Douglas Johns, LCSW
Portland, Oregon
503-252-3739
About Douglas Johns, LCSW
Portland, Oregon
Since 1984 when I began volunteering on a crisis phone
hotline I have continued to work directly with people in
some capacity. I was an Outward Bound Instructor for one
year teaching mostly teenagers about self-reliance in the
wilderness. I've spent a lot of time assisting homeless
adults and counseling homeless and runaway teenagers. I
also managed a homeless family shelter for one year.
Service to people makes sense to me.
I have a Bachelor's Degree in Philosophy from Lewis and
Clark College (1985) here in Portland and I earned my
Master of Social Work Degree (MSW) from Portland State
University in 1992. I have been a Licensed Clinical Social
Worker (LCSW) since 1998. That same year I started a small
private practice while working part-time with teenagers and
their families in Vancouver, Washington. Over the years I
have also worked in community mental health clinics with
adults and adolescents, with youth offenders inside
juvenile detention, as a clinical supervisor in adolescent
inpatient treatment and as a middle school social worker
assisting students and families. All along I maintained a
small private psychotherapy practice until 2004 when my
practice went full-time.
In 2002 I began formal study of Zen Buddhism. It has
radically changed my life. Zen is literally the Way of
Compassion. Zen means "meditation." Combined with my
practice of Existential Psychotherapy methods, meditation
is a profound practice for cultivating self-compassion. Both disciplines place
emphasis on people learning to deeply experience their
lives with authenticity, friendliness and appreciation.
Thank you again for your interest in my private practice.