Daniel Schiff, PhD
Individual Psychotherapy
Contemporary Reichian Therapy
Education and Training
Welcome to my website. I am a psychologist and educator with over 36 years of clinical experience helping individuals and couples who are experiencing chronic or acute emotional distress, suffer from stress related somatic disorders, or who find themselves living a life without passion or intimacy. I provide clinical supervision and training for health professionals (psychologists, licensed professional counselors, naturopathic physicians) and give public lectures and seminars on issues related to emotions, emotional health, psychotherapeutic practice, Reichian and Gestalt therapy and somatic psychology. Below, and in the pages that follow, you will be able to find out more about my clinical and educational work.
A. Psychotherapy Services
I identify myself as a humanistic psychologist, and thus approach each client with the belief that, with the proper assistance, he or she has the capacity to heal and grow regardless of age or depth of emotional pain and distress. However, often the capacity to heal and grow gets trapped within life-long patterns of thinking, feeling, relating, and breathing that no longer support growth and change.I see my role as a psychotherapist as one of assisting my clients to recognize and remove the blocks to growth that stand at the center of their emotional distress, while helping them find new ways of being in the world that foster a lively and meaningful life.
In my clinical work I help clients who are suffering from:
or are coping with a crisis in their lives that is effecting their emotional well being.
In my work I combine the interpersonal and experiential approach of Gestalt therapy and the personality and somatic (body-focused, bioenergetic) approach of Reichian Therapy with the most current theories and research on human development, attachment, and emotional functioning.
The following are the psychotherapeutic services I offer.
1. Individual Psychotherapy
I typically meet with clients on a weekly basis for 50 minute sessions, and offer a free 30 minute initial consultation.
Psychotherapy sessions with a licensed psychologist are covered by many insurance plans and you can check to see if I am a provider under your plan. I bill your insurance directly and you can pay your portion on a session by session or monthly basis.
2. Contemporary Reichian Therapy
Contemporary Reichian Therapy (also referred to as orgone therapy) is an emotionally focused somatic psychotherapeutic approach that is often quite helpful for individuals who exhibit symptoms of PTSD, alexithymia, and stress related physical pains and psychosomatic disorders, as well as those individuals who are attempting to recover from traumatic events or unresolved grief - all of which are often a result of or exacerbated by unexpressed emotion or by difficulties in emotional regulation. Sessions are usually 50 minutes in duration and are often scheduled on a weekly basis. However, if you live a good distance from the Portland/Vancouver metropolitan area we can arrange to meet for a series of sessions over a few days. You can find more information about this approach on my linked web page (number II on the menu to the left) and from the videos of prior lectures I have given (click on linked webpage "Videos: Past Conferences and Presentations", number VIII to the left).
B. Educational Opportunities
As stated above I provide clinical supervision and training for health professionals (psychologists, licensed professional counselors, naturopathic physicians) and give public lectures and seminars on issues related to emotions, emotional health, psychotherapeutic practice, Reichian and Gestalt therapy and somatic psychology. You may find out more about current and future classes and seminars as well as previous presentations I have given, as well as see videos of some of these presentations, all by clicking on the menu to the left.
C. Supervision and Training
1. Clinical Supervision
I offer clinical supervision for psychologists and mental health counselors who are interested in developing their skills in and their understanding of psychotherapy from a humanistic and somatic perspective. I am qualified to supervise Oregon interns seeking licensing as a Licensed Professional Counselor as well as Oregon psychologist interns.
2. Contemporary Reichian Therapy four-year training program
An in depth four-year training program for psychologists, social workers, mental health counselors, and other health professionals who desire to become fully grounded in the theoretical and procedural fundamentals which are used in contemporary Reichian therapy practice. Click on the tab "Contemporary Reichian Therapy Training Program" number III to the left for more information.
D. Further Information
If you wish to get further information, or set up an appointment, you can call me at (503) 290-4655, or reach me by e-mail: dschiff@dschiffphd.com. I do not charge for an initial 30 minute consultation, a format that is often a good way for us to get to meet and decide if we feel comfortable working with one another.
Office Location
Downtown Portland: The Professional Building
I am located right across from the library on the corner of 11th and SW Yamhill, convenient to all forms of public transportation and to all of the Portland metro area. If driving metered parking on the street is available or in the Smart Park around the corner on 10th between Yamhill and Morrison. ($1.50 per hour/maximum of four hours).
1033 SW Yamhill Street, Suite 402
Portland, Oregon 97205
503 290-4655+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Helpful Links:
Gestalt News and Notes
Journal of Psychiatric Orgone Therapy