About Doug
Couples counseling is my specialization and the sole focus of my private practice. Since 2013 I have traveled regularly to Oakland, CA for ongoing training with Dan Wile, Ph.D., the originator of Collaborative Couple Therapy. I pledge to bring that same dedication to helping your relationship.
I earned my Master of Social Work (MSW) Degree at Portland State University in 1992. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in private practice since 1998. My work with couples is grounded in family systems theory, in Dan Wile’s concept of intimate conversations, in Gottman Institute research and in David Schnarch’s description of differentiation. I have been helping couples and families since 1993.
In my private life I have been a student of Zen Buddhism since 2002. My zen practice and daily meditation certainly inform my therapy practice. I am open to speaking with clients about meditation and Buddhism if that is of interest to you. Buddhism has a rich tradition toward decreasing human suffering.
The following is a select list of continuing education courses I’ve attended relevant to couple therapy:
2019
- 09/27/19 Karlaina Brooke, Psy.D., When Sex Hurts: Restoring Sexual Health and Pleasure . . ., Portland, OR
- 09/27/19 Karlaina Brooke, Psy.D., One Size Fits None: Culturally Competent Sex Therapy . . . Portland, OR
- 05/18/19 Dan Wile, Ph.D., Collaborative Couple Therapy Training Group, Oakland, CA
- 03/23/19 Terry Real, LCSW, Relational Life Therapy Training, Washington, D.C.
- 04/21/18 Dan Wile, Ph.D., Collaborative Couple Therapy Training Group, Oakland, CA
- 03/23/18 Sue Johnson, Ed.D., Harnessing The Power of Emotion . . . EFT, Washington, DC
- 03/24/18 Esther Perel, MA, LMFT, Learning from Affairs . . . Infidelity & Intimacy, Washington, DC
- 01/27/18 Dan Wile, Ph.D., Collaborative Couple Therapy Training Group, Oakland, CA
- 09/16/17 Dan Wile, Ph.D., Collaborative Couple Therapy Training Group, Oakland, CA
- 06/10/17 Dan Wile, Ph.D., Collaborative Couple Therapy Training Group, Oakland, CA
- 05/06/17 Dan Wile, Ph.D., Collaborative Couple Therapy Training Group, Oakland, CA
- 04/01/17 Gottman Institute Seven Principles Leader Training, Seattle, WA
- 02/25/17 Dan Wile, Ph.D., Collaborative Couple Therapy Training Group, Oakland, CA
- 12/3/16 Dan Wile, Ph.D., Collaborative Couple Therapy Training Group, Oakland, CA
- 10/26 - 10/27/16 Gottman Couples Therapy Two Day Workshop, Portland, OR
- 10/07/16 Karlaina Brooke, PsyD, Couples, Dilemmas and Sex, Portland, OR
- 09/24/16 Dan Wile, Ph.D., Collaborative Couple Therapy Training Group, Oakland, CA
- 06/11/16 Dan Wile, Ph.D., Collaborative Couple Therapy Training Group, Oakland, CA
- 05/07/16 Dan Wile, Ph.D., Collaborative Couple Therapy Training Group, Oakland, CA
- 02/20/16 Dan Wile, Ph.D., Collaborative Couple Therapy Training Group, Oakland, CA
- 10/31/15 Dan Wile, Ph.D., Collaborative Couple Therapy Training Group, Oakland, CA
- 05/09/15 Dan Wile, Ph.D., Collaborative Couple Therapy Training Group, Oakland, CA
- 02/07/15 Dan Wile, Ph.D., Collaborative Couple Therapy Training Group, Oakland, CA
- 09/13/14 Dan Wile, Ph.D., Collaborative Couple Therapy Training Group, Oakland, CA
- 01/18/14 Dan Wile, Ph.D., Collaborative Couple Therapy Training Group, Oakland, CA
- 11/23/13 Dan Wile, Ph.D., Collaborative Couple Therapy Training Group, Oakland, CA
- 09/27 - 09/28/13 Dan Wile, Ph.D., Collaborative Couple Therapy Two Day Intensive, Portland, OR
- 10/14 - 10/16/11 David Schnarch, Ph.D., Two Day Workshop, Seattle, WA
- 04/08/11 Les Greenberg, Ph.D., Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT), Portland, OR
- 01/25 - 01/26/02 John Gottman, Ph.D., Marital Therapy: A Researched Based Approach, Seattle, WA