Alisha Addington
Navigating stress, life changes, and relationships can often feel overwhelming—but you don't have to carry it alone. As a licensed social worker, I specialize in guiding adolescents and emerging adults through life’s complexities, helping you build resilience and reduce anxiety. I offer a supportive, non-judgmental environment where we focus on your unique strengths. Together, we will equip you with practical tools to manage stress and create a clear path toward a more balanced, fulfilling life.
First session
Your first session is a dedicated space for us to connect and look at the full picture of your life. Through a biopsychosocial-spiritual lens, we will talk through your emotional well-being, physical health, support systems, and spiritual or personal values. We'll cover a lot of ground with some initial questions, but we’ll move at a speed that feels comfortable for you. There’s no need to have all the answers mapped out—just come as you are, and we’ll figure out the next steps together.
Strengths
My greatest strength as a clinician lies in my integrative, person-centered approach. I don't believe in a one-size-fits-all model. My practice centers on actionable, goal-driven therapy designed to give you everyday tools. By combining CBT, DBT, Motivational Interviewing, and mindfulness with psychoeducation, I help demystify mental health so you gain clarity on your patterns and motivation. Delivered through a trauma-informed, strengths-based lens, my approach honors where you’ve been while building on what you already do well. We’ll work together to develop practical coping skills, harness your internal drive, and track meaningful progress along the way.
Ideal clients
I am best positioned to serve individuals who are seeking clear, practical support for managing emotional, mental health, or behavioral challenges. This includes people who: Want to understand their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors better. Are motivated to learn skills and strategies to cope with stress, anxiety, depression, or relationship difficulties. Appreciate structured approaches that include goal-setting and skill-building, such as CBT, DBT, or psychoeducation. Are open to exploring their own motivations and values to make meaningful changes, as in Motivational Interviewing. May feel stuck, overwhelmed, or uncertain about how to begin improving their mental wellness. Desire support in building resilience, emotional regulation, or interpersonal effectiveness. Prefer clear explanations and practical guidance that can be applied to everyday life situations.
Treatment methods
Christian Counseling
Used when asked by the client. This can include Bible-based or include prayer and spiritual strength.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
In practice, CBT typically involves: Assessment: Understanding the client’s issues, thinking patterns, and behavior. Goal Setting: Collaboratively setting specific, achievable goals. Identifying Negative Thoughts: Helping the client notice automatic negative thoughts. Cognitive Restructuring: Challenging and reframing these thoughts into more realistic and positive ones. Behavioral Interventions: Encouraging new behaviors that reinforce positive thinking and reduce distress. Homework: Assigning tasks or exercises between sessions to practice new skills. Monitoring Progress: Regularly reviewing progress and adjusting interventions.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
Individual Therapy: Focuses on addressing personal challenges, emotional regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. Skills Training: Clients learn specific skills in groups or individual sessions, divided into four core areas: Mindfulness: Cultivating awareness and living in the present moment. Distress Tolerance: Building the ability to tolerate and survive crises without making them worse. Emotion Regulation: Understanding and managing intense emotions more effectively. Interpersonal Effectiveness: Improving communication and relationship skills.
Motivational Interviewing
MI involves: Expressing Empathy: The therapist listens carefully and shows understanding of the person’s feelings and perspective without judgment. Developing Discrepancy: Helping the individual see the gap between their current behavior and their personal goals or values, which builds motivation to change. Rolling with Resistance: Instead of confronting resistance directly, the therapist acknowledges it and gently guides the conversation, avoiding argument or pressure. Supporting Self-Efficacy: Encouraging belief in the ability to change by highlighting past successes and strengths.
Psychoeducation
psychoeducation typically includes: Providing Information: Explaining the nature of the condition or challenges clearly and in an understandable way. Normalizing Experiences: Helping clients realize that their feelings or symptoms are understandable and shared by others. Teaching Coping Skills: Offering practical tools and strategies to manage symptoms, reduce stress, and improve daily functioning. Promoting Treatment Engagement: Clarifying how treatments work and encouraging adherence to prescribed plans. Involving Families: Educating family members or caregivers to create a supportive environment and improve communication and understanding.
Location
Virtual sessions
Identifies as
Christian
White
Woman
Top specialties
Anxiety
Depression
Self Esteem
Other specialties
ADHD
Crisis Intervention
Parenting
Peer Relationships
School Issues
Self-Harming
Spirituality
Suicidal Ideation
Serves
Adults (18 to 64)
Individual Therapy
Man
Teenagers (13 to 17)
Woman
Doesn't specialize in
Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP)
Biofeedback
Chronic Illness
Couples Counseling
Couples Counseling
Dissociative Disorders
Domestic Violence
Family Therapy
Family Therapy
Feminist
Gender-affirming therapy
High Clinical Acuity
Hypnotherapy
Imago Relationship Theory
LGBTQ
Neurofeedback
Obsessive-Compulsive (OCD)
Polyvagal Therapy
Racial trauma treatment
Sex Therapy
Transpersonal
Licensed in
OregonLicense L16895