Blog
Serving Those Who Have Served: Caring for veterans and their companion animals
“Thank you for your service!” How many of us have offered these words of appreciation when we see a service member in uniform? And they
It’s Not Your Fault: How the Mind Copes with Abuse by Someone Close to you
If you have been hurt by someone close to you, it’s likely you are bothered by feelings of shame. Maybe you find that it is
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Portland, Oregon
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a specific type of psychotherapy that is different from traditional “talk therapy.” A few key differences are that CBT is
Follow up on the Valkee device that shines light in your ears.
This post is a follow up to something one of our researchers wrote two years ago about a device called the “Valkee” that shines light
How to Read Your Emotions Part II: Put on Your Spec’s
Reading your emotions is all about perspective. Perspective is just a place from which you are looking at something – it’s a point of view
How to Read Your Emotions Part I: Don’t Judge a Book by Its Cover
Sometimes when you first start having a feeling, your brain will very quickly make up its mind that the emotion is somehow dangerous or bad.
What Exactly is Insomnia? (and what you can do about it)
People can experience many difficulties with sleep throughout their lives. Some people are often told by their parents that even as small children they were
Helping People Grieve with Compassion
Comfort has its limits. One of the reasons it can be so difficult to approach someone who is suffering is that it can bring us
CNN Article on Religious-Themed OCD (aka Scrupulosity)
CNN featured a nice article on a lesser known subtype of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)–Scrupulosity. This involves religious-themed obsessions, such as fear of blaspheming, fear of
A Yale Graduate Student’s Account of Her Struggle to Find Effective Treatment for OCD
At Portland Psychotherapy, we are passionate about offering evidence-based treatment and promoting training in effective treatments to other professionals. I recently came across this opinion
What Medications are Effective in OCD?
In previous posts, I’ve written about how cognitive behavioral treatment (specifically, CBT with exposure and response prevention) has been shown to be much more effective
Psychotherapy Changes the Brain, Too: A Look at PTSD Treatment
It has become fashionable nowadays in psychotherapy circles to talk about neuroscience and interventions that target the brain. Some writers refer to this bias as
Your Mind Thinks its an Expert (or Calling Dr. Rutherford)
You’ve probably noticed this already, but our minds have something to say on most topics. Some of this is pretty minor: “That iced tea looks
Are Antipsychotic Medications a Helpful Adjunct for Treating Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder?
Among people with whom I work, a practice that’s grown more common in the last few years but with iffy research support is the addition
Psychotherapy vs. Medication for OCD – Which is More Effective?
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a serious and disabling problem for many people. Understandably, many people seek out medication to help with this problem, and research
Research graveyard may come to life
“If enough data is collected, anything may be proven by statistical methods” — Williams and Holland’s Law It’s an amazing day for scientific research! Hold
New Law in Oregon: Your Rights to Bereavement Leave
People who experience the loss of a loved one are often tasked with managing life insurance and legal issues, resolving financial paperwork, planning a funeral,
Why See A Health Psychologist?
When a person has significant issues with their health it can bring many challenges, more than just how it affects their body. Just like it