Adult and
Adolescent Therapist
Sean Wasson
MSW, Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Specialties
Adolescents
I enjoy meeting teens where they’re at, coming alongside them and giving them tools to navigate this in-depth developmental period of their lives. I bring my own energy and passion to the work I do with middle school and high schoolers. Adolescents have many challenges to navigate - emotional regulation, exploring their sense of self and relationships with their peers, all while managing parental and academic expectations. I support teens and their parents on this dynamic journey.
Trauma
Our understanding of Trauma has been expanding over recent years and we now understand that trauma has lasting effects on the brain and body, and creates changes in the way the mind and body function as an integrated unit. Trauma can have emotional and physical impacts. When trauma gets locked in the body, we can become stuck in survival mode in a way that impacts our ability to optimally function at home, work, and in our relationships. There are new and innovative ways to heal trauma in psychotherapy….
Narcissistic Abuse
A type of emotional abuse that is pervasive, characterized by manipulation, lack of empathy, blame shifting, gaslighting and social isolation. Many individuals who have been the victim of this abuse are not even aware of its presence or impact until they begin exploring their relational experiences within the context of therapy. Therapy serves as a mirror and provides validation to the individual who has been feeling disempowered and stuck. Healing from this abuse is a process of understanding what happened, naming the dynamics and their impact, and relearning how to trust oneself.
Bio
I’m an attachment based therapist. My primary goal is to develop a strong relationship with each client as an individual, and with each family system. I collaborate with each person on reaching their goals and help them track their progress. I approach people holistically and help them improve biological functioning – sleep, nutrition, exercise, I use mindfulness to help people identify and regulate emotions, and I use cognitive tools to help people identify and change ways of thinking that they identify as unhelpful I found clinical social work through a circuitous route, first working as a Captain in the Army where I gained experience in the many facets of communication and leadership within a high stress environment. Developing trust with clients is a crucial goal in my work. I’ve used my experience treating trauma in the first responder population, trauma in the context of relationships, and trauma from life-altering events and interpersonal interactions to weave together a unique therapy model that is relationship first.
I work with individuals in a holistic way, using attachment theory and a trauma informed approach to understand each person as a unique individual. I have a direct approach with adult clients that helps them see their blindspots, identify patterns, understand themselves, move through cyclical conflict, and reconnect with the important people in their lives. My approach to helping Teens overcome the symptoms they are experiencing begins with teaching them how to identify and manage their emotions while at the same time working with parents to make small adjustments that build connection within the parent/child relationship.
I have advanced training in Youth and Family mental health, Trauma, Narcissistic Abuse, and am trained in the Gottman method. I have a Bachelors in Social Science from Western Oregon University, and a Masters in Social Work from Simmons University, which is located in Boston. I’m drawn to this line of work and find it innately meaningful.
Out of work I spend time with my kids playing sports, doing puzzles, going on trips, fishing, camping, and spending time with my family. When I’m not working or parenting I read fantasy books, history books, workish adjacent books, go to the gym, play golf, spend time with friends and family, and play video games.
Sean Wasson
My Fees:
$175 for 60min sessions
$220 for intakes and extended sessions of 80 min.
Insurance:
Sean is currently contracted with OHP (Care Oregon) and PacificSource. As a courtesy to his clients he will bill their insurance as an out-of-network provider. Insurance plans vary widely in their reimbursement rates/percentages, therefore he highly recommends that you contact your insurance ahead of time and inquire about your benefits. Payment is due at the time the services are rendered. A 3% credit card fee will be applied to all payments for services.