Portland Therapy Center
Griffin Smith

Griffin Smith (She/Her)

Professional Counselor Associate

MS., NCC

Supervisor: Sarah Pattee, LMFT & Dr. Karlaina Brooke

My therapeutic approach is considered SwS, “Sassy while Supportive”. I will be both compassionate AND direct in our work together.

Client Status

accepting clients

Contact

503-489-8757

Email Website Schedule Now

At a Glance

Me

Rate: $70-$250

Provides free initial consultation

Practicing Since: 2020

Services

  • Individual
  • Relationship

Insurances Accepted

  • Out of Pocket
  • Out of Network
  • OHP CareOregon/HealthShare

My Ideal Client

I often work with couples (intercultural/bicultural, interracial, queer and BIPOC), men, and queer folks. You might be someone who is seeking support with navigating relational difficulties, racial identity development, societal expectations and narratives, deepening emotions, and challenging patterns that aren’t serving you. You might be someone who needs both comfort and challenge. You might be someone who struggles with sexual intimacy, shame around sex, or some other sexual concerns.

My Approach to Helping

My therapeutic approach is considered SwS, “Sassy while Supportive”. I will be both compassionate AND direct in our work together. My goal is to balance making sure you feel understood by me (especially when you haven’t felt this with others in your life) and also encouraging you to be accountable for the ways you perpetuate cycles and patterns that inhibit your growth. My goal in therapy is to work together to form a strong and collaborative, secure relationship that can serve as a model for your relationships outside the therapy room. Sometimes experiences and or relationships in our lives interrupt our ability to function effectively, and we may become stuck in fixed patterns and beliefs that get in our way. In more therapeutic terms, I will often use insight oriented approaches like Gestalt and Relational Psychodynamic as a framework for helping you develop awareness of your patterns and exploring the origin of your patterns, that way I can support you in changing patterns.

My Personal Beliefs and Interests

I do this work because I want to give you a space to show up and develop your most authentic self while also be held accountable. My desire to become a therapsit began during my own journey having to navigate the existential woes, identity crises, constant shame spirals and relational difficulties I experienced. Growing up, I struggled to reconcile cultural/ religious shame with my sexual identity, my desire for sex and the ways I engaged in sex. Those experiences drew me to working with sexual shame, sexuality, and sexual issues. Part of my healing journey has consisted of advocating for and and making space for my intersectional identities and the nuances and complexities that frame the way I see the world, working through difficult relational challenges, and aligning myself with my values.

Techniques I Use

Issues I Treat

Specialties

  • Relationship / Marriage Issues External link

    Navigating the rollercoaster of relationships isn't just my job—it's been a big part of my life and my journey too (it turns out I'm a human who also has experienced relationship woes!) I've ridden the waves of love alongside my clients and continue to do so in my own personal experiences. In grad school, I primarily studied relational systems and made my focus couples' dynamics. I've worked extensively with couples in my practice and have also done couples specific training.

  • Sexual Problems External link

    Let's talk about the spicy stuff! I don't just focus on issues like communication and depression. I also help couples and individuals navigate the tricky terrain of libido differences and maintaining sexual and intimate connections with one another. Before starting my private practice, I worked for a sex and couple specific group practice where I got specific training in sexual issues. In the words of Salt N' Peppa: "Lets talk about sex baby, Lets talk about you and Me, Lets talk abouuut Sex".

Contact Griffin

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