This is Kristi Mersino's avatar and link to their profile

Kristi Mersino

Offering therapy in OR
License: MS,LPC
Stress, AnxietyTrauma and abuseGriefSelf esteemDepression
8 years of experience

Your life experiences, values, culture and interests are what make you a unique individual. Sometimes people get wrapped up in fear,anxiety and feelings of isolation, and not seen or heard by others. My goal as a therapist is to assist you in overcoming obstacles to a happy and healthy life. I will focus on your unique personality and individual needs in order to provide care that enhances your quality of life and overall well-being. I meet my clients where they are and we work collaboratively to insure that you are working towards your goals and addressing your unique needs as this is your life, and you are reaching out to enhance your day to day experiences. I specialize in depression, anxiety, grief, and trauma informed practice. I offer a safe and open environment to explore & heal. We all deserve to be heard and understood, and we all have the ability to heal and live our best life!

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Maudeen Jordan

Offering therapy in OR
License: MSW,LCSW
Stress, AnxietyGriefSelf esteemCoping with life changesADHD
30 years of experience

Hello! I’m Maudeen. I have been serving as a social worker since 1972 and as a counselor since 1990. I received my graduate degree at California State University in San Jose and finished my License in Clinical Social Work in 1990. I worked with developmentally disabled children and their parents, had a private practice assisting those with depression, PTSD, anxiety and grief. I also worked with a Hospice as a Bereavement Coordinator, counseling bereaved children, individuals and groups. I have been married 37 years and we have one child. I was privileged to be a long-distance care-provider for my mother in her final years, a difficult and wonderful experience. I also learned about the necessity of consistent self-care for care-providers. I am told that I have a warm, kind and approachable style. I work from the premise that you are the expert of you. I am here to help facilitate your growth. With teamwork, I am sure that we can find the right answers for you, the right way to live your unique life and follow your unique dreams. My work is an eclectic approach, combining styles from different sources that I like because they work well. I value EMDR for PTSD and the client-centered approach of valuing your viewpoint, emphasizing your strengths, encouraging you to make small steps toward your goals. From my own experience and my work with others, I think that journaling is the quickest way to reach self-understanding, self- compassion and to reach goals that match who you want to be in this world. I enjoy giving homework, offerings of possible questions you can journal and suggestions of possible communication skills who can try with family and friends. I closed my counseling office in 2018, wrote a book and am now building an online coaching business. I would be happy to use my life coaching skills with you, if needed. I am both religious and spiritual. I honor my church. I practice meditation and yoga and see the sacred, the beauty and the validity in all spiritual practices. I believe every church, synagogue, temple, mosque is blessed by God. In my grief work, I have a specialty in helping people heal from a separation their original beliefs and the corresponding guilt. I hope that my life experience and my professional education and can assist you and help you make choices that are your own. I seek to be a good mirror and reflect back what is important to you.

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Laura Phen

Offering therapy in OR
Relationship issuesTrauma and abuseIntimacy-related issuesDepressionCompassion fatigue
24 years of experience

****Only accepting clients from Arizona at this time. I have 24 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with anxiety, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, intimacy related issues, & depression. I work with my clients to create an open and safe space where you can experience a trusting and supportive therapeutic relationship. Thank you for having the courage to reach out and for consider me to be with you in that journey.

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Kimberly Bump

Offering therapy in OR
Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesFamily conflictsGriefDepression
17 years of experience

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Oregon with 17 years of special training and experience in interviewing, counseling, and coaching clients with emotional and mental disorders. As a social worker, I help clients with stress and anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, crisis intervention & coping with grief and loss. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. Together, we will develop a treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. It takes courage to seek out a more fulfilling and happier life and to take the first steps towards a change. I am here to support & empower you in that journey.

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Vanessa Trupiano

Offering therapy in OR
AddictionsTrauma and abuseSelf esteem
6 years of experience

I am licensed in Oregon with 6 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with coping with addictions, trauma and abuse, & motivation, self esteem, and confidence. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. I will tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. Taking the first step to sign up for therapy can take courage and I am proud of you for getting started!

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Amanda McLean

Offering therapy in OR
License: LICSW,MSW,CMHS
Stress, AnxietyLGBTSelf esteemDepressionCoping with life changes
10 years of experience

I am an individual therapist licensed in Washington State with ten years of experience in therapeutic interventions with clients presenting with a variety of different concerns. These include depression, anxiety, LGBTQIA-related concerns, relationship issues including in non-traditional relationships, and stress-related, motivation, and self-esteem challenges. I have also worked with people with trauma, addictions, parenting issues, and grief and loss. I also carry the credentials of Child Mental Health Therapist and Perinatal Mental Health Specialist. My style as a therapist is warm, genuine, honest, and casual, as well as interactive. I believe that you are the expert on your situation and come with the ability to overcome challenges, even if it may not feel that way right now. You are capable of making change, and I'm here to help. I believe everyone deserves to be heard with compassion and respect. My approach to therapy combines cognitive-behavioral, dialectical behavioral, and solution-focused counseling. We will work together on your goals and needs and come up with a plan to get there. It's important to note that I only offer communication via text, including asynchronous, email-style messaging and live sessions, which are instant-messenger style communications in real time. I am thrilled that you've decided to reach out, and I can't wait to meet you, get to know you, and help you meet your goals.

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Daniel Nishina

Offering therapy in OR
Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesFamily conflictsTrauma and abuseCoping with life changes
5 years of experience

I am licensed in Oregon with 5 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, & trauma and abuse. My training and practical experience has been eclectic, touching on approaches including humanistic (relation-centered), action-centered, cognitive behavioral, narrative, and somatic. I also include in my grasp of any client appreciation for their family, social-cultural, and socioeconomic context. More recently my focus includes some emphasis on the impact of trauma. I have lived in Japan for 14 years of my adult life, as well as spent 30+ pursuing the practice of aikido, a Japanese martial art. Philosophy and Approach Every person has the natural capacity and tendency to heal and return to a healthy equilibrium. A person considering counseling is already making the first step of exercising that tendency. I believe that “loosening up” and releasing the many things we hold, particularly unconsciously, allow us to activate that capacity and return to, or discover, a healthier state of being. Top-down, this would involve uncovering our various thought patterns, reactions, and story that we have about ourselves. Bottom-up, it involves noticing and feeling - the various ways our body is in relation to how we are mentally. I hope to cultivate a relationship with each client to embody trust, safety, inquiry, and honesty, so that healing change can start in the therapy room and extend into one’s life.

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Sarah Close

Offering therapy in OR
Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesTrauma and abuseSelf esteemDepression
5 years of experience

I believe in the healing power of slowing down, staying curious, and staying related, and I bring these elements heartfully into my therapy practice. Clinically, I have experience working with children, families, adults, and couples in schools, community counseling centers, group practices, and addiction treatment facilities. I am passionate about working with adults of all ages grappling with life transitions, addiction, relationship and family challenges, and the impact of trauma across the lifespan. I operate from a Relational, Trauma-Informed approach and enjoy integrating wisdom from the Neuro-Affective Relational Model (NARM) and Internal Family Systems Therapy. I gently aim to shift the focus of mental health care from the struggles and ‘problems’ we all face to the resiliency and wisdom inherent in seeking help. I have been told that my style is empathetic, intuitive, and insight-building. I consistently feel honored to be a part of my clients’ brave journeys back home to themselves. I come to BetterHelp with professional experience teaching, writing, and working in business. I welcome the opportunity to join you in your healing journey, and honor your bravery in seeking support.

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Brandon Miller

Offering therapy in OR
Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesFamily conflictsTrauma and abuseDepression
5 years of experience

I am licensed in Oregon with 5 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, & trauma and abuse. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. I will tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. Taking the first step to seeking a more fulfilling and happier life takes courage. I am here to support you in that process.

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This is Brenda Haney's avatar and link to their profile

Brenda Haney

Offering therapy in OR
AddictionsRelationship issuesTrauma and abuseAnger managementDepression
25 years of experience

I am licensed in Ohio and Oregon with 25 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with coping with addictions, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, & anger management. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. I will tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. Taking the first step to seeking a more fulfilling and happier life takes courage. I am here to support you in that process. Brenda

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How to find counseling in Athena

Finding the best therapist close by in Athena can feel challenging, but know that once you narrow your search for a counselor serving your area, you can find a therapist in your city that is accepting new clients and fits your goals. Whether you're struggling with depression, anxiety, marriage, family issues, or other emotional challenges, feel proud that you have begun your search to find the mental health care services that work best for you in order to begin your personal journey towards emotional healing.

Understanding the type of therapy you'd like to search for is crucial before finding a therapist or psychologist in Athena. Perhaps you're interested in narrowing your search for a psychotherapist that can offer psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), talk therapy, provide group therapy, marriage and family therapy for individuals or couples, or couples therapy. Each type of therapy can offer various benefits and address or treat different disorders. If you're still unsure or are new to counseling in Athena, feel free to contact the provider via email to find out which methods they practice.

It is also important to understand that mental health professionals in the United States are accredited to provide care, helping individuals and couples, with a variety of licenses. These include licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT), licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), and clinical psychologist or doctor of psychology (PsyD). Regardless of their licensure, they are trained to treat individuals and couples counseling, and sometimes children, in any type of therapy. Find a therapist under any of these distinctions and know that the sessions they offer can provide a safe place to heal.

Mental health professionals working through their own in- person therapy practice in Athena or online may assist clients in improving healthy relationships, communication skills, working through life transitions, managing a mood disorder, improving coping skills, or change in negative thinking patterns. They may also provide a safe place and validation for clients experiencing emotional pain. Verified providers can provide licensed marriage and couples therapy, tailor to individual needs, and create a therapeutic relationship as a National Certified Counselor.

There are all kinds of therapists working with clients today across the United States and in the greater Athena area in different types of therapy, including:

  • CBT
  • DBT
  • Substance use therapy
  • Couples therapy

When you're ready to start your search and find therapists, have in mind what type of therapy you'd like your provider to be most experienced with and choose an experienced provider with a practice located near you in the city of Athena, elsewhere in Umatilla, or in the greater state of Oregon.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Some other commonly asked questions on therapy with a licensed counselor and BetterHelp serving the Athena area can be found below:

How does the cost of in-person counseling compare to the cost of BetterHelp with a licensed Athena therapist?

The average price of an in-person therapy session in the US is $100 to $200 per hour. These prices may be higher in Athena due to a higher cost of living. The price also depends on the type of provider you are looking for. See the following average prices for various mental health providers without insurance:

  • Counseling with a psychiatrist: $150-$500
  • Counseling with therapists: $100-300
  • Therapy with a psychologist: $100

While many psychologists in Athena may not take health insurance, some in the state of Oregon may work on a sliding scale, meaning they'll factor in your income and charge what you can afford per session. With BetterHelp or clinicians throughout the state of Oregon you can expect significantly more affordable options, with sessions ranging from $65 to $100 per week (billed every four weeks).

How is a licensed therapist on this online therapy platform verified?

Therapists in Athena, Oregon working on BetterHelp are licensed, trained, experienced, and accredited as a doctor of psychology (PhD / PsyD), licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFT), licensed clinical social worker (LCSW / LICSW), or licensed professional counselors (LPC). All of these psychology clinicians have a Masters Degree or a Doctorate Degree in their field of psychology sciences, and follow the APA Code of Ethics. They have been qualified and certified by their state's professional board after successfully completing the necessary education, exams, training and practice with a patient, and extensive experience in a healthcare clinic or treatment centers, in order to become a mental health provider. While their lived experience, expertise, careers, and background vary, they all possess at least 3 years and 1,000 hours of hands-on experience with adult and sometimes teen patients, and have the necessary therapist credentials to provide a safe space for long lasting emotional healing in therapy. 

Please note BetterHelp does not offer or provide care from psychiatrists to prescribe a drug as treatment, or perform psychological assessments.

How does working with a counselor in BetterHelp online therapy sessions work?

BetterHelp clinicians treat clients online across the United States (individuals and couples) through life transitions, inner child exploration, long term depression or anxiety, and more. An online mental health professional, including the therapists in Athena above, can work with young adults, children, adolescents, and adults virtually as an accredited licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) or licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT). You do not have to commute to a an office as a psychotherapy client.

Through BetterHelp therapy, you can partake in video, phone, or live chat therapy sessions with your licensed therapist. You can work through various symptoms, use the in app journaling feature, and receive worksheets. You'll also find support groups or group therapy lead by a therapist in Athena helping individuals on topics including managing life transitions, symptoms affecting sexual health, behavioral health, coping skills for anxiety or depression, trauma, stress, marriage counseling, and more. 

What mental health issues can psychotherapy address?

BetterHelp's verified Athena therapists specialize and have clinical experience in a wide range of mental health issues and modalities, helping clients to feel better and improve their lives every day. See below for examples.

Specialties on BetterHelp include:

You may also be struggling with relationship problems that could be addressed in couples therapy or with a sex therapist. In that case, you may choose to work with one of BetterHelp's experienced cognitive-behavioral therapists or licensed marriage family therapists (LMFT) who work with clients in relationships. You can also try a Athena therapy provider through BetterHelp's sister platform, ReGain, which is dedicated to couples and spouses worldwide. 

How do I know if online counseling is right for my family?

One of the potentially rewarding aspects of working with a therapist is the validation and active listening they can provide. Your friends and loved ones may also be available to listen, but you may feel that they may lack the skills to provide objective guidance. Counselors are trained to respond to various concerns, symptoms, and mental health conditions.

A psychologist in your city can support you toward a healthier emotional state, regardless of your mental health, life concerns, or healing needs. While supporting individuals in developing healthier habits, another good benefit of therapy is having an understanding, safe space with a non-judgmental party who can support you through challenging experiences.

Many people have sensitive topics that they may feel ashamed to discuss with their friends or partner. A Athena therapist can help you confront these concerns and open up through unique methods of support. There are also many types of therapy, such as art therapy, where you may find you can express yourself through creativity instead of words.

With a lot of people in OR, providers may be booked out with clients. Through the list of profiles above and others within BetterHelp's team, you may be able to find a psychologist within 24 to 48 hours. If you're searching to find a a nearby psychotherapist close to 97813 or the surrounding zip codes, consider others available through the BetterHelp site. No matter if you are seeking help in your area or beyond, online therapy can be a great option.

How should I prepare for my first therapy session with a Athena counselor?

Before seeing your therapist, prep for your session by reading to understand the therapy process. You might write a list of questions you want to ask your psychotherapist, any emotional pain you may feel, and the ways in which you hope to improve. When you attend your session, let them know if you have any concerns about therapy or feel unsure about what to talk about. They may help guide you with open-ended therapeutic questions. The first session will often serve as an intake to get to know you as a person and learn why you're attending therapy.

Should I find a therapist or psychologist if I feel fine? 

Some simply don't feel the need to see a psychologist. However, some people may avoid attending therapy due to stigma or preconceived notions of what therapy entails. Although psychologists often support people with mental health conditions, you do not need a diagnosis or condition to attend therapy. You can discuss grief, relationship concerns, stress, or life changes and ask for general feedback and advice. A Athena licensed clinical social worker may help you gain power over your life and emotions while you navigate day-to-day experiences.

Gaining a new perspective on yourself through various therapies might allow you to improve your self-esteem, work through relationships, and gain a better sense of your mental health goals. The success you may find through therapy can be dependent on your process.

People may also attend therapy for specific motives, such as bullying, an autism diagnosis, a desire to learn mindfulness meditation, personality concerns, trouble with office workers, specific phobias, and many other principles.

Is mental health care and therapy worth it? 

Therapy is effective and has the power to change individuals' lives. Each client is at a different stage of their emotional healing journey in life, as each human can be unique in their personality, expression, skills, and goals. A psychologist can target various symptoms, experiences, and personalities to help you feel your best and put you on the path to healing. Unlike advice from a friend, family, or non-professional, a mental health professional has an understanding of various disorders like ADHD and depression with many hours of experience in treating adults in their practice. For this reason, seeing an evidence based psychologist in Athena, Oregon can be worth it. Over 41 million adults in the US attend therapy services each year, showing it's a popular option and is proven to be effective.

Athena has many clinicians who practice person or client-centered individual therapy in-person and through online therapy to assist clients in their healing journey. If you opt into online therapy, you might also be able to meet with providers all over the United States and change therapists easily at any time. Many people struggling with anxiety and depression, substance abuse, body image issues, and more find therapists that are a good fit for them, feel supported, and gain further insight into their lives through internet-based therapy.

Do therapists judge you in therapy sessions?

The boundaries between you and a therapist are in place to help you and them regarding ethical concerns. Mental health professionals are held by ethical standards through the American Psychological Association (APA) and are not allowed to judge or harm their clients. If you are concerned about sharing details about yourself, feel free to withhold personal information. Their job in the therapeutic relationship is to create a safe place, help you gain a deeper understanding of your mental health, and support you. You might consider changing counselors if you don't feel safe or respected.

Stay up to date with the leading online counseling platform

To stay up to date with BetterHelp's initiatives through their social channels, you can follow them on Pinterest, LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. For mental health tips, check out the BetterHelp YouTube channel.

Take some time today to learn more about the team of therapists at BetterHelp to understand the services available to you clearly. If you are new to therapy or have any questions about the services and terms, please reach out through the contact page or send an email to contact@betterhelp.com.

If you’re ready to sign up for online therapy, consider signing up with a platform like BetterHelp and get matched within 24 to 48 hours.

If you are experiencing a crisis or emergency, don't use this site's online services. If you are in life-threatening danger, call 911. If you require support for a crisis, reach out to the hotlines below:

A woman meets with a therapist online in her home city of Athena.

Below are some of the zip codes served by BetterHelp therapists in Athena:

97813

Popular cities near Athena, OR

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