Adjustment Disorder

Life is difficult, and sometimes things happen that we never expected. During difficult times, it is not uncommon to experience anxiety, depression, or changes in mood and behavior as a response to the event or change. I have worked with many individuals for many different changes they are struggling to adjust to, including job loss, a change in an important relationship, loss of their home, death of a loved one, just to name a few.

When things change in our lives it can be extremely stressful and anxiety-provoking! You are not alone in this! We can talk about every angle of this. Our goal will be to talk about our reactions to these changes and what we can do in response in a healthy and proactive way.

Does it feel like you can't quite get it together after an event or change? Even good changes, but definitely harder ones, can leave us feeling like we are in over our heads. When your usual methods of coping with stress are not quite doing the job, it's time to get some help. Even short-term therapy can provide you with lasting tools to make transitions and adjustments smoother, so you can face changes with courage and skill.

It's often in transitions that we find the parts of us who need more attention or support. Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy helps us address the parts of us experiencing concerns, which may arise in the form of panic, depression, anxiety, confusion, dissociation, anger, numbness, or resistance. These reactions are "trailheads" that will lead us to find lost, vulnerable parts of ourselves. Reclaiming these parts and their energy moves us successfully through to the other side.

What's an adjustment disorder? It's a way to capture those times when an identifiable stressor is causing symptoms that aren't truly diagnosable as a long-term"disorder". If your family is going through a time of transition (i.e. separation/divorce, moving) and your child/teen is suddenly clingy, anxious and having nightmares - they probably haven't suddenly developed "Generalized Anxiety Disorder" but an Adjustment Disorder with Anxiety. This is a short-term (and treatable!) diagnosis.

Adjustment Disorder is a common and oftentimes underdiagnosed disorder. In my work I encounter many clients suffering from rapid and overwhelming transitions in their life which can cause stress, anxiety or depressive symptoms. This disorder can oftentimes influence and changed ones self-esteem and perception of self. My clients and I work through adjustment disorder by processing feelings associated with these transitions and see them as change rather than a disruption.

It's often in transitions that we find the parts of us who need more attention or support. Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy helps us address the parts of us experiencing concerns, which may arise in the form of panic, depression, anxiety, confusion, dissociation, anger, numbness, or resistance. These reactions are "trailheads" that will lead us to find lost, vulnerable parts of ourselves. Reclaiming these parts and their energy moves us successfully through to the other side.

Change can be challenging for anyone. Using narrative, cognitive, and mindful approaches can help clients to manage even the most distressing changes in their life and increase their overall well-being.

Change is inevitable and for many individuals difficult for many people. The term disorder can be misleading because adverse reaction to change is "normal" for many people. My role as a clinician is to be that extra hand that can help a client work through the current life shift that is generating high levels of distress.

I have 26 years of experience treating clients that are struggling with life changes or transitions in life.

When things change in our lives it can be extremely stressful and anxiety-provoking! You are not alone in this! We can talk about every angle of this. Our goal will be to talk about our reactions to these changes and what we can do in response in a healthy and proactive way.

Changes are inevitable. The structure of our careers, families, and lives are in continual flux. For the most part, we roll with it and adapt over time. But sometimes, we get stuck. Dealing with adjustment, and what that means for our lives, even when the changes are celebratory ones, sometimes can be tougher than you expect. Professional support through these challenging times can be invaluable when you're feeling overwhelmed through the transitions of life.

Sometimes folks are clinically depressed or anxious and other times they are going through a period of heightened stress & anxiety that they need help coping with. Therapy is a great support for people who find themselves reacting/responding differently in everyday situations than they did before. I'd like to help you.

Worked with clients with Adjustment disorder for over 3 years.

situations cause depression, anxiety, anger, frustration and i can help you navigate these areas.

Adjustment issues that I typically treat in my practice are adjusting to life after a break up or divorce, adjusting to your new environment after college and adjusting to moving to a new city and settling in after a big move. Many of my clients are new transplants here to Portland and are in need of some support while they settle into town.