Abri Psychotherapy — Counselor in Portland, OR

I had a horrible experience trying one of the groups with one of the clinicians in this practice. They did not respect boundaries or respect the way in which I was engaging with the group. (Namely, that I was curious and trying things out, without "drinking the Kool-Aid" per se. In my experience, diving in "head first" to something I am curious but not yet 100% bought into is never helpful.) I am often interrupted or minimized/belittled for stating my perspective and am mischaracterized and then this person just moves on with the class. My general take is that this person likes to be domineering and have people respond to them and likes to try and push buttons of people who don't "play ball" with their style. One day out of nowhere, this person contacts me outside of the class, says they want to do a "quick check-in" (their request) that would be 15 mins or so. It starts out with their telling me that they think the fact that I'm not smiling during the group might have a negative impact on other people in the group. Funny enough, I come from a background where people have expected me to be a people pleaser; but this is a pattern that doesn't really serve me. Yet...here we have a "helping professional" trying to encourage me to be the people pleaser again. I state my disagreement that it is acceptable for them to ask me to smile. I inquire, and they say that in fact noone is complaining about me (which would be weird anyway, as I was just being normal and engaging in the class like a normal human). This "Senior faculty" wants to argue with me about my own experience. The conversation lasts 2 hours or so, and they are fairly invalidating for a good chunk of it (pretty in line with my experience of them). I later receive a bill for this as a "2x long therapy session." (We weren't in the habit of doing 1-1 therapy in general in the first place.) Out of network therapy costs for a session I had no need nor interest in, and was doing to respond to THEIR request. I am billed to satisfy this person's needs. Wonderful therapy. In general, I highly recommend trying therapy elsewhere. This did nothing to help me or seek to help me, but instead tried to push a modality on to me very hard without instead caring to help me understand and explore whether it was a real fit for me and whether it would truly help me. 0/5 stars across the board. If you find something that this practice specializes in and think it might help you, you should probably look elsewhere or just buy the books do self-practice/self-study.

I’ve had an incredible growth experience at Abri with Tess, Shadee, and Ashlyn. ❤️

Through OHP and self-directed efforts I found an opening with this practice. I did not get the option to choose a practitioner. At the start it seemed Cat Goodi was an “ok” option; yet, with time I found myself being lied to over and over again. She kept apologizing for her shortcomings as a therapist and advocate (She offered six months into our relationship to support me one session a week with advocacy over my ADA reasonable accommodations needs and other related concerns in addition to our weekly therapy.), but repeatedly she took liberties and broke codes of conduct under professional ethics and legal guidelines. Last week I told her I didn’t trust her and hung up on her after the umpteenth time she acted against agreements made while also placing her needs above mine as her client. Following my hang up and flight trauma response, I requested via text for her to connect me with the office administrator in hopes they would connect me with a more professional and ethically responsible LCSW. Ultimately, I was denied a safe space to share. I was offered only an unsafe space, one that included the human who repeatedly broke trust and professional codes of conduct including: not following signed ROI agreements, submitting false OHP documents/requests, lying to me and others, and most of all not being a damn bit mindful…It’s a practice designed to support over-controlled people and yet my experience revealed they are individually- and collectively-, over-controlling of others. When I realized I was being over-controlled again by asking Cat to connect me to the office administrator after she said she would and then didn’t, I called and sent an email to the ED/Co-Founder; her response to my ADA Reasonable Accommodations and pleas for a safe space, which would be a private call with her, received fhe following response: “ If you are unwilling to talk to us both together, feel free to put your concerns in writing to me, and I will respond when I am able.” She won’t honor my need for a safe space. She will not honor my ADA reasonable accommodations which include phone calls as the primary mode of communications, something Cat and others engaging with me should be fully aware if they followed their own mindfulness practices with care!! Mind you, what the boss/she will do though is take her time to care, walk over my trauma at the hands of staff, dismiss my stated needs, and allow a liar to send me resources as a slap in the face for daring to ask for care as needed. This is why Oregon is ranked so low in the practice and performance of mental health care! I spent over a year trusting a human and all they did was lie to me, stab me in the back, and break legal and ethical codes of conduct!! Cat Goodi lied to me over and over again and her employer simply can’t be bother to listen…insane!! Update: I finally was offered a phone call. As stated above the purpose of my contact with an office administrator was to discuss options, maybe another therapist and if not, make a records request. However, from the jump I was talked over and interrupted with mansplained details of my story. I was trying to talk but she would not accept my method of sharing. She was looking for the cliff notes for a story that took a year to write all in a matter of minutes. I felt under attack from her emails leading up to the call in which she repeated three times how I must be prepared and ready for the call as she is so busy (as though I have nothing to do). I was ready for the call I requested, but she wasn’t interested in what I had to say. Ultimately, the call became heated, I notified her of this review (She stated she was aware of it but didn’t say anything about it until I mentioned it.), and stated I would be notifying OHP today to inform them that I terminated our relationship for cause as of July 4th, 2024; the ED’s response was to tell me she intended to write a letter to OHP firing me…retaliation at its finest…sad! I also learned the ED, against my wishes, and without an ROI, reviewed and discussed my file against HIPPA rules.

This is a fantastic team led by a pair of expert therapists of high integrity. The amount of work that Li Lin and Kirsten have put into mastering RO DBT and training their employees in it is phenomenal. If you are overcontrolled and looking for the best treatment there is, Abri is the place to go in this area.

The skills and support from Abri are really easy to learn, extremely helpful and offered with kindness and compassion. I especially appreciate Kirsten, Carly and CeShaun! Highly recommended for anyone who tends to be a perfectionist and wants a happier, more flexible, more connected life!

I have worked with Amber, Lisa, and Shadee. I would highly recommend any of them. I have worked with Amber most closely and love her openness. She genuinely cares about her clients (which I believe is true of all the Abri therapists.)