Northwest Catholic Counseling Center

Northwest Catholic Counseling Center Review

Portland, Oregon’s Northwest Catholic Counseling Center is an outpatient facility that offers an array of therapeutic services and workshops, regardless of the client’s faith or ability to pay. Three Catholic Sisters founded the center over 31 years ago. It provides individual therapy for adolescents, adults, families and couples. Programming is for people struggling with depression, anxiety and past traumas. It utilizes both evidence-based and spiritually-based counseling protocols. This is a non-profit organization strongly rooted in the social justice beliefs. Therefore, it maintains the philosophy that everyone should be able to receive proper health care, regardless of their current situation.

Treatment and Staff

Prior to the first appointment incoming clients fill out online intake forms and bring them to the in-person visit. Treatment is very collaborative and during the first sessions clients discuss their reasons for coming to counseling, and then discuss a goal plan.

Each client has an individualized treatment plan, and during the 50 minute sessions clients address issues and concerns. Therapists suggests things they can work on in between sessions. The therapy team is well versed in several treatment approaches. As a result, they are able to customize methods to accommodate their clients specific needs.

Common modalities include CBT, DBT, Motivational Interviewing (MI), Family Systems, trauma-informed care, and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). Other specializations of the staff include substance abuse, LGBTQ issues, emotional regulation, grief and loss, and issues in marriage. There are premarital and marriage counseling services that are faith based and non-spiritual. The marriage track offers three couples therapy sessions and a workshop.

Along with individual therapy, there are also a series of workshops available such as parenting, letting go of perfectionism, and working through loss.

The clinical staff of 12 is comprised of Master’s-level therapists who are LPC, LMFT, OSM and RN.

Extras

Treatment is available in both English and Spanish.

There are treatment packages that offer limited sessions for a reduced price. These sessions mainly focus on just one issue.

In Summary

The Northwest Catholic Counseling Center is a community based program that stands strong in its belief that no matter where you come from, receiving mental health care is essential. Experienced therapists facilitate treatment in a safe, supportive atmosphere. Above all, the therapy and workshops here are well intentioned and comprehensive. While the name of the facility might imply that one has to be part of a particular faith in order to seek care here, that is not the case because all are welcome. It’s an excellent resource for the Portland community at large, regardless of participants’ background, economic status or religious affiliation.