Mindfulness-based virtual counseling on

Dating & Intimacy

for

High Achieving Women

in Oregon ,Washington, and Illinois

 
 

Helping you navigate the struggle of forming a long-term romantic relationship so you can feel confident and enjoy life with less doubts and regrets.

Let’s get started

 
Young woman works at her computer while on the phone. Struggling to make personal connections dating, our online dating therapy in Oregon, Washington and Illinois can help.
 

The Dating Struggle is Real

You have been in your field for a while, you enjoy what you do, and you are trusted for your work. You are a loyal friend and a reliable family member. You are the voice of reason and solid support when they need you. However, you haven’t had the best luck in the dating world. Your other friends seem to all move on to the next phase. You feel ready, too, and yet maybe recently, you received just another rejection from a potential partner telling you that they are just not ready for that emotional commitment. You feel mad at yourself for not handling your relationship well, and confused as to why you always seem to choose the wrong person. You feel sad and disappointed. sometimes you feel so alone.

Goals of Dating Therapy

With individual relationship counseling, I will help you attune to your wants and needs, cope with loneliness, learn effective relationship skills, and gain a holistic understanding of your current patterns so that you can be more comfortable opening up and feel confident in building a nurturing romantic relationship that feels right for you.

If you are currently in a relationship and are interested in couples therapy or marriage counseling, no problem, we can help you.

 

Hello, I am May.

I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, and I specialize in working with high-achieving women on issues around dating & self-esteem.

Through mindfulness-based relational therapy, I will help you quiet the self-doubt, communicate your emotions and draw effective boundaries so that you can feel confident in building a healthy romantic relationship.

Spark Relational Counseling’s Approach to Individual Counseling on Relationship Issues

When working with me, we start by fostering a welcoming, trustworthy space. From there, we begin to work on yourself. I will invite you to talk about your hopes and dreams-what brought you in at this time, what you would like to achieve in our work together. During this process, I will slow us down and help you attend to yourself. I welcome your unique story and will support you to reconnect with your own awareness around things that bring you joy, ease, and pleasure. I will be a warm companion with you as you share your story and feel your feelings.

In addition to being an empathetic listener, I also engage myself actively in the process. This looks like us taking a closer look at some of the events/things in your life that bring your pain and begin to understand it. I will teach you effective relational skills to help you open up with partners in a way that feels okay, and provide psycho-education to help you understand what makes a strong relationship. We will also explore how you show up in a relationship and make sense of its roots. This includes us exploring a potential belief of yours, or more importantly, navigating some of the old, painful past towards healing and change.

Happy Endings

Together, we walk on the path to a long-lasting change by empowering you to explore your real wants and needs and teaching you ways to communicate yourself on an emotional level so that you can feel confident in getting what you need in a relationship and feel truly good about getting it. Your journey of self-discovery and growth is a beautiful process of unfolding, layer by layer towards the core of your authentic self.

It's a journey where you courageously delve into your feelings, wants, and needs, enabling you to form connections that are rooted in true understanding and vulnerability. As you continue to grow and navigate this intricate landscape of emotions and desires, you'll discover you're forging bonds that are deeper and more meaningful than ever before. This isn't just about finding happiness—it's about paving your path towards a future radiating with fulfillment that resonates deeply within you, creating a lasting impact.

  • Step 1.

    Fill out the contact form and choose a good call-back time.

  • Step 2.

    Hear back from us within 24-48 hours (except for weekends and holidays).

  • Step 3.

    Begin living life fuller and feel confident in your life choices

 Frequently Asked Questions

 
  • Perhaps you have been through many therapy websites and wave through quite a few profiles. Searching for a therapist can be a complicated process. I honor and understand the frustration, hope, and worry in starting your therapy work. Therefore, I offer a free 15 mins phone consultation to help discuss your needs and answer any questions you may have. My hope is by the end of the call, you will have a better sense of the service I provide and make a more informed decision. 

  • Based on how the current insurance system is set up, in order to use your in-network insurance benefits, the insurance company requires me to give you a mental illness diagnosis. This diagnosis becomes part of your permanent medical record and may negatively impact your future life choices ( adoption, life insurance, employment, etc.). In addition, therapy under an in-network insurance panel is not confidential. Insurance companies and managed care panels essentially become another person in your treatment, as they require reports about our meetings to authorize sessions. They also have the power to decide how many sessions you will receive. I believe that those crucial decisions should be made between you and your therapist, not a stranger from the insurance office.

    For these concerns on in-network insurances benefits, I choose to accept only out-of-network benefits for insurances purposes. If you would like to use your insurance, I will assist by providing you with a "superbill" (An itemized receipt) for you to take advantage of any out-of-network benefits that your plan offers. Depending on your plan, your insurance company may reimburse your session cost up to a percentage. Please note that a diagnosis is still required, but we will have confidentiality and control over your course of treatment.

  • The timeline largely depends on the fluctuation of your therapist's schedule. Usually, sessions are available to be scheduled as soon as 5-7 days from the initial contact. If you are ready now, click here to skip the wait and request a session.  

  • If this is your first time going to therapy, I imagine it may be both exciting and a bit nerve-wracking. I know what that feeling feels like, and congratulations on taking this crucial first step. To help you better prepare, I found this article provides some helpful information about what will happen during our first session. 

    Before arriving for your first appointment, it could also be helpful to take a moment and think about what you would like to accomplish through therapy. How have you been feeling lately? How would you like to feel? You do not have to feel obligated to tell your therapist "everything" during your first session. Instead, it is simply an opportunity to share enough and check-in with yourself on how you feel sitting with your therapist. It may also be helpful to think about what questions you might have for your therapist during your first session. You will know that a therapist is a good fit for you when you feel at ease, heard, and confident in their ability to help you during your first session.  

For a complete list of FAQs, including rates and our COVID practice, Please visit our FAQs section.

 

Start feeling confident in growing a healthier romantic relationship now

 

Other mental health services offered at Spark Relational Counseling.

Individual counseling on issues around dating can be a valuable resource for your need. In addition, we understand your needs for support don’t usually fit into one box. At Spark Relational Counseling, we offer a variety of mental health services. For individuals with struggles in anxiety, we offer anxiety treatment at our Portland anxiety clinic. In fact, we can help folks in various states with online therapy in Washington, online therapy in Oregon, and online therapy in Illinois. For individuals with immigrant parents, and/or trans-racially adopted adults, we offer culturally sensitive individual counseling helping you address issues around identity and culture. Additionally, for those in a relationship. we specialize in couples therapy/marriage counseling and premarital counseling. If you are a small business owner, we offer therapy for entrepreneurs to help you navigate the ups and downs of owning a business. Whatever your mental health needs may be, we are here to help.