Our Staff
What you think and feel matters. We are a community of Therapists, providing support for a community of clients.
We Listen.
As we have continued in our mission to help people build lives worth living, the clinic has expanded greatly since 2010.
Our therapists are each highly trained, with years of experience in the DBT model. Within their first year of employment at the clinic, each therapist completes a 16-week DBT Foundational Training developed by Marsha Linehan, PhD, (who also developed DBT). The Comprehensive DBT online program is a rigorous, multi-month course of study. It is intended for mental health providers who want to provide DBT within the context of a full DBT program with all its modes of treatment. In the Comprehensive program, we learn about structuring individual treatment sessions, targets of treatment, case conceptualization, suicide risk assessment and management, and other protocols and strategies that are part of DBT.
Meet the individual clinicians and support staff that make up The DBT Clinic.
Click here for a list of insurance we accept.
Larry Smith (he/him)
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Owner & Founder
I’ve been engaged in the profession of Counseling Psychology since 1992. I had an internship at Columbia River Mental Health Services (CRMHS) and was hired as a staff on the Outpatient Team prior to my graduation from Lewis & Clark College in June ’93. I worked at CRMHS for eight years. I conducted individual and group therapy, supervised interns and conducted trainings in the community. I started a private practice in ’99. In ’00, I started working with The Portland DBT Clinic (PDBT), where I worked for nine years. I continued my private practice while at PDBT. In November ‘2009 I left PDBT to pursue private practice, focusing on providing DBT. I love supporting, collaborating with, teaching, listening to and asking questions of my clients in pursuit of their personal growth.
I received my Masters in Counseling Psychology from Lewis & Clark College in Portland, OR. In the beginning of my career in counseling, I pursued psychodynamic approaches. I was mentored in Object Relations and I studied Gestalt Therapy intensively for four years. However, I’ve always had the ethic to treat clients as effectively as possible. I want to provide treatments that work best and are most cost effective, just as I want if/when I’m a consumer. So, I’ve followed what research shows to be the most effective treatments. Consequently, I’ve changed my emphasis to cognitive-behavioral treatment and have become steeped in DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy). Research on this method of treatment has shown it to me more effective and efficient than standard cognitive behavioral therapy or psychodynamic methods.
When I first meet with prospective clients I conduct a comprehensive assessment to identify what their concerns are, how long the problem(s) have existed and factors affecting them. Once we are clear on the problem(s), we collaboratively establish goals, then plan an approach to get from “problem” to “solution”. We create means to monitor progress so as to determine if our approach is working.
In all the research identifying factors that affect outcomes, the most important factor is the quality of relationship between the client and therapist. The quality of that relationship is a responsibility of both the therapist and the client. Good “fits” make for good outcomes. If there are strains in the relationship, the best first approach is to try to work out the problem(s). If this is successful it is nearly invariably a healing experience. However, if, in spite of best efforts between therapist and client, the relationship just doesn’t work (maybe due to personality differences or the therapy approach doesn’t work for the client), referrals should be made. I’ve been doing this work for over three decades in this area and have had the good fortune to get acquainted with many very good providers. I may be able to provide referrals that work well with a client and potential therapist, especially as I come to know and understand people that have come to me for help. I have great respect for the client-therapist relationship and will work diligently to maintain it’s integrity. But if we can’t make it work I’m often able to make good referrals.
Vanessa Brookhouse (she/her)
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Clinical Director
I believe effective therapy is a collaboration between the counselor and the individual. I utilize evidence-based therapy techniques to assist my clients in meeting their goals. Specifically, my approach incorporates aspects of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and Solution-Focused therapy. I utilize motivational interviewing techniques to encourage change and growth in my clients. The therapeutic relationship is based on trust. I believe you are the expert in you. I have the honor of walking alongside my clients for a season, awakening them to their own inner wisdom, and offering bits of knowledge and skills I have learned through my training and own life experiences.
I received a Master of Arts Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from George Fox University. My coursework and area of focus included Post traumatic Stress Disorder and combat veterans, Cognitive-Behavior Therapy applied to crisis intervention, diagnosis, group training, and extensive training in DBT, among other subjects relevant to my degree program. I am also a level 2 Gottman trained therapist. Since graduation, I have incorporated trauma sensitive yoga and mindfulness into my practice as well as my own self-care regimen.
I have experience working with adolescents and adults helping them learn skills to identify and regulate challenging emotions, decrease impulsivity, and increase social skills. I have also worked with families to clarify past hurts and begin to engage in a healthy way. I worked in an inpatient residential facility for many years where the mental health needs were complex, and the level of crisis was often high. I am excited to bring this learning to an outpatient arena.
I believe in the skills taught through DBT because I practice them myself and have seen them work for countless others I have worked with through the years. The goal of DBT is creating a life worth living. If I can be a small part of that for you or your family, it would be my honor.
Mika Vinci (she/her)
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)
Hello, my name is Michelle Vinci, but I go by “Mika” (meeka). I am an individual and relationship therapist (working with adolescents, adults, and families), and Skills Group Facilitator. Thanks for being here to get to know me and my colleagues. I hope you find the information useful to help you determine if we may be a good fit to work together.
What therapy is like with me:
I strive to help you feel welcome and safe so you can show up exactly as you are without risk or fear of being judged. From this space of comfort and acceptance, I work to earn your trust so we can do the hard work needed to support you reaching your goals for you to create your life worth living.
My therapy style is client-centered, strength-based, and goal-oriented. You are the expert on yourself. Whether you know it yet or not, you have all the tools and resources within you to strive. I am interested in learning your strengths to help you build the skills you seek.
I am respectful, warm and compassionate, as well as direct and honest. I like using metaphors that are meaningful to you and being playful and humorous when we can. Life gets stressful. Therapy sometimes involves doing hard things, and having difficult conversations, and it is important to laugh and have fun too.
My qualifications:
I joined the DBT Clinic in the Summer of 2019 and have over 10 years of clinical experience. I completed the Comprehensive DBT Foundational Course with Behavioral Tech in February 2020.
I have almost always known I wanted to go into counseling after learning and appreciating the power of the mind in my own mental health journey. I first worked as an ABA therapist with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in San Francisco, and then conducted research at Yale University’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research Unit. I earned my Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy from Fairfield University in Connecticut. My training in Systems Therapy, emphasizes the vital influence friends, families and communities have on one’s mental health, and where the focus of therapy is on both the individual and their surrounding systems. Prior to joining The DBT Clinic, I worked at the Yale Child Study Center, implementing Mult-Dimensional Family Therapy (MDFT) with adolescents and their families.
More about me and my beliefs:
I believe every person has the fundamental right to health care, especially behavioral and mental health. I strive to combat the stigma that often comes with receiving this necessary care. Along with a talented and compassionate team of fellow helpers, I proudly and fully support our clinic’s mission and inclusivity statements, working to unlearn cultural racism, sexism, homophobia, systemized perspectives, and silencing… we work to establish a safe physical and emotional space for our staff and clients.
I strive to be sex/kink and body affirming. I believe gender is fluid and am supportive of different relationship structures including consensual non-monogamy or polyamory. I work to be an ally to all, especially sexual, gender, and ethnic minorities. I love and respect meeting folks from all walks of life. I am open to working with all ages, cultural and religious backgrounds.
I identify as a cis-gendered female and use the pronouns she/her. I am a first generation Filipino American. I was raised by a large extended family of blood and adopted relatives in Seattle, WA. I grew up spending my Summers with grandparents in Kauai and returned to the PNW after living in CT for 10 years. I am married to my love of 18 years, mama bear to two small humans and one 4-legged scruffy canine companion. Outside of work and family, I find joy in a good fiction novel, slapstick comedy, spontaneous dance parties, the beach, and those first sips of a made to order warm drink.
Feel free to contact me with questions, and many blessings to you and yours on your journey.
Judy Spencer (she/her)
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
Judy comes to counseling with a wide variety of life and professional experience. She first trained as a registered nurse and still works part-time in this profession. Judy has also lived and worked overseas for 18 years and enjoys the variety of multicultural experience. Before completing her counseling degree at Western Seminary in 2011, Judy had completed a Master’s Degree in Career Management and Counseling at Birkbeck College, University of London, in 2003 and provided career counseling in England for five years.
Judy’s favorite part of DBT Therapy is helping you build a life worth living. She will help you identify what it is you want, what is holding you back, and help you overcome reluctance and move forward. She loves helping you develop tools and skills that are evidence-based and life-changing. She wants to see you realize your dreams for yourself!
Judy often works with individuals struggling to make sense of relationships that aren’t working. Most often we have learned or had modeled some unhelpful ways of relationship. We aren’t sure what true intimacy is and so we settle for much less. Judy likes to help people develop more fulfilling relationships and recognize when enough is enough.
Although she identifies as Christian, Judy is open to working with clients of all persuasions and wants to support you in the beliefs that sustain you and provide your framework for life. She sees each individual as valuable and unique and enjoys the collaborative process of discovering “beauty from ashes” and rebuilding a life after loss.
Outside of work Judy loves the great outdoors, hiking, camping or just enjoying the birds and tending the flowers in her backyard. She loves cooking for her family and traveling to visit grandkids, when not under social distancing restrictions.
Heidi McGreal (she/her)
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
At the age of 50 I decided to go to graduate school to pursue a Life Worth Living and have not looked back. It wasn’t without trials and tribulations, but the Chiros, the opportune decision that turns the life path in a different direction, presented itself to me after my own journey of healing from trauma. It was through therapy that I first experienced a safe space where I was deeply seen, heard, and soothed. This attunement fostered a deep connection with myself and others, which led me to understand more deeply the core of how I want to show up in the world. I will always be thankful for those along the way who have supported, inspired, and encouraged me, and my goal is to be the same for you as your therapist. As your therapist, I encourage self-reflection, curious exploration with a nonjudgmental stance, a bit of humor along the way, and I welcome your creative practices to be a part of your path toward healing and growth.
I am a registered Professional Counselor Associate working toward licensure, supervised by Vanessa Brookhouse, LPC and Lawrence Smith, LPC. I obtained my Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and a certificate in Trauma Counseling from Antioch University New England. I joined the DBT Clinic in the Winter of 2019 and have over 3 years of experience working with clients in a therapeutic setting. I completed the Comprehensive DBT Foundational Course with Behavioral Tech in 2023 and Feedback Informed Treatment Training through the Oregon Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers in 2022. I continue to expand my clinical knowledge and skills through trainings on the neurobiology of attachment and treating trauma through the National Institute for the Clinical Application of Behavioral Medicine (NICABM). I am a member of the American Counseling Association and past member, and continue to engage in trainings with the National Association of Poetry Therapy, The Oregon Friends of Jung, and the Existential Humanistic Northwest Association which continue to inform how I show up in the therapeutic alliance.
Claire Barcenas-Hester (she/her)
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) & Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor (CADC)
My Therapeutic Approach
I believe therapy is a collaboration and a process. You bring your wisdom – your strengths, skills, identities, and life experiences – to the table. I’ll bring the support and encouragement, and together we will explore new skills, goals, and ways of thinking. We’ll identify and disentangle the behavior patterns that are no longer serving you, and we will create alternatives so you can feel more connected, confident, and capable as you build your life worth living.
As a therapist, I am open, encouraging, and pragmatic. When it feels like everything is going wrong, I believe it is important to look at your strengths and what is going right. We will talk about difficult things, but we can have a laugh or two when needed! You can expect to feel seen and validated while being encouraged to explore different perspectives and make changes.
My therapeutic approach has foundations in the following treatment methods: DBT, CBT, motivational interviewing, and mindfulness-based therapies including Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction and Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention.
My Qualifications and Experience
I hold a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from The University of Michigan. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) registered with the Oregon Board of Licensed Social Workers. I am also a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) through the Mental Health & Addiction Certification Board of Oregon.
I have experience counseling individuals experiencing mood disorders, anxiety disorders, BPD, PTSD, and addictive behaviors. Much of my career has been providing services in residential settings including transitional housing shelters and substance use treatment centers. Additionally, I have extensive experience working with survivors of relationship violence, sexual violence, and trauma.
More About Me
I use she/her pronouns and identify as a cis-queer white woman. I am LGBTQIA+-affirming and body-positive. I take the position of learner in my relationships with others, and I am open to working with individuals from many walks of life.
Outside of work, I enjoy spending time in nature, chilling with my cat Ruth Bader Ginsburg, listening to DND podcasts, knitting, and making music.
Laurie "Burky" Achiles (she/her)
Professional Counselor Associate
“Reason is the horse we ride after our emotions have decided where to go!”
—Carlos Zalaquett
Why doesn’t your horse go where you want it to? The most important factor influencing your life’s direction are the choices you make. The choices you make are often dictated by how you feel. Do you feel knee-deep in the mud of loneliness, anxiety, depression? Do you struggle to control your emotions or relationships or your environment, or maybe all three, because it keeps you safe and it’s what you know? Do you feel emotionally adrift, maybe stuck? If you answered yes to any one of these questions, know you are not alone. You are on a journey and you may be in need of a respite where you feel seen, heard, and understood. To support you on your journey, I provide a warm safe space where you can talk about your present difficulties and concerns, and collaborate on goals for your future.
I am currently studying at Northwestern University for a Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling to be completed in March 2023. My training is psychodynamic with interests in attachment, person-centered, and behavior-based therapies such as dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT). I am also interested in trauma treatment, how traumatic events lodge in the body, and how processing trauma can alleviate nagging physical and psychological symptoms and illness.
For over 17 years, I have worked in the fitness field. First, as a group fitness instructor, followed by a decade as a personal trainer specializing in corrective exercise, functional movement, and over-40 fitness. I am a nationally certified strength coach and have coached women of all abilities, including athletes, in gaining stability, strength, and stamina. I have practiced yoga for over 30 years and have taken joy in sharing my practice with clients individually and in small group settings.
My holistic emphasis in fitness coaching translates directly to the counseling field. Mind, body, and spirit. When one is off the others suffer. Mindfulness, body awareness, self-awareness, and proven, research-based psychological concepts inform my working foundation.
I am a White, cis, hetero female with a culturally rich background. Raised on Kauai, I was the only White kid in my class until eighth grade. I straddled the space of being other while simultaneously benefiting from White privilege. I have always seen culture and color. That ability has instilled empathy for those who struggle to define their place in the world. I continue to work hard to educate myself on my blind spots and to enhance my cultural awareness, so as to honor the richness of our diversity. We have in common our humanity, resilience, and the capacity to heal. Whoever you are, where ever you’re from, where ever you’ve been, e komo mai, welcome.
If you are overwhelmed, perplexed, brittle, or adrift, find respite here. Allow yourself to feel seen, heard, and understood. You are not alone. You are on a journey. Together we will honor your strengths, perhaps uncovering some you’ve overlooked. We will tap into your innate resilience and learn how to manage the horse, its direction, and speed, so day-by-day, you can craft a life worth living. You’ve been waiting. Let’s do this.
Hollie Crandell (she/her)
Professional Counselor Associate
Hello, my name is Hollie! Thank you for taking the time to read my biography; I really appreciate it! I am an individual and relationship therapist who has worked with adolescents, adults, couples, and families. I typically work with individuals who have trauma and anxiety disorders as well as personality disorders and those experiencing gender or sexual dysphoria. I also have a background in developmental psychology which informs my experience working with attachment-related struggles and trauma.
My Therapeutic Approach
I believe that therapy should be a collaborative process. My role as a therapist is to create a safe, non-judgmental space for you to show up as your true self, exactly as you are. In general, my goal is to provide a space that is safe for a client to utilize already present insight and resilience to explore possibilities of change and healing. I employ an eclectic approach with a strong reliance on dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) and motivational interviewing, which I practice through a trauma-informed lens. I may also pull from other evidence-based practices when appropriate.
My Qualifications and Experience
I hold a Master of Arts Degree in Applied Psychological Science with an emphasis in Clinical Psychology from Pacific University.
I first worked children who have autism spectrum disorder before my undergraduate time at University of California, Davis, where I obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Developmental Psychology. During my time at UC Davis, I worked at a research lab that focused on understanding how the life experiences of children and adolescents shape their reactions to stress and their health. We were especially interested in how supportive social relationships reduce the effects of stress on our health, and may promote healthier biological profiles across development.
During graduate school at Pacific University, I spent my clinical practicum working with victims and perpetrators of violence and trauma. During this time, I also co-facilitated a sex offender pre-group where we utilized University of Cincinnati’s sexual offender cognitive-behavioral intervention (SO-CBI).
A Little More About Me
I am a CIS-queer woman and use she/her pronouns. I have experience and enjoy working with those who may be struggling or in need of support with their sexual and/or gender identity. I am a sex and body positive person and strive to incorporate that in my work as a therapist. I believe every person has the fundamental right to healthcare, especially mental health services. I am proud of and entirely supportive of The Clinic’s mission and inclusivity statements, working to unlearn cultural racism, sexism, homophobia, systemized perspectives, and silencing. We work to establish a safe physical and emotional space for our staff and clients.
When I am not working, I enjoy spending time with my friends and family; I am very extraverted and love to chat. I also enjoy cooking, hiking, rock climbing, mindfulness meditation, and tending to my plants and garden.
Feel free to reach out if you have any questions and thank you again for taking the time to read my biography.
Katie Johnson (she/her)
Clinical Social Work Associate
Katie (she/her/hers) is a Clinical Social Worker Associate (LSWAIC/CSWA) in both Oregon and Washington. Katie previously worked as a therapist at the Hallowell-Todaro ADHD center in Seattle with children and adolescents who experience ADHD, Executive Functioning difficulties, Anxiety and Depression. She is a client-centered, trauma-informed therapist who obtained her undergraduate degree in Community Health and Psychology at Texas A&M University, followed by her Master of Clinical Social Work degree at the University of Washington, Seattle.
Katie’s has experience in a wide range of clinical settings, including a horticulture-therapy treatment center on the Big Island of Hawaii where she lived for many years. She has also worked in school counseling services within Seattle School District, a fellowship within the Neurodevelopmental Disabilities leadership program at the University of Washington Medical Center, and specialized behavioral support at a sub-acute care facility for children and adolescents in the foster system.
Katie has focused her career on improving the mental and behavioral health outcomes of children and adolescents experiencing Anxiety, Depression, ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Trauma, Suicide Ideation and various developmental disabilities. Katie’s clinical practice has been founded on the belief that each person has the innate ability to heal and grow amidst challenge, if given the proper tools and support. She welcomes each client with a humanistic, strength-based approach based on her diverse experience with children, adolescents and their families. Alongside a foundation of DBT, she utilizes other various therapeutic modalities such as Trauma-Focused CBT and Ecotherapy.
When not working, Katie enjoys spending most of her time outdoors hiking with her dog, visiting the ocean, thrifting and traveling. Katie is passionate about finding ways to connect herself and others in nature to promote healing and well-being.
Delta Bates (they/them)
Clinical Social Work Associate
Most of my free time is spent in the garden. I also love to read, cook for others, explore the great Cascadian bioregion, and spend time with my partner and kids.
Randy Brown (they/he)
Practice Manager
Randy joined The DBT Clinic in 2019 as part-time office support, and then moved to full-time in April of 2020. He has an extensive background in management, and enjoys creating an environment that is welcoming, safe, and supportive to both clients and staff. In previous careers, he has worked as a catering and restaurant chef, event organizer, personal assistant/organizer, and fitness studio manager. He enjoys the work he does with The DBT Clinic, as it is a direct way to support the community and increase the importance of mental health. He is an active board member for Call to Safety and is working on collaborating with other mental health agencies across Oregon to bring about better systems and advocating for mental health resources. In his free time, you’ll catch him at the theater or a concert taking in a show.
Elliot Watson (they/he)
Office Assistant
Elliot joined The DBT Clinic in the Spring of 2023. They received their Bachelor of Science in Psychology degree from Portland State University. Elliot is gaining experience in the field of psychology as they plan to pursue a Master’s degree, and an LCSW license.
Jonathan Foster (he/him)
Billing Specialist
Jonathan has been with The DBT Clinic since 2021, and has been in the medical field on the clerical and business side for several years prior. He got his medical coding certification in 2008, and has coded and billed for a wide array of specialties. He started out on the east coast in North Carolina and has been in the Portland, Oregon area since 2012. He says, this field is ever changing and keeps him learning every day.
We work to establish an environment that is free from emotional and physical harm.
We expand our knowledge and understanding through regular and on-going trainings; we commit to learning, growing, challenging, and supporting each other in our advocacy.
We continually scrutinize all policies and procedures to strive towards an equitable experience, providing each person the resources and opportunities to serve the needs of our clients and staff as defined by them.
Our administration is dedicated to building a diverse staff which reflects our community by enacting anti-racist, anti-ageist, anti-ableist, anti-heteronormative, and anti-sexist hiring and retention practices.