Priyadarshani (Priya) Loess, Ph.D.

Finding healing through self-compassion.

I exclusively provide telehealth services and can help you check whether your insurance will provide coverage. 

Life can be incredibly painful and challenging at times, especially in the times we find ourselves in now. It is helpful to have someone in our corner, who will support and validate, as well as guide and challenge when necessary. Taking the steps to create change and a meaningful life can feel scary and sometimes we feel lost on how to go about it. Therapy can help with this.

My aim is to help you see yourself not as flawed or broken, but as worthy of compassion and acceptance.  Part of healing comes from learning to be kind to yourself and understanding that we all struggle at times. It is okay to make mistakes and learn from them. I strive to create a space of compassion and non-judgment so that I can help you to learn new ways of seeing yourself and what you are capable of. 

As a part of my approach I will help you develop self-compassion and mindfulness. Self-compassion means treating yourself with kindness, as you would treat a friend who is suffering. Mindfulness helps us learn to let go of judgment and feel more connected to the present moment. Self-compassion and mindfulness both help us find the space for difficult emotions so that we don’t have to struggle with them so much.

I am committed to understanding the richness of your experience. I am a person of mixed ethnic/racial background, and this has informed my appreciation of different perspectives. I practice from a place of cultural humility, meaning that while my lived experience, biases, and privileges place limits on my understanding of experiences outside my own, I strive to be aware of these limitations, mitigate its impact on those around me, and create an equitable and safe space for the people that I serve in therapy.

I have specific areas of focus that I like to help people with, including recovery from sexual assault and trauma, depression, body image concerns, exploring gender identity, exploring sexuality, cultivating healthy relationships, social anxiety, navigating culture and sense of self, coping with pet loss, life transitions, and understanding, regulating, and managing emotions.

I want to help you understand yourself, your strengths and challenges, and your values so that you can thrive in life.


Things I’ve Written


Treatment Approach

Orientation: My orientation is anchored in evidence-based practices, such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT). I also regularly incorporate the practice of mindfulness and self-compassion into therapy.
Modalities: Individuals

Client Focus

Ages: 18+
Special Populations: Women, LGBTQI+ affirmative, Ethnically diverse

Qualifications

Practicing Since: 2013
Degree: : Ph.D., Clinical Psychology
Year Graduated: 2019
License Number and State: Licensed Psychologist in Oregon #3188 and Washington PY61340244

Specialties

  • Sexual trauma/assault
  • Self-compassion
  • Mindfulness
  • Depression
  • Body image
  • Cultural-identity exploration
  • Gender expression and identity
  • Cultivating healthy relationships
  • Creating and maintaining healthy boundaries
  • Social anxiety
  • Coping with pet loss
  • Understanding, managing, and regulating emotions

Financial

Average Cost: $195-$250
Accepted Insurance Plans: OHP, PacificSource and I accept most other insurance as an out-of-network provider

How I can help:

Finding a therapist that you connect and feel safe with is one of the first steps in healing. If you need to explore issues related to sexual assault and trauma, depression, body image, gender identity exploration, sexuality, identity exploration, navigating cultural-identity, social anxiety, pet loss, emotion regulation, and think I might be a good match, feel free to contact me. I look forward to hearing from you.

Email Address: ploess@portlandpsychotherapy.com
Phone: 503-281-4852

To contact me, call me at 503-281-4852, or use the confidential contact form below.

What Makes Us Unique

Portland Psychotherapy is a clinic, research & training center with a unique business model that funds scientific research. This results in a team of therapists who are exceptionally well-trained and knowledgeable about their areas of specialty.