Sessions

Two parents receiving services must determine whether they wish to attempt out of network reimbursement.

• If reimbursement will be submitted one of the parents must be the “identified patient” and have a separate intake session done that provides a billable diagnosis.
• One parent must be responsible for providing credit card information to our billing system and be the one billed each session.

Voluntary “Task work” may be provided on password-protected pages on our site, with links to additional information to learn and reinforce your growth between sessions.

A brief Feedback Measure is used every session to review progress and client/therapist connection. These are the ORS and SRS measures

Psychedelic Assisted Treatment Support services — Limited

• I do not refer folks for any current treatment with psychedelics.
• Beginning Jan 2023 I may refer for OR licensed programs working with Psilocybin.
• I will support folks who choose to do psychedelic assisted treatment with pre and post treatment integration.

Support for Recovery

Recovery from substance use disorder (SUD) and compulsive behaviors is a life long process, being present and focused on today. Our work in the office or with the herd can help you and your family members support long term sobriety with practice and building authentic, connected relationships key to healthy living.

Co-occurring mental health issues and traumatic experiences

The majority of folks struggling with substance use disorder (SUD) and compulsive behaviors have mental health diagnoses. Many have adverse childhood experiences of trauma or significant traumatic events as teens or adults.

Working with folks in recovery

If you are someone who has done one or more of the following:

• has at least six months of sobriety
• completed a residential treatment program
• completed an intensive outpatient program
• completed a level one outpatient treatment

If you are currently in treatment you need to have a referral from your current substance abuse counselor to begin services with us.

Referrals or concurrent (adjunctive) therapy

Residential programs are welcome to refer as well, as part of after care, if the client is considered appropriate for level one ASAM placement criteria. Folks currently in Intensive outpatient programs should wait until completion and again provide a referral from the latest counselor. If you’re participating in regular weekly outpatient treatment, plan to continue, and have a referral from your current counselor we can discuss working together

Support for families and co-parents is available as well.

Working with horses is great transition practice for clients as well as a bridge, to support rebuilding family connection, as part of after care.

A brief Feedback Measure is used every session to review progress and client/therapist connection. I am an ACE Certified provider with the ACORN Collaboration   -ACE Certificate link

My background in substance use disorder treatment services

I’m a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor level 3 (CADCIII) and Master Addiction Counselor (MAC). I was first credentialed in 2000 and you can view my extended resume for my background. I have worked in outpatient programs with a dual diagnosis focus and have continued to annually pursue continuing education in the SUD treatment field.

Personal Recovery experience

I think it’s important to note I’m not in recovery from SUD or compulsive behaviors. I respect the process of folks who are and recognize my own needs for growth and change. I have been involved in personal individual, couples and family therapy over the years. I believe that any therapist who hasn’t “looked under the hood” is someone to probably be avoided.

I have attended Al-Anon for extended time in the past.

We support families and youth before, during and after their residential and wilderness therapy experiences.

Transition home can be very challenging.

I am a board member for Parker Bounds Johnson Foundation. An organization providing financial and aftercare support for participants and families with youth in Wilderness Therapy programs.

Group Facilitation for Learning, Growth & Healing

June 4 10 am – 5 pm

West Linn, OR

$10 is recommended donation for use of facility. Trainers are donating their time. Payment to @lifestreamtherapyllc. Please note event name facility in payment details. 

Group facilitation using fun and engaging experiential and adventure activities. Can be used indoors or out for all ages and settings. Focus will be on therapy applications. But practitioners of all types are welcome.

Trainers:

• Daniel Cavanaugh PhD, LCSW
• Russell Chamberlain LCSW, CADCIII

Competencies covered can be applied toward the 75 hour Certified Clinical Adventure Therapist (CCAT) — Association for Experiential Education credential. https://www.aee.org/about-the-certification-program

Registration link Eventbrite. 

Agency & Program Support

We work with agencies, group homes, residential programs, etc. in the Portland area to provide adjunct therapy groups. These groups can include clients as well as family members conducted separately or as an opportunity to practice connection. Contact us for more information on costs and structure. We can adapt programming to meet the ongoing needs of whatever population you serve.

Functional Family Therapy — While with Lifeworks NW  in 2001 —  I participated in a year long clinical training and supervision process with FFT) before they had the Functional Family Probation program that Multnomah County Juvenile Court uses.  Yes that was a while ago, and I believe the current certification I have with Collaborative Problem Solving has a number of crossover similarities. 

• Engagement
• Motivation
• Relational Assessment
• Behavior Change
• Generalization Phase

We offer workshops and ongoing support for staff in social service agencies addressing compassion fatigue.

Adjunctive/collaborative care for your clients

Are you a provider who has an individual, families or co-parents who might benefit from a few sessions to work on connection, relationships, self or co-regulation of emotions? Consider connecting with us to work toward the best healing possible for your clients. As you can see from reading through the site this trauma informed, interpersonal neurobiologically based, experiential practice can blend well with your ongoing work.

EAP is a great opportunity for most folks. Clearly I have a strong bias based in the polyvagal theory of the hierarchy of cues, neuroception and co-regulation of the team with the client.

Bessel van der Kolk, Peter Levine, Pat Ogden, Dan Siegel, Bonnie Badenock and many others have published work and note the foundational significance of polyvagal theory to therapeutic approaches of all types and have long time relationships with Stephen Porges.

We all can’t be experts in every technique or method. I believe we can collaborate in many approaches including:

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
• Emotionally Focused Therapy
• Somatic Experiencing
• Sensorimotor Psychotherapy
• Energy focused body work
• Attachment Theory based approaches
• Collaborative Problem Solving
• Substance Use disorder treatment — completed Level 2 ASAM placement or currently in Level one care and will continue.
• EMDR
• Brainspotting
• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy

Functional Family Therapy — While with Lifeworks NW  in 2001 —  I participated in a year long training and supervision process with FFTLLC) before they had the Functional Family Probation Certification that Multnomah County Juvenile Court uses.  Yes that was a while ago, and I believe the current certification I have with Collaborative Problem Solving has a number of crossover similarities. 

You are welcome to come visit and have a demonstration and discuss potential connections. Contact us for time to chat.