Elisa Doebler-Irvine

I have been a counselor for over 28 years seeing individuals, couples and families across the lifespan and from all walks of life. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor in Oregon. I completed my master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from Lewis & Clark College and a PhD specializing in Marriage & Family Therapy from Kansas State University. I also completed a two-year post-graduate program in Clinical Human Sexuality at the Menninger Clinic. This blend of training has been useful as I help my clients address both individual and relationship issues (whether their partner joins them or not). I find that, often, the individual and relationship struggles overlap. I have worked in traditional out-patient mental health settings, residential treatment, private practice, forensic assessment and consulting as well as taught for several universities. During my years as a counselor, I have worked with clients struggling with a wide range of issues including those related to depression and anxiety, adjusting to life changes, relationships, parenting, eating and body image, trauma, substance abuse, anger management, divorce/separation, and sexual abuse. My counseling style is characterized by collaboration and respect. I tend to have a client-centered view and use psychodynamic and cognitive-behavioral strategies. I believe that the systems of which people are a part (family, social, and cultural, for example) have a significant impact on their health and happiness as well as their pain and distress. Commonly, people set out to solve a problem only to have the solution turn out to be unhelpful or even unhealthy over time. I focus on helping clients address the original issues so as to let go of the now-troublesome solution. I have a deep interest in Positive Psychology and believe that there are many ways in which people can increase their own well-being and happiness in their daily lives. I incorporate many interventions from this field into my counseling practice. It can be that removing the pain or discomfort in life doesn’t necessarily bring deep happiness and well-being. There are many ways to enhance this in one’s life to create resilience when future challenges show up. If this sounds like a fit with your needs, let’s get started!