LCSW, 17 years of experience
New to Grow
Hello! I am Arwen, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 17 years' experience, committed to helping clients begin to live their best lives. Making the decision to seek help is a big step and is the beginning to changing the issues that are interfering with your daily life. I use a safe, holistic, compassionate, judgement free approach, knowing you are the expert of you. We all have past scars, but they do not need to dictate our future.
We all have times when daily life is harder than we expected. Are you dealing with natural life transitions, the upward struggles of aging, grief/loss, lack of support, feeling sad, or just need general coping skills? I have helped folks just like you return to a more supportive and stable path in their lives, and I'm here to help you as well. My focus is to help individuals heal, self-empower, and become aware of their inner strengths. I achieve this by providing a neutral safe space, listening to your concerns, focusing on how together we can best meet your therapeutic goals and customizing a treatment plan is tailored to you and your specific needs.
I believe in equality for all folks (it's not pie). I believe we all deserve love, respect and support. I believe that no human is illegal and no one human is better than another. I believe that most people are good and decent, trying to do the best they can. I believe that learning is life-long, and reading is fundamental. I believe that you deserve to feel happy. About me... I am a twice divorced mother of 6 grown children, have 3 amazing rescue pups, love reading and enjoy visiting the Oregon coast, watching movies and playing video games. I grew up in Eugene and have been in the Portland area since 2011.
I specialize in working with individuals who are experiencing depression, anxiety, women’s mental health issues including infertility, pregnancy/infant loss, perinatal mood disorders, gender identity journeys including assessments & letters for gender affirming treatment & am LGBTQIA2S affirming & competent. I utilize a variety of techniques derived from CBT, DBT, Solution Focused, ACT, Mindfulness, Interpersonal & Person-Centered therapies. I am waiting to hear from you, so we can reach your goals together.
I have been using ACT for the past 2 years to successfully help clients with embracing their thoughts and feelings rather than fighting or feeling guilty for them. Its core aim is to increase psychological flexibility. Instead of trying to eliminate distressing thoughts or emotions, ACT encourages people to accept them and commit to actions aligned with their values. ACT works well for individuals who are dealing with anxiety, depression, chronic pain, stress & burnout as well as PTSD and substance use disorders.
I have successfully used Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) with clients for the past 15 years. CBT is a structured, goal-oriented therapeutic approach that helps individuals identify and change negative thought patterns and behaviors. It focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors that contribute to emotional distress or mental health challenges. CBT works well for individuals who are dealing with anxiety disorders, depression, OCD, PTSD and chronic pain & stress management.
I became certified as a gender affirming therapist in early 2025 and have had the pleasure to work with many individuals on their gender journeys already. Gender-affirming therapy centers on providing compassionate, evidence-based mental health care that validates and supports an individual’s gender identity and expression, while addressing any emotional, social, or psychological challenges they face. It is grounded in the principles of affirmation, collaboration, and respect—helping clients explore their gender identity and make informed decisions about their well-being and transition-related goals (if applicable).
Mindfulness-Based Therapy (MBT) has been a focal point in working with clients for the past 3 years. MBT centers on helping individuals cultivate present-moment awareness, nonjudgmental acceptance, and self-compassion. It draws on mindfulness meditation practices rooted in Buddhist traditions but is adapted into modern, evidence-based psychological frameworks. Mindfulness-based therapies are used to treat a wide range of psychological and physical issues, such as stress, anxiety, depression, trauma, and chronic pain.
Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) emphasizes safety, trust, and empowerment for individuals who have experienced trauma. It is not a specific type of therapy, but rather a philosophy and framework that guides all aspects of treatment—ensuring that therapy is delivered in a way that avoids re-traumatization and fosters healing, resilience, and self-agency. Trauma-informed care can be integrated into any therapeutic modality, and I use it with CBT, ACT and Mindfulness therapies as well as with all interactions with individuals I am working with.