Find a therapist

ORPARC helps families find foster-adoption competent therapists or counselors in their area. We do not provide direct therapy services or recommend specific providers, but contact us and we can help compile a list of potential referrals to best match your family’s needs. Or, search the different Directories of Therapists below for those with advanced foster care and adoption expertise.

Click on Map above!

Recommended Steps

Contact therapists directly to ask about specialty, experience, services and fees to determine the best match.
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
Read up on interviewing & choosing therapists:

Finding & Working with Adoption-Competent Therapists by CWLA
I Spy Helpful Help by Adoption Advocate
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, adoptee & adoptive parent - author in ORPARC's library
Therapy plays an important role in adoptive families' lives

Additional Resources

Animal-Assisted Therapy Packet (local) 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.

Looking for Culturally Specific Therapists?

When interviewing therapists, explore if they are also foster-adoption competent and/or open to learning.

Cultural diversity in virtual teams

Are you a therapist yourself? Please explore local education opportunities like Training in Adoption Competency (TAC), Therapeutic Life Story Work and EMDRIA approved EMDR Basic training.