Dana Fears, LPC

She/Her

I believe that grief and trauma in all its nuances is a deeply personal, human and normal response to many types of loss that can be perfectly normal and feel awful at the same time. Grief exists at the intersection of the “mess”, and can often feel overwhelming and unmanageable, especially at the beginning. I believe that we learn to live with loss, integrating it and carrying on as it becomes a part of our narrative and I endeavor to put you in touch with your personal power navigating it. There is much to grieve over and still feel joyful about at the same time.

Anne Lamott referred to glaciers being frozen rivers that just move slowly, in the process of melting and returning to source. We often move slowly to heal from disruptions in our lives. As a therapist I hold space for this healing and these issues. I believe that returning to one’s idea of health and well-being is possible. I am person-centered, use relational and reality therapy, use narrative therapy, and enjoy accompanying you on your personal journey no matter what it may encompass.

Teletherapy and in-person.

(503) 610-3422 in the Tigard office.
(503) 286-7909 (fax)

dana@energymatterspdx.com

Work Experience

I have worked in the behavioral health field for approximately 8 years and I have been licensed for the last three years in COVID. Getting licensed at the start of COVID sure was not what I anticipated! It was definitely a defining professional moment for me when I began seeing individuals whose way of life had drastically changed. In the course of my experiences, these have included working with teens and adults and having done some family work. I have also worked in various settings, such as the community (schools and client’s homes), outpatient clinics, residential, and both private and group practice. I began my career working as a care coordinator in 2015.

Education

I graduated from Portland State University with a BA in Social Science in 2007. I then studied psychology off and on from 2007 to 2012, hoping to enter a doctoral program, but I quickly realized that I was more cut out for working as a therapist. In 2013, I studied for six months at Pacifica Graduate Institute in Carpinteria, CA pursuing a Masters of Arts in Counseling with a Jungian focus. I then changed tracks toward a more clinically focused program and enrolled at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, FL where I earned a Masters of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. This program was extremely clinically focused and they emphasized the importance of clinical practicum and internship, which I spent doing for two years in St. Helens, OR. I graduated with a 4.0 GPA in 2016, which was difficult for me because I am dyslexic.

Licenses & Certifications

I am currently a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and a Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor I(CADC) in the state of Oregon. I am licensed through the Oregon Board of Licensed Professional Counselors and Therapists, and I am registered with the Mental Health and Addiction Certification Board of Oregon. I am also a National Certified Counselor (NCC) through the National Board of Certified Counselors.

Self-Care Activities

I enjoy writing self-help and philosophic insight pieces, meditation, walking in nature, listening to music, and spending time with my husband (who is also a therapist) and my 9 month old daughter. I love Mexican and Italian food as well as making art (many different kinds). I love to tour different parts of OR and spend time on adventures when I can travel.

Issues Treated

I identify as a domestic violence survivor and will work with those survivors who are restarting their lives after they have left their abuser. I also enjoy counseling teachers (there are many in my family), therapists, healers, doctors, and nurses. I also enjoy doing work with Adults who have grown up with Emotionally Immature Parents to essentially grieve the loss of the parent they always wanted. Other communities I love to support include cancer survivors and individuals who have survived parent abduction and the loss of a relative/friend who has died by suicide.

Treatment Techniques & Approaches