About Us

Welcome! It can be scary to seek out a counselor when you’re struggling. I am proud of you for taking this first step in looking for a therapist who will be a good fit for you!

My name is Steph. I graduated with my bachelor’s in Psychology from the University of Minnesota in 2016, followed by a Master’s in Social Work at Rutgers University in 2022. My clinical focus is work with college students and emerging adults, ages 16-30, but I love meeting with individuals, families, and couples outside of this niche population as well. My lens is holistic, meaning I believe that each piece of our identity – our biological self, our psychological self, our social self, and our spiritual self – are connected.

I practice cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and emotions-focused therapy (EFT), with hints of family systems therapy (FST) and accelerated exposure dynamic psychotherapy (AEDP) sprinkled in. This simply means that in our sessions we will look for the connections between how you think and how you feel. We will work together in understanding your emotional triggers

and learn skills for regulation. We will explore your past wounds and how they may be impacting your present self. Our work will be goal-oriented, and I often give short “homework” assignments in between sessions. Some of my clients like to bring a journal and pen with them when we meet. If that all sounds a little overwhelming, remember, I’m with you every step of the way.

About me personally – My husband and I married right out of college and have never looked back. We enjoy travelling together and spent a year abroad in England recently. I attend church, but more religiously attend my favorite coffee shop. I am most commonly found on a hike with my therapy-dog-in-training, Rosemary, or in my reading nook with a cup of good joe. I love to write, I love strategy board games like Wingspan, and I love cooking. I’m an old soul, most say, and I think you’ll find that I am personable and set you at ease. My greatest ambition as a therapist is for you to leave each session feeling known and hope filled.

I fully believe that mental health plays a role in every single area of a human life. I witnessed this universal rule play out when I worked in a residential facility for those who struggle with severe, persistent mental illness (SPMI). It can be easy to overlook, or even forget, the power of your psyche as you’re moving through a typical life, but there was no way for me to deny it as I watched the residents try their hardest every day. It was a simple, but a profound, lesson.

Over twenty years have passed since then. My position in healthcare has changed over time, but I still recognize that framework in action every day: my friends, my colleagues, and my patients all remind me. Running Conifer Wellness is my opportunity to facilitate psychological growth and strength for far more people than I ever could help on my own.

Hello there and Welcome to the Conifer Wellness page! I am so proud of you for making a big step in your mental health journey by looking for a therapist that works best for you. I’m a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and believe strongly in making sure people have the tools to live their best life. Together we can find resources, coping skills, support systems, and interventions that work best for you. My theoretical approach to therapy is strengths based, and I utilize trauma informed cognitive-behavioral techniques during sessions. I am trained in using EMDR, and carefully apply it once a foundation of stability and safety is in place.

I believe that we’re on the path towards healing together and you’re leading the way. I’m here to help meet your goals and will ask what works best for you throughout our sessions to ensure that we remain on the same page and I am meeting your needs. I believe that everyone is trying their best and strives to provide a supportive space in which we can make progress towards your goals. I do my best to incorporate your interests into interventions in my therapy practice to talk about the link between our emotions, thoughts, body sensations, and behaviors. I’m a bit of a geek and will definitely reference things like Star Trek or Harry Potter in sessions. Outside of work, I enjoy reading in the hammock with my dog, Sunshine. Mental Health matters, and so do you!

We seek out therapy in order to improve our lives by both creating the life we want and by pursuing the potential of who we could be. Challenges to achieving our potential can be complicated and troublesome and therapy can help to identify the parts that are unhelpful and unworthy of us and to develop a plan with actionable steps to address them. Therapy can assist to determining our strengths, values, goals and priorities as well as to identify what variables are present when happiness manifests. It will also answer the question ‘what am I doing right’?

My studies and practice specialize in depression, anxiety, and trauma related disorders as well as other various mental health challenges. Stress, anger, thinking patterns, healthy living skills (sleep, diet and exercise), interaction and relationships, grief and loss are all areas that I have proficiencies in intervention. My primary modalities of care are evidence-based treatments and strategies to include Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) and CBT based approaches such as Exposure Therapy, Behavioral Activation, Problem Solving Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy.

My goal is to assist you in overcoming the challenges and hardships life presents by individual care to your needs. Through developing a healthy therapeutic relationship, we have the potential to increase optimism, bolster hope, improve character, become disciplined in order to follow our conscience, and to develop a life that is worthwhile. Your motivation and appetite for change are welcome, and I look forward to begin working with you and in seeing all of the positive consequences that come from you getting your life in order.

“Aging is an extraordinary process where you become the person you always should have been.”

• David Bowie

Hello! My name is Brittany- I grew up on the east coast and received my Master’s in Clinical and Counseling Psychology from Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia. Seven years ago, I moved to Portland and have loved calling the beautiful Pacific Northwest home ever since. I’m a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and hold my license in the state of Oregon. I believe that meaningful change begins with a strong therapeutic relationship. I hope to earn your trust by creating a space in which you feel accepted, heard, and supported. My therapeutic style is warm, person-centered, humanistic, and trauma-informed. Over the years as a therapist, I have worked with clients around depression, anxiety disorders, PTSD, generational trauma, grief and loss, life transitions and stress management, ADHD and neurodivergence, and the LGBTQIA+ community and exploring identity.

I utilize therapeutic interventions from CBT and TF-CBT, DBT, EFT, Collaborative Problem Solving, Mindfulness, narrative therapy, and attachment-based therapy based on your own unique needs, struggles, experiences, and goals for therapy. With compassion, empathy and some humor, I am here to walk beside you as we navigate a path towards healing, transformation, and wellness in your life. Together we will identify patterns that exist in your life, build insight and coping skills drawn from your strengths, talk about the hard stuff, and celebrate the unique goodness you bring to the world.

When I’m not in the office you will most likely find me outside in nature somewhere running, hiking, or backpacking, reading a book in my hammock, playing soccer, gushing over my goofy pup, Willie, and spending time laughing with those I hold close to my heart.

Hello and welcome! My name is Aliya, and I am happy you are here beginning or continuing your journey of mental health and personal growth. I graduated with my Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Louisiana State University in Shreveport. After moving to Oregon, I received my Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology from Pacific University. I enjoy reading, writing, traveling, hiking, making and viewing art, board games, learning, and connecting with my loved ones. My initial approach to therapy is person-centered.

I believe that each person is unique and whole with distinctive challenges along their journey to inner harmony and personal growth. I work to help you identify and work through these challenges to clear the way for your overall mental well-being. Subsequently, I integrate therapeutic techniques specific to your goals, which may include: CBT, ACT, DBT, interpersonal therapy, mindfulness-based therapy, and somatic therapy. I believe that people can improve their mental health through mindfulness, self-discovery, expression, and aligning their behaviors with their personal values. My objective is to create a safe space for you to express your thoughts and emotions while collaborating with you on your journey of self-discovery, self-acceptance, and the realization of your personal goals.

As a therapist, I strive to create a safe and judgment free space, where together we can work to reach your treatment and personal goals. I utilize a person-centered, trauma informed approach to explore, challenge with care and implement tool/skill building. My areas of focus include the treatment of Anxiety disorders, Depression, Neurodiversity, Trauma, Relationships, Gender, Identity and more. I provide supportive and inclusive care regardless of culture, race, age, sexuality or gender. I look forward to meeting you to begin the next steps of your therapeutic journey.

Helen earned her B.S. in Human Development & Family Sciences from Oregon State University in 2006, and after working in the Human and Social Service fields for nearly a decade, she attended the University of Southern California where she earned her MSW. Helen has clinical experience working with individuals across the lifespan. She is a Cognitive Behavioral therapist who specializes in the treatment of anxiety, depression, stress management, and grief. Helen is an animal lover who enjoys spending time hiking, paddleboarding, crafting, and yoga.

Bob Olin, our Administrative Manager, has over 40 years of experience as a Customer Representative. He has served in multiple fields including Automotive, Security, Photography, Theater and others. Whether in offices, rehearsal spaces, at sporting events, or anywhere his career journey has taken him he has excellent team building, interpersonal, phone and scheduling skills.  Bob has found his calling since joining the Conifer Wellness team. He looks forward to every morning, talking with our clients, clinicians, and staff. Anyone who may have a question is responded to with kindness and empathy. Bob has a desire to assist with efficiency and a friendly smile! He enjoys an array of music and sports, movies, being outdoors, writing, being creative or artistic, and spending time with his family and friends.