Douglas
Johns, LCSW Portland, Oregon (503)252-3739
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Douglas
Johns, MSW, LCSW
Thank
you for your interest in my private practice. I've lived a rich and
diverse life already in my 40+ years. Growing up, however, the last
thing I wanted was to be a therapist. All of my immediate family are
either actively practicing psychotherapists or are trained as
therapists. And yet, no doubt because of my family, it was very natural
for me to land here.
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 just
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.
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