Portland Therapy Center
C.J. Sanders

C.J. Sanders (she/her)

Licensed Marriage Family Therapist

OR #T2235

Come have the conversations that will help you build a life together! My practice focuses on premarital and early relationships.

Client Status

accepting clients

Contact

503-389-6320

Portland, 97239

Email Website

At a Glance

Me

Rate: $150

Provides free initial consultation

Provides telehealth services

Practicing Since: 2014

Languages: English

Services

  • Relationship

Insurances Accepted

  • Out of Pocket

My Ideal Client

People come to me because they are trying to create an exceptional relationship. The people I work with are creative and hardworking and generally aren’t satisfied with the ordinary but are looking to experience wild love and deep connection within themselves, their partner, and the world around them. The program I have created is good for engaged couples, queer couples looking for an affirming environment, and any couple wanting to grow and build skills in healthy relationships!

What I Specialize In

After ten years of working with couples I have decided to focus on premarital or early commitment counseling to help couples build the type of partnership that they crave. We cover topics identified for relationship satisfaction like conflict & communication, finances & household matters, sex & intimacy, lifestyle, and love languages. We also go deeper into how to navigate differences, form a secure attachment, and address concerns that you may have. This is a structured program of 10-12 sessions where there is education, handouts, homework, and lots of interaction. You will get a chance to practice the skills you are building. You will start with a comprehensive questionnaire to help us assess your strengths and challenges. Then we will decide together how we want to use our time--I am flexible and able to provide you and your partner with a a process tailored to you! This is a fun and meaningful experience that will help you feel confident and connected.

My Personal Beliefs and Interests

I knew early in my career that I wanted to focus on couples. Every joy and tragedy of our lives are played out on the stage of our intimate relationships. When couples are strong and healthy there is a ripple effect on the rest of the family, community, and the world. I view the work that my clients and I do together as vital to creating the kind of world we all want to live in—one characterized by more skillful loving, increased connection and less conflict.

Techniques I Use

Specialties

  • Couples Counseling External link

    Healthy couples are my passion! Couples work is a commitment to go deeper in your relationship and yourself. We will explore the ways you each connect and the barriers that you encounter when connection doesn't go well. It is often the differences couples have that create problems so we will tackle the issue of how to me a "me" in a "we". I'll throw in some of the latest research in neuroscience so that you will learn to calm and soothe and your relationship will have the space to flourish.

  • Psychodynamic  External link

    My education and training is in Psychodynamic theory and clinical practice. I get curious about your early relationships and patterns of relating insofar as it impacts and repeats with your current relationship. I am adept at identifying "triggers" from your past that are blocking connection and wreaking havoc in your communication. I help my couples become experts at learning each others internal world and all that they carry into the relationship which increases empathy and bonding.

Issues I Treat

Specialties

  • Premarital Counseling External link

    Finding your person is only the beginning—learning how to love your person is a lifelong endeavor! This is your most important relationship—let’s work together to build a solid foundation and provide you with tools that will last a lifetime.

  • Relationship / Marriage Issues External link

    I see couples early in their relationship who want to build their understanding and skills about healthy partnership. This could be dating couples or couples early in their marriage who are struggling with how they thought things would be. I offer a short term program to help couples learn and discover vital skills, tools, and awareness to strengthen themselves and their partnership.

Contact C.J.

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