Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Therapy with Dawn is a private-pay therapy practice located in Lake Oswego, Oregon. I offer in-person therapy at my Lake Oswego office and virtual therapy for clients located in Oregon. I work with individuals and couples from Lake Oswego and surrounding communities, including West Linn, Tigard, Tualatin, and Southwest Portland.

My practice focuses on the ways our histories, relationships, and emotional experiences shape how we move through the world. Areas of focus include:

• Complex and relational trauma

• Family-of-origin and childhood experiences

• Relationship conflict and recurring relational patterns

• Anxiety, emotional overwhelm, and people-pleasing

• Religious trauma, spiritual abuse, and faith deconstruction

• Body image and disordered eating concerns

• Intimacy, sexual desire differences, and relationship transitions

• Infidelity, trust, and relationship repair

• Perimenopause, menopause, and their impact on relationships

Depth-oriented therapy explores the underlying emotional experiences, unconscious patterns, and relational histories that influence how you think, feel, and behave. Rather than focusing exclusively on symptom management, we work to understand why certain patterns developed, what they have helped you navigate, and how they may be affecting your life now.

This approach can be especially helpful if you understand your patterns intellectually but still find yourself repeating them, feel stuck in familiar relationship dynamics, or want more than another set of coping skills. The goal is not simply to manage what brings you to therapy, but to develop a deeper understanding of yourself and create meaningful, lasting change.

Yes. My approach to trauma therapy is relational, depth-oriented, and trauma-informed. I work with adults and couples exploring the effects of difficult or overwhelming experiences, including adverse childhood experiences, family dynamics, relational trauma, and experiences that have impacted their sense of safety, identity, or self-worth.

Trauma doesn't always come from one clearly defined event. Sometimes its repeated experiences of unpredictability, shame, or having your needs go unmet.

Yes. I work with adults and couples navigating religious trauma, spiritual abuse, and faith deconstruction.

Therapy can help you untangle what you were taught from what you believe, explore the impact of high-control religious environments or purity culture. You don't have to have a clear position on faith, spirituality, or religion to begin.

Yes. I offer couples therapy in Lake Oswego, Oregon, for partners who want to understand each other more deeply, interrupt recurring conflict, and build a more connected relationship.

You don't have to be on the verge of a breakup to benefit from couples therapy. You also don't have to arrive in complete agreement about what's wrong.

Yes. Differences in sexual desire, changes in intimacy, and feeling disconnected from your partner are common reasons couples seek therapy. These concerns can be influenced by stress, relationship dynamics, past experiences, body image, health changes, and different needs for emotional or physical connection.

I help couples explore what intimacy means to each partner, what may be creating distance, and have more open conversations about desire and connection.

Yes. I welcome LGBTQ+ individuals and couples, as well as people in ethically non-monogamous (ENM) relationships. My approach is grounded in a commitment to understanding your relationship within its own context rather than assuming there is one right way to build a partnership.

The first session is an opportunity to talk about what brings you to therapy, what you've been experiencing, and what you'd like to be different. We'll begin getting to know each other, discuss relevant history and current concerns, and consider what working together might look like.

You don't need to prepare a polished explanation of your life or know exactly what you need. We can start with what's happening now and build a clearer picture together.

For couples, the first session includes space to understand each partner's perspective, the relationship's history, and the concerns bringing you both to therapy.

There isn't a universal timeline for therapy, but depth-oriented therapy is not a quick fix. Rather than focusing solely on symptom relief, we work to understand the underlying patterns, experiences, and relationships that shape how you move through the world. That kind of work takes time, curiosity, and a willingness to sit with some discomfort.

Some people come to therapy for a specific concern, while others pursue longer-term work toward deeper, more lasting change. We'll revisit your goals and progress along the way, but the aim is more than feeling better temporarily.

I run a private-pay practice and do not bill insurance directly. I can provide a superbill that you may submit to your insurance company for potential out-of-network reimbursement.

Reimbursement depends on your specific insurance plan, deductible, and out-of-network benefits. I recommend contacting your insurer before beginning therapy to ask about coverage for outpatient mental health services and the reimbursement process. A superbill does not guarantee reimbursement.

My standard session fees are:

• Individual therapy: $180 for a 50-minute session

• Couples and family therapy: $200 for a 50-minute session

Longer sessions and initial appointments may have different fees. We'll discuss the applicable fee before scheduling.

I require at least a 24-hour notice to cancel appointments. If you cancel less than 24 hours before the appointment, you are required to pay the full cost of the session.

Yes. I offer virtual therapy for clients located in Oregon, in addition to in-person sessions at my Lake Oswego office. Online therapy can be a convenient option if you live outside the Portland metro area or prefer to attend sessions from home.

For telehealth, clients must be physically located somewhere I am legally permitted to provide therapy at the time of the session. If you travel out of state, please discuss this with me in advance.

No. I do not use artificial intelligence (AI) to conduct therapy sessions, record sessions, transcribe conversations, or write clinical notes.

I take care to protect the information you share in therapy, and I do not provide client information to AI tools. Our work together is human-to-human.

Yes. Your privacy is an essential part of this process, and what you share in therapy is kept confidential.

Exceptions include when required by law, such as certain safety concerns, mandated reporting obligations, or legal requirements.

I do bring Harley to work as an ‘office dog’ a few times a month. She is well trained, socialized and extremely calm. I get written and verbal consent from all clients beforehand and am always happy to leave her at home if you’re not a dog person, have allergies, or simply don’t want the distraction.