Psychotherapy Services

I am a licensed psychologist in private practice in Portland, Oregon. As I stated on my home page I have over 33 years of experience in helping individuals and couples who are experiencing either chronic or acute emotional distress, suffer from stress related somatic disorders, or who find themselves living a life without passion or intimacy. I work with clients who are suffering from:

  • depression
  • anxiety - symptoms of panic or generalized anxiety
  • relationship difficulties
  • stress disorders - including PTSD
  • stress related (functional - emotionally based) somatic disorders
  • tension myositis syndrome (TMS)
  • loss/grief - recent or longstanding
  • trauma - either recent or an earilier unresolved trauma
  • alexithymia - difficulty in either feeling or identifying emotions

or are coping with a crisis in their lives that is effecting their emotional well being.

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 work with individuals and couples 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 the psychotherapeutic services I offer:

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.

COUPLES PSYCHOTHERAPY

I typically meet with clients on a weekly basis for either 50 or 75 minute sessions. Sessions may or may not be covered by your insurance.

REICHIAN BODY-MIND PSYCHOTHERAPY

Reichian Body-Mind Psychotherapy 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 that are often a result of or exacerbated by unexpressed emotion. 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.

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.