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. _____________________________________________________ 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. _____________________________________________________ THEORETICAL ORIENTATIONS: (Approaches to Counseling) I practice from an eclectic mixture of several 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. _____________________________________________________ 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