paula’s story

Hey, I’m Paula (she/her). I believe time is the most precious resource we have, so I want to start by thanking you for spending some of your time reading about me. Hopefully you find these words clarifying and helpful. I know firsthand that looking for a therapist can be overwhelming, but often getting started is one of the hardest parts, so congratulations on making it to this point.

If therapy is a journey, working with me would be like having a virtual road-trip partner who isn't going to criticize your driving. You get to pick the route, but I'll point out some interesting sights along the way and help you navigate if you start to feel lost. I believe most people come to therapy with the basic skills, strengths, and answers they need to feel better. They just need a safe place and a little support to discover and develop them.

I knew early on that I didn't want to follow the path society expected me to travel, but it took me a while to find my way. I grew up in a working-class family in St. Louis and moved to Portland about ten years ago because I never felt at home in Missouri. I left behind some amazing people, and I often think about how a lot of the choices we make involve an element of loss, even when we can look back and say with certainty they were the right decisions. In addition to being a therapist, I've worked as a line cook, nurse, and young adult author. I've been privileged enough to visit 5 continents, but I think the Oregon Coast is one of the most breathtaking and restorative places in the entire world. Whenever I feel lost, I find myself drawn back there. I also find nourishment and meaning from hiking, kayaking, painting, writing, and caring for my 2 elderly cats.

Now for the professional stuff:
Grief is one of my primary specialties and I work with clients experiencing the death of a person or pet, breakup, divorce, family estrangement or incarceration, loss of job, loss of home or homeland, miscarriage, abortion, loss of mobility or change in health status, life-transitions, radical shift in worldview, as well as the cascade of losses people continue to experience from the Covid-19 pandemic and ongoing climate destruction. I work with clients in all stages of grief, whether you are reeling from impact, sifting through the wreckage, or years out from your loss and trying to find a way forward in a life that doesn't feel whole anymore. I've completed multiple trainings taught by Megan Devine, David Kessler and other nationally renowned grief experts. I also have lived experience and specialized training in anxiety, ADHD, and addictive disorders and consider those specialty areas as well.

I have a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Adams State University, a Bachelor and Master of Science in Nursing from Goldfarb School of Nursing, and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Washington University in St. Louis. Before coming to Sprout, I worked for 3 years as a short-term counselor on the Oregon Behavioral Health Support Line, 2 years taking crisis calls on over 24 local and national crisis lines, and 2 years as a psychiatric and substance use nurse at Cedar Hills Hospital.

I use several different therapeutic modalities and enjoy working with clients to build treatment plans that are specific to their needs. I have training and experience using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Exposure and Response Prevention, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (skills training), mindfulness strategies, and polyvagal theory. I recently completed an EMDRIA-approved Somatic and Attachment Focused EMDR training. I look forward to using EMDR and somatic exercises to help clients who struggle with PTSD, anxiety, depression, and more as I pursue EMDR certification in 2025. I am currently working under the clinical supervision of Sarah Poulisse, LCSW.

See our fees and insurance page to determine if Paula is in network with your insurance plan.

You can reach Paula directly at paula@sprouttherapypdx.com