Riva Stoudt

My Background

This is the space where I could blather on about my credentials - licensed professional counselor, master's in counseling from Lewis and Clark College, past experience in mental health crisis and domestic violence, blah blah blah. But when you're reading through all these different therapist profiles, trying to figure out who's going to be a good fit, all that stuff blends together. What you really want to know is - will this person understand me? Are they just going to sit there nodding while I talk myself in circles? Are they going to be really invested in helping me? Therapy is my passion, and I love going to work every day. You'll find me to be an engaged and dynamic presence during your sessions, as well as a source of a little irreverent humor. Therapy can be illuminating, painful and confusing at times - but it can also be pretty fun! And getting started is easy - just head to my website and use my online scheduling system to book your free 20-minute consultation.

My Approach to Helping

I'm not a worksheets therapist, and my goal is to move you beyond just coping skills. You've "just coped" long enough. With warmth, energy and a sense of adventure, I will guide you in the kind of transformative process that brings the lasting change you're hoping for from therapy. If you're wondering about the therapeutic modalities I use, my work is most strongly influenced by the principles of interpersonal neurobiology, somatic psychology, and internal family systems therapy (IFS.) While therapy with me will involve a lot of talking, it's more than "just talking" - I find that these targeted approaches are very effective at shifting the stuck patterns you're coming to therapy to address. If you'd like to know more about the theory behind any of this, please feel free to ask me!