Portland Therapist Finding a therapist and approach that is the right fit for you is a process that can be both rewarding and challenging. I offer both individual and group therapy, and I hope that the information on this site helps you in your search. If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment, please contact me to schedule your FREE 15 minute phone consultation. Are you… …challenged by life changes or transitions? …longing for more fulfilling relationships? …experiencing creative blocks? …finding the past is interfering in the present? …feeling anxiety or depressive symptoms? …dreaming of a new direction? …stuck in outdated patterns or beliefs? …are you looking good on the outside… but struggling on the inside? These challenges do not define who you are… They are a step on the journey, informing you that now is the time to get back on track. With Skill, presence, respect and compassion, I am here to help you come back to center and move toward the life you truly want. Discover the power of your authentic self. Have more fun and fulfilling relationships. Live a life of greater joy, inspiration and aliveness! Past Client: " You have taught me new skills to help me see myself and accept myself in a more caring and loving way. You have helped me to open my mind and my heart and my spirit to accept myself just as I am in this moment. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with me. You have touched my heart in a very special way." From a former client who was having creative blocks and seeking personal empowerment: "I thoroughly enjoy my meetings with you. You have helped me learn so much about myself in the past few months. The tools and knowledge that you have given me, or helped me to discover, during our sessions, I use and think about all the time."

WHAT IS A GOOD MARRIAGE COUNSELOR? Marriage repair is not something you want to leave in the hands of someone who has no training in marriage counseling. Most grad schools where counselors get a Master's Degree do not provide it, and licensing does not require it. And as Dr. Bill Dougherty, co-founder of the National Registry of Marriage Friendly Therapists learned in his research that most counselors admit to accepting couples as clients and also having no training to do so. Find a good counselor by starting out asking what advanced training they have in couples' counseling. WHAT DOES A MARRIAGE SPECIALIST DO? If what you are being asked to do by a counselor seems crazy, impossible or just pointless-it probably is. When couples see what everyday habits or conflict management habits impact them the most-it is a relief to begin practicing them. Feels like creating your safe place to land in a storm. Are you ready to make things better? Or for singles and newlyweds, don't you want to give your new relationship the best chance at succeeding? At Relationship Gardening couples receive a thorough take home assessment so that strengths and struggles are made known at the start. As a counselor with advanced training by the world's expert on marriage, Dr. John Gottman, I know that couples often say they need help with communication, but let's get specific about what you are really most likely seeking: relief from fighting or criticism that stings, or bringing down the walls that have been driving you more and more apart. Both poisonous habits and habits that maintain emptiness will lead you to divorce, unless you do something about them. And if you are facing excruciating life problems like betrayal, you can be guided through the 3 phases critical to recovery which are hard to do on your own-but doable with an informed counselor to make your relationship stronger after affairs. WHAT LATEST INNOVATIVE EXPERIENCE IS SHANNON OFFERING IN PORTLAND, OREGON? Healthy Weight Action Awesomeness group is being formed to promote good mental strategies for building motivation and reaching your goals. Plus we have encouraging accountability and support with check in buddies! Healthy Weight Group is presented by a counselor (Shannon Batts), with a guest holistic health naturopath (Dr. Kelly Raylinksy), and a yoga therapist (Andrea Flores) who delivers patient and creative guidance for whole body health. OMG, we so rock!

Possibly the deadliest drug available, heroin destroys lives. Because treatment for drug addiction is most effective when specific to your drug of choice, we focus on helping men with addictions to heroin. Men's Heroin Rehab is also a drug addiction resource that helps families understand, assess, and treat loved ones who are suffering from addiction.

At Compass Community Counseling you can count on a judgment free environment to assist individuals, couples and families with counseling services in Vancouver, WA and the Portland-Metro area to make lasting positive changes. We lead our clients to find hope, direction, and healing through emotional renewal, spiritual change and physical growth. We have extensive training and experience working with relationships and how they are imbedded in a person’s patterns of behaviors. We have additional training in Functional Family Therapy, Gottman methods, and Sex Therapy. Every couple has moments when they start to fight more, feel angry, harbor resentment, or even feel withdrawn from their partner. If we are being truly honest we know that relationships are hard and they take a tremendous amount of work. We see our role as a relationship or marriage counselor to sit with you, where you are in the moment and help guide the way in mending the broken pieces of your relationship. Our goal in couples counseling is never about taking sides; it is about helping you each to understand each other better.

If you feel you are working too hard trying to handle a difficult transition in your life, trying to cope with anxieties or depression or trying to recover from a trauma, please call me. I offer counseling in Vancouver, Washington to individuals and couples. My years of experience in the Portland Metro area, including Vancouver, Washington, has prepared me to be sensitive to diversity of all kinds and to understand the struggles of others while remaining flexible to what one may need in the moment. After 16 years of providing emergency medical social work in three busy emergency departments, I have found a great balance to life by shifting my focus as a counselor for individuals and couples in a private setting in Vancouver, Washington. My goal is to offer a safe, nonjudgmental and welcoming space for you to explore yourself with honesty. I will help you begin moving forward, while supporting you through the change process. My practice is action-oriented, with great attention to your strengths while helping you to stay present in the moment.

In a comfortable and supportive atmosphere, I offer a highly personalized approach tailored to your needs to help you attain the personal growth you're striving for. I employ several different therapeutic models depending on the type of difficulties you are having. Most of my experience is in Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy. Each of these types of therapy have been evaluated and proven to be effective for a variety of problems. Research has consistently shown that the most important element in successful therapy is the working relationship between the client and the therapist. Connecting with you and establishing a solid foundation is my first and most important priority. Some of my passions include helping people deal with the impact of past traumas on their present lives, treating depression, working with clients who have trouble finding a sense of direction in their lives, and supporting the LGBTQ community. My clients have found my approach to be warm and non-judgmental; while also being honest and straight-forward. As a therapist, you will most likely find me to be, more than anything, a real person who does her best to connect with you. For fun, I enjoy anything outdoors...camping, fly-fishing, hiking...you name it. I'm also an avid reader and lover of both eating and cooking good food.

In addition to helping clients overcome depression, anxiety, stress, and trauma, my subspecialties include supporting women and couples after the loss of their pregnancy or newborn to help them grieve, heal and find new meaning in their lives while treasuring and honoring their babies. Additionally, I enjoy working with women during pregnancy and following the birth of their child to help create a motherhood mindset to thrive in their new role and minimize risk factors for developing post partum mood disorders. I have supported men and women through their struggles for over 20 years so they could live their lives more fully and without the burden of past traumas constantly holding them back. My clients report that with treatment they feel more supported and validated, have confidence in using powerful tools to help them through the worst of times and ultimately learn to move forward in their lives. Please don’t hesitate to call so we can discuss how I can best serve you. My clientele is diverse in culture, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, and family makeup.