Theresa Russell - Porta Verum Psychotherapy Services

You replay conversations long after they're over. You notice small shifts in someone's tone and wonder whether you did something wrong. You think through every possibility before making a decision—and still question yourself afterward. You may find yourself wondering, "Why do I keep getting caught in the same patterns, even when I understand them?"

I work with adults navigating anxiety, trauma, depression, ADHD, and grief. Many of the people I work with feel things deeply and need time to process what others seem to move past quickly. You might feel overwhelmed by conflict, struggle to say what you need, or feel unsure how to move forward after a loss or life change. There's room here for the feelings you can explain and the ones you haven't found words for yet.

My own experience with therapy helped shape my interest in this work. While talk therapy benefited me in many ways, I sensed there was more beneath the surface—feelings and responses I could understand without necessarily knowing how to work through them. That curiosity drew me toward an approach that makes room for both what we think and what we feel in our bodies.

Before becoming a therapist, I worked in education. I went on to earn my master's in counseling at National University and become a licensed marriage and family therapist. My background includes residential treatment, where I supported people through trauma and complex mental health challenges.

I bring that experience into our work with warmth, curiosity, and a gentle, collaborative style. Together, we'll explore what keeps you stuck and work toward changes you can recognize in everyday life—whether that's saying what you need, taking a step you've been putting off, or spending less time second-guessing yourself.

When you spend much of your day in your head, therapy can start to feel like another place to analyze yourself. In our work, we'll get curious about what happens in the moments you feel stuck. When you want to say no but find yourself saying yes, what do you notice? A tight chest, a rush of worry, an urge to keep the peace?

My approach draws on Somatic Experiencing, bringing your body and nervous system into the conversation. Alongside talking things through, we notice patterns, sensations, and emotions that can be harder to put into words.

I have completed Advanced Somatic Experiencing training and am nearing completion of my Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP) credential. I'm also a certified yoga teacher, a background that complements my interest in the connection between body and mind.

We'll draw on different approaches depending on what you need. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can help us examine the thought patterns that keep you second-guessing yourself. Motivational interviewing gives us space to explore the part of you that wants change and the part that feels unsure. Through narrative therapy, we can look at the stories you carry about yourself—such as "I'm too sensitive"—without treating those stories as the whole truth about who you are. Sometimes, experiential work with art, writing, or dreams offers another way to explore something you haven't been able to put into words.

Through all of this, I'm client-centered: we choose your goals and direction together. My style is relational, gentle, and curious. You don't have to push past your limits or perform therapy "correctly." We'll make room to pause, notice what feels helpful, and work toward more choice in your everyday life.

You don't need to rehearse what to say or figure out which problem to start with. Our first session is a chance to get to know each other and talk about what's been hardest lately—what brought you to therapy, how it's affecting your daily life, and what you hope might change.

I'll ask about your background, what you've already tried, and what has or hasn't felt helpful. If you tend to worry about oversharing, being misunderstood, or explaining things "the right way," we can make room for that, too. You don't have to tell your whole story at once, and you can let me know when something feels difficult to talk about.

Together, we'll begin identifying what you'd like to work toward. You'll also have space to ask questions and get a sense of how I work. My hope is that you leave feeling heard, with a clearer sense of where we can begin.