Ken Steinbacher Counseling, LLC

I work to center the needs of queer, trans, gender nonconforming, BIPOC and all people living with marginalized identities. This means I am curious about your individual story and won't make assumptions and push any agenda. I welcome discussions of how our identities, be they shared or not, affect how we navigate the work and the world. I am rooted in a liberatory, queer and feminist theory, incorporating social justice and anti-oppression into our work. I am intentionally anti-racist and acknowledge we live in a society founded in white supremacy. I am body-neutral which means I will not pathologize your body. I have trained in providing assessments and letters for gender affirming care. I'm asked if I work with straight people and the answer is yes. My straight clients often find that challenging societal assumptions is a fertile place for their growth too! The most important part of your therapeutic work is the relationship between you and your counselor. I am here to hold safe space, check in with your feelings, sometimes offer gentle challenges, and be part of your understanding yourself more while recognizing the ways our culture could actually be the problem. I also approach our work from a Narrative Therapy perspective. As its name implies, we will work on your story and how we define our lives through our learned history. Additionally, most of us have experienced trauma somewhere in our lives; I am trained in Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET) to help your feel less burdened by these trauma stories. In my free time I like to relax with friends, cook meals, and imagine where I might someday get to travel again. I've been in Portland for a long time and love being part of this community. For other counseling professionals, I currently offer clinical supervision for pre-licensed registered counselors and professional consultation. Please schedule a free consultation to discuss your needs.