Compassionate Lens Counseling

MY BACKGROUND: My name is Adam Elwood and I earned a Master’s Degree in Counseling Education with a focus on in relationship & family therapy from Portland State University in 2020, and a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology in 2017 also from PSU. I currently provide virtual services to individuals in the state of Oregon. I am a native Oregonian, and would describe myself as a down-to-earth person who is passionate about helping others, is diligent and obsessive about the details, and is someone who is authentic, prioritizes realistic thinking and organization, and frequently uses a sense of humor. I came to the field of counseling following a 10+ year career in early childhood education because of the desire to facilitate change in families more directly. Prior to this, I was an AmeriCorps volunteer working as a Domestic Violence Advocate, and was frequently involved in community service, LGBTQ activism, and social justice work in a variety of ways. In my free time, I love being active, spending a lot of time learning, reading, tending to houseplants, or being with family and friends, and am often on foot exploring the world, or can be found in the back yard enjoying the garden. I am also an amateur photographer which has been a consistent passion, and which is part of the namesake of my practice: Compassionate 'Lens' Counseling. _____________________________________________________ GOALS OF COUNSELING: The goals of therapy are to help you to stimulate your inner wisdom and mental process to help you understand what led to the development of your concerns or patterns, to figure out solutions, relieve your symptoms, and to work through and find better ways of managing your life now and proactively in the future. In my practice, I aspire to cultivate in all of my clients the concept of “Psychological Congruence” which means "harmony between your inner self (feelings, thoughts, & experiences), and your outer self (behaviors, expressions), which leads to authenticity, well-being, and self-acceptance." In a nutshell: I want to help you be your true, authentic self, find your inner wisdom, and help you to develop a sense of pride and acceptance with who you are as a person, limitations and all. _____________________________________________________ THE PROCESS OF COUNSELING: Working with me involves an intake process, the development of a treatment plan to identify goals, and on-going sessions where we consistently work through the issues or concerns. We will regularly evaluate your progress, refine goals, manage setbacks, and be tracking movement towards your desired outcomes. Sometimes clients come to therapy for shorter durations (6 months or less) and others stay in treatment longer (1+ years). You will be able to determine the length and course of your treatment in consultation with me, and depending on factors such as: insurance coverage, medical necessity, capacity to maintain motivation for change, or barring any unforeseen changes that could be barriers to participation. _____________________________________________________ I SPECIALIZE IN WORKING WITH: * ANXIETY: Anxious thoughts, rumination, thought spirals, catastrophic thinking, nervousness, panic, etc. * DEPRESSION: Short and long term depressive symptoms, grief and loss, difficulty with motivation, etc. * OBSESSIVENESS (OCD): Obsessive tendencies, compulsive repetitive patterns and characteristics, thought spirals, etc. * RELATIONSHIP DIFFICULTIES: Communication issues, conflict or negative repetitious cycles, partner selection, misaligned needs or wants, difficulty feeling independent or asserting yourself effectively, LGBTQ and non-traditional relationships, managing infidelity or cutoffs, determining the viability of the relationship, decoupling, etc. *This is a major focus of my work. * PARENTING: Relationship difficulties, developmental challenges, mismatched parenting styles, power dynamics, a desire to reduce conflict, wanting to increase sense of closeness within the partners/family, developmental transitions (i.e. first time parent, divorce/separation, empty nest), etc. * LIFE ADJUSTMENTS: Sudden or gradual life changes you are having difficulty getting through, unexpected or developmental changes (i.e. losing a job, entering adulthood, living independently, developing a sense of self after change/loss), etc. * PAST / ACUTE / COMPLEX TRAUMA: Current or historical experiences that influence and impact our current relationships or internal self-evaluation and self-worth. I seem to do the best work and have positive outcomes with self-referred individuals who are feeling “stuck” and seem to repeat patterns over and over but don't know why and can't seem to figure it out or change; as well as those highly motivated and able to work through the possible discomfort of the change process and it's unintended consequences; with someone who feels able and open to trying new things, and who feels comfortable working collaboratively in a therapeutic relationship to invest in cultivating and embodying your most authentic sense of self. (Note: This description is not intended as a requirement to work with me, but rather an indication that we might be a good fit. I have worked with all kinds of different people with different needs with great success, so feel free to reach out and inquire if you have questions about the potential goodness of fit.) _____________________________________________________ THEORETICAL ORIENTATIONS: (Approaches to Counseling) I practice from an eclectic mixture of several well researched, evidence-based theoretical orientations that will be adapted and tailored to your individual needs and clinical presentation, and will largely depend on your specific concerns, the desired length of treatment, and your goals of counseling. Below I present some examples of ways I approach counseling: * PSYCHODYNAMIC PSYCHOTHERAPY: An in-depth, talk-based approach designed to help you understand how past experiences and unconscious patterns shape your current behavior, emotions, and relationships. This insight-oriented therapy aims to resolve deep-seated issues (i.e. attachment relationships, communication, self-esteem, emotional regulation etc.), and promote long-lasting personal change and emotional healing. * COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY (CBT): Is used to help understand and target specific thought or behavior patterns you want to change such as rumination, catastrophic thinking, or difficulty organizing yourself, your time or tasks; it often involves homework assignments * ACCEPTANCE & COMMITMENT THERAPY (ACT): Is a compassionate and mindfulness-based therapy that helps people to “unhook” from difficult emotions and to focus on living based on your core values * GOTTMAN METHOD (Family Systems): I often utilize several family systems orientations, but most often the Gottman Method for intimate relationship concerns. It is an evidence-based treatment to provide a roadmap to repair and strengthen your relationships by replacing unhealthy patterns with trust, respect, and connection * HUMANISTIC OR PERSON-CENTERED: Is a collaborative, non-judgmental approach that empowers you as the expert on your own life while providing unconditional positive regard. * DIALECTICAL BEHAVIORAL THERAPY (DBT): Is a compassionate, skills-based approach designed to help people manage intense emotions, reduce suffering, and build a life they feel are worth living. *I often use coping strategies from this approach _____________________________________________________ SERVICES OFFERED: 1.) SHORT TERM, problem-focused counseling: Here I will help you to manage acute symptoms or changes in your usual level of functioning, work through shifts in your development (i.e. becoming single, changing jobs, etc.), and developing skills and tools for managing symptoms. 2.) OPEN-ENDED, personality dynamics and relationship focused counseling: In this longer-term approach, I will help you explore a deeper sense of who you are (i.e. your attachment and communication styles, characteristic ways of thinking and being, internal conflicts, and repetitive relationship patterns, etc.) so that you can develop an understanding about why you have developed in the ways you have, and to contemplate, plan, and engage in progressive stages of change to become “unstuck” and working through repetitious patterns in new, more adaptive ways in alignment with your values. _____________________________________________________ WHO MIGHT NOT BE A GOOD FIT? * SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO BE TOLD WHAT TO DO: I aspire to help folks find their own answers, so they are meaningful and authentic to them which contributes to the long-term internal healing process. It is unethical and counterproductive for counselors to tell anyone what to do, to solve their problems for them, or completely direct the sessions beyond what is reasonable and necessary. * SOMEONE WHO WANTS A "MIRACLE:" While it would be great to have the ability to magically change your life with the wave of a wand, realistically, counseling is an on-going, collaborative process and commitment to working through your issues, so the concept of "you get out what you put in" applies here. * RELATIONSHIP THERAPY: I unfortunately DO NOT currently provide relationship therapy (i.e. couples or family therapy) at this time due to many factors. (However, I specialize in working with individuals who experience ongoing relationship difficulties, indecision, high conflict, or who want to become better at communicating and improving or sustaining healthier relationships.) * SOMEONE WANTING IFS, EMDR, ERP, CPT, BRAINSPOTTING, OR A MODALITY NOT LISTED ABOVE: These are common and currently popular (i.e. also evidence-based, commonly discussed, or frequently recommended) approaches to therapy. I DO NOT practice using these modalities, and they are out of the scope of my clinical practice and training. (However, all of the theoretical orientations which I use are evidence-based treatments that in clinical trials (comparing treatments) are often equally as successful in treating the same concerns of those who seek out these other modalities, and will depend on the specific situation and characteristics of the person.) Please feel free to reach out if you have some questions about how my approaches can help your concerns. _____________________________________________________ STATEMENT ABOUT MY IDENTITIES & SOCIAL JUSTICE LENS: As a White, able-bodied, cisgender gay man, I recognize the inherent privilege and power that I hold with my identities, as well as that of a medical professional. I strive to recognize, accept, and celebrate the identities of all others and their experiences, cultures, customs, and beliefs; and I will not discriminate on the basis of gender, sexuality, relationship structure, ability, disability status, religion, politics, nationality, or any other way. I abide by the ACA Code of Ethics. It is a personal and professional aspiration to use my privileges as a way to support marginalized communities and individuals to reach self-actualization while being active in recognizing, challenging, disrupting, and dismantling the systemic injustices perpetuated in our community and the larger world. _____________________________________________________ If you're interested in scheduling a 20-30 minute free consultation to see if we would be a good fit or to answer any of your questions, please click the "contact" button on this website, or email me at: adam@compassionatelens.com