Aileen McAteer

I have a natural curiosity to hear people’s stories and a fascination with the human spirit, which has drawn me towards the therapy field. Since 2011, I have been working with folks facing various forms of oppression and feel drawn to advocate for those who haven’t felt they have a voice. I have witnessed the strength of people’s own inherent wisdom and feel honored to be a part of someone’s development.

My focus since the start has been using an anti-oppressive practice and striving towards increasing equity in the therapeutic relationship. Much of my experience has been with those in the criminal justice system and I have noticed the power in giving space to people who have experienced punitive institutions. I use attachment theory in therapy and focus on developing a positive relationship as the roots for growth. I pull from a variety of methods, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Internal Family Systems. I have been trained in strategies specific to PTSD such as Dreamwork and Nightmare Therapy for PTSD and Mindfulness techniques.

I began counseling for those with addictions and received my certification in alcohol and drug counseling (CADC II) in 2012. I went on to Portland State University to obtain a Masters in Social Work from Portland State University in 2017 in addition to completing a certification course in Trauma-Informed Services. I have seen multiple types of trauma, from working with women inside a prison, veterans at the VA DBT clinic and women residing at a domestic violence shelter.

I completed EMDR training in May 2022 and am currently working on obtaining a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional certification, where I take courses in different modalities such as Internal Family Systems, Sensorimotor Therapy, and CBT along with a few other evidence based practices geared toward trauma treatment. This collection of classes will deepen my knowledge of trauma and expand my approach in assisting folks to build their own resilience and skill set. In addition to seeing clients, I became a supervisor in November 2022. I value being trauma-informed and strengths-based in my approach. I also take effort to address the impact of vicarious trauma on helpers.