Hello, my name is Amber Bathon. I am a licensed professional counselor (state of OR), and maintain a certification as a master addictions counselor (MAC). I received a double Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and Socio-Anthropology from Transylvania University and a Master's Degree in Counseling Psychology from Lewis & Clark College. My Master's program provided me with additional training and education in the areas of marriage, couples, and family therapy and substance use counseling.
During my internship hours, I was able to work and gain experience in a residential substance use treatment program providing individual, family, and group therapies while focusing on co-occurring mental health and substance use challenges. As I entered my professional career, I began providing services in outpatient treatment and private practice settings; during this time, I have worked with individuals across the lifespan. I have provided intensive in-home and community-based therapy for adults with significant and persistent mental illness with co-occurring substance use issues, as well as general outpatient mental health and substance use treatment. My primary areas of interest and focus have been related to trauma, depression, anxiety, substance use, and stress management. However, my experiences have been extremely broad and I have 8 years of experiences working in a cross-cultural agency within the Native American community.
Counseling is a deeply personal encounter that allows for change, growth and development; it is an opportunity for those who receive it to recognize their strengths and find solutions to their challenges in a safe and collaborative environment. Counseling provides ways to express feelings, understand patterns of thinking and behaving, gain perspective on past events and current relationships, and set and clarify goals for the future. It can both alleviate pain and suffering, and add meaning and richness to life.
Counseling provides the opportunity to map strengths, resources, and resiliency which allow us to develop a plan that will move you towards achieving your goals. My belief is that most change occurs through forming and experiencing a trusting, emotionally safe relationship, and in the context of that relationship increasing one’s awareness of self, challenging one’s old beliefs, learning new skills, establishing appropriate boundaries in relationships with others, and experiencing and letting go of old pain. My task will be to assist or attempt to assist you in this process.
Within our relationship, I will work to empower you to develop awareness of yourself, your way of relating, and your unique coping skills in the face of stress and change. As your awareness increases, I will support you in developing healthy ways of expressing and fulfilling your needs and desires. I believe strongly that you are the expert in your life, and that with support, encouragement, and the appropriate tools – you will notice where exceptions exist in your story and you can develop the solution.
I am looking forward to helping you on your journey!
Additional areas of focus: Relationship issues, Family conflicts, Intimacy-related issues, Parenting issues, Self esteem, Career difficulties, Coping with life changes, Coaching, ADHD, Abandonment, Adoption and foster care, Attachment issues, BDSM, kink, and alternative sex culture, Body image, Co-morbidity, Codependency, Communication problems, Divorce and separation, Drug and alcohol addiction, Family problems, Fertility issues, Gender dysphoria, Infidelity, Money and financial issues, Mood disorders, Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD, Panic disorder and panic attacks, Polyamory / non-monogamous relationships, Post-traumatic stress, Pregnancy and childbirth, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), Self-harm, Self-love, Sexual assault and abuse, Sexuality, Social anxiety and phobia, Women's issues, Young adult issues
Clinical approaches: Attachment-Based Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Mindfulness Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Narrative Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Trauma-Focused Therapy
OR LPC C2995
These quotes represent just a few of the many positive reviews that we have received for Amber Bathon. We don't pay anyone to provide their review and they are all made voluntarily. Some people's experience receiving therapy with BetterHelp might be different.
Amber is great. And I’m very proud and grateful for the work her and I have accomplished together over the last 2 year’s
Written on Aug 02, 2022 after therapy with Amber for 2 years on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, lgbt, relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, grief, intimacy-related issues, self esteem, bipolar disorder, coping with life changes, and adhd
Amber is always wonderful and so easy to talk to!
Written on May 27, 2022 after therapy with Amber for 2 years and 3 months on issues concerning stress, anxiety
Amber is amazing!
Written on May 11, 2022 after therapy with Amber for 2 years and 3 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, grief, eating disorders, career difficulties, and coping with life changes
Amber is fantastic!
Written on Mar 21, 2022 after therapy with Amber for 1 year and 7 months on issues concerning stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, self esteem, and anger management
Amber is a great person and counselor. Her inviting and reassuring nature make it so easy to open up to her and express my true feelings without guilt. I have loved my time with her and am excited to continue my journey with her.
Written on Apr 21, 2021 after therapy with Amber for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, intimacy-related issues, parenting issues, self esteem, career difficulties, coping with life changes, and compassion fatigue
I love her!!!
Written on Mar 04, 2021 after therapy with Amber for 5 months on issues concerning lgbt, relationship issues, grief, intimacy-related issues, and self esteem