About me
Welcome! My name is Dr. Catherine Crew, Licensed Psychologist (Oregon #2806 and Washington #61133203). I practice from an integrative approach with a foundation in contemporary Gestalt therapy. In Gestalt therapy, the goal is to increase self-awareness and make more meaningful contact with the self and others. We'll achieve these goals through the vehicle of the therapeutic relationship.
I operate from the idea that our whole self is made of many parts, some working harmoniously and others in conflict with each other. Often these conflicting parts of the self can look like and contribute to intrusive mental symptoms, addictive behaviors, or unsatisfying relationship patterns. We can shift these parts when we start to treat them with curiosity and acceptance rather than by pushing them away. I also use Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR), an evidence-based approach that successfully treats a wide range of symptoms that originate from traumatic experiences. "Traumas" are defined as as both major life threatening events or as relationship lessons learned that reorganize emotions and beliefs about yourself. EMDR is highly effective at creating major shifts in emotions, beliefs, and somatic experience impacted by traumas. I integrate the parts perspective from Internal Family Systems (IFS) with EMDR because it increases effectiveness and makes the work resonate on a more personal level. Additionally I am a registered yoga instructor and practitioner. I am passionate about continuing to integrate somatic practices into my work and hope to expand these offerings in the future. Both personally and professionally, I have witnessed the incredible importance of the mind-body connection in the healing process. Thus, I encourage the use of mindfulness practices in and out of sessions. I graduated from Pacific University with a doctorate in clinical psychology in 2015. My clinical experiences in graduate school and residency took place in college counseling and community mental health centers. I am committed to providing culturally competent therapy and continue to seek experiences that challenge my privilege and worldview. I enjoy working with young adults and the exciting identity transformation that often occurs in this time of life. Both my thesis and dissertation focused on the interaction between social media use, addiction, and relationships. |