About Justin

A man with glasses and a beard outdoors, wearing a patterned shirt, smiling near a tree and water.

Who I Am

I’m a therapist, supervisor, and educator based in Portland, Oregon. My work is rooted in relationship not just as a theory, but as a way of being.

I believe therapy isn’t about fixing what's broken. It's about meeting what’s real: grief, joy, stuckness, transformation, questions without answers and making space to move with it, not around it.

Clients often describe me as calm, thoughtful, and direct. I hold space with care, but I’m not afraid to ask hard questions or stay with discomfort. Therapy with me is relational, present, and sometimes even surprising. It's work, but it's also deeply human work.

A man wearing sunglasses and a colorful Hawaiian shirt making a thumbs-up gesture, standing in front of a large white poster for the 3rd World Congress of Existential Therapy, held in May 2023, with directional signs for conference rooms and other event details.

“There is a crack in everything. That is how the light gets in.”
- Leonard Cohen

My Training & Credentials

  • Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)

  • Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)

  • Adjunct Professor at Lewis & Clark College’s Graduate School of Education and Counseling

I have experience working with individuals, couples, and families navigating life transitions, identity shifts, trauma, grief, relational conflict, and the challenges of being human in a complex world.

Theoretical Orientation

My approach is rooted in how we make meaning, how we relate to others, and how the worlds we come from (like our families, culture, history, and experiences of power) influence who we are and what we believe is possible.

I don’t see therapy as a place to fix symptoms or apply quick strategies. I see it as a space to slow down, be curious, and reflect, so that any changes we make fit your life and support the direction you want to move in.

Why I Do This Work

I’ve seen how powerful it can be to have someone show up with you, especially when things feel uncertain, heavy, or hard to name.

I do this work because people deserve space to be heard, to not have to hold it all together, and to make sense of what’s going on in a way that fits them.

Not every struggle needs a diagnosis. Not every question needs an answer. Sometimes what’s needed is a steady place to land and someone to work through it with.

If you’re looking for that kind of space, I’d be honored to talk with you.