Ken Steinbacher Counseling, LLC

Dear colleagues,
Conversion (also known as reparative therapy, reorientation therapy, sexual orientation change efforts, or gender identity change efforts) is the discredited practice of using "therapy" or "counseling" to "treat" same-gender/sex attraction, gender non-conformity, and those identifying as being le***an, gay, bisexual, transgender, q***r, or another sexual or gender minority. The Oregon Counseling Association opposes conversion therapy: It does not work, it causes harm, and it violates the ACA and AAMFT Codes of Ethics. It is an attempt to treat something that is not a mental illness; something that does not need treatment.
Please see the information below on this momentous bill and follow ORSAIGE and ORCA for updates.
Thank you for your support.

At some point in our lives we have all experienced trauma- that hurt that sticks with us and we can’t seem to shake it. Trauma looks different for each of us. We will create a safer container for you to explore what hurts and what helps. My hope if to work together to make things a bit easier right away, to feel more grounded. I find it useful to consider how social, racial, gender, and economic injustice intersects with your trauma experience. We come together with the assumption we all carry some history of trauma. This work can be hard and sometimes we uncover painful spots. I can incorporate mindfulness and grounding work to promote a safer experience.
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I approach our work from a narrative therapy perspective. As its name implies, we will work on your story and how we define our lives through our learned history. Narrative therapy begins with the understanding that you are the expert on your life; my job is to help you look at that story. Life is hard and blame and shame are not a solution. I do not assign diagnoses unless you find it useful. This quote from Michael White, a founder of narrative therapy, encapsulates my stance: “The person is not the problem, the problem is the problem.”

You have many skills, competencies, beliefs, values, and abilities… let’s explore those! Let’s be curious together. In our work, healing is often found in a new perspective or new understanding of the story we create to define who we are. Finding your authentic self can bring healing.