Find a therapist

Recommended Steps

1. Contact therapists directly to ask about specialty, experience, services and fees to determine the best match for a child/family.
2. Check licensing boards to verify a therapist is in good standing:
   • Oregon Board of Licensed Professional Counselors & Therapists
   • Oregon State Board of Licensed Social Workers
3. Read up on interviewing & choosing therapists:

• Finding & Working with Adoption-Competent Therapists by CWLA
• Questions for adoptive parents to ask when interviewing a prospective mental health professional
• Screening Questions: When seeking an adoption competent therapist by Dr. Chaitra Wirta-Leiker, author in ORPARC's library
• Therapy plays an important role in adoptive families' lives

Additional Resources

• Animal-Assisted Therapy Packet (local, updated), available in ORPARC's library
• Directory of Statewide Certified Therapeutic Life Story Work Practitioners
• Directory of Training in Adoption Competency (TAC) Trained Mental Health Professionals
• (old) Portland State Directory of Adoptive & Foster Family Therapy Certificate Holders
• Lowcost Sliding Scale Therapists in Portland Metro Area
• Mental Health - an ORPARC Resource page
• A Need to Know: Enhancing adoption competence among mental health professionals
• Oregon Health Plan (OHP): Medical (Mental Health) and Dental Plans by County
  • OHP Client Handbook
• Oregon County & National Crisis Lines and Mental Health Resources
• Portland Therapy Center - therapist search tool (be sure to ask about foster-adoption competency)
• Stronger Oregon - therapist search tool (be sure to ask about foster-adoption competency)

NOTE: ORPARC does not refer directly to, nor license, recommend, endorse, guarantee, control or regulate any provider or agency. Please review our Mental Health Referral Policy.