Amy Mee-Ran Kobus, Ph.D. — Psychiatrist in Portland, OR
Phone+1503-494-6176
Websiteohsu.edu
Amy Mee-Ran Kobus, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at OHSU, specializing in adult outpatient general psychiatry and health psychology. She provides counseling and assessment services to adults, adolescents, couples, and families. Dr. Kobus has specialized training in health psychology, chronic pain management, and primary care psychology, with considerable experience working with young adults, the psychological aspects of medical illness, and cultural issues. Her research has focused on chronic pain, HIV, and cervical cancer prevention within the Asian community, and her current interests include chronic pain and opioid treatment, behavioral health integration in primary care, and health disparities. She speaks English and holds a Ph.D. from the University of Iowa.
Best for
- Adults
- Adolescents
- Couples
- Families
- Individuals with chronic pain
- Individuals with medical illness
| Key services | Counseling services, Assessment services, Psychotherapy, Health psychology services |
| Languages | English |
| Tags | psychiatry, health psychology, counseling, assessment, chronic pain, medical illness, cultural issues, young adults, adult outpatient, opioid treatment |
Reviews on Google3.3 · 3 reviews
This is specifically about the PROVIDER Amy Kobus, and not about OHSU Psychiatry in general - OHSU-assigned therapy provider, absolutely awful. Gave me a vague 'homework' assignment ('come up with a list of things you would like to accomplish in therapy') and then at our next visit told me it was an inappropriate list - it had too many items, the items would take too long, they were too vague, and oh yeah - my goals should be achievable within 10 weeks; come up with a new goal, on the spot, in session. So my 'new goal' was to create and adhere to a somewhat regular sleep schedule. She gave me a lot of very general advice, completely ignoring my ADHD diagnosis and previous sleep issues. I missed a visit due to illness, and at our next visit she asked how I was doing. I explained I had been at the ER for a medical condition that I've been advised to go directly to the ER for, and she said I should not use the ER as it was "too expensive". When I jokingly said, "I have OHP so it's all the same cost to me," she responded, "Well, you know... on the system." I'm sorry, did you just imply I should risk my life so that I don't cost 'the system' too much money? She asked very abruptly if she could contact my primary care provider, and feeling put on the spot I said "I guess?" She then asked how I had done at maintaining a schedule, I responded that I had not done very well due to being ill, and she responded by saying I had done a great job and that as far as she was concerned I could probably go back to work within two more weeks. Going back to work was never a goal of mine, nor was it anything I had really expressed interest in, so the combination of 'being too expensive on the system' and 'you should go back to work' really made me feel like there was a bias against poor people immediately apparent in her treatment plan. She closed out the session by saying that she was going to contact my PCP and ask him to create a plan with her to get me to stop "utilizing the emergency room". I had been very open and up front, throughout our sessions, about the fact that I have a substantial amount of medical trauma, particularly regarding having my medications altered or my diagnoses questioned, due to several experiences with that in other states regarding my ADHD and GAD medications and diagnoses. Her stating that she was planning on contacting my PCP to try to remove my appropriate access to emergency medical care was incredibly upsetting and reminded me of all my previous poor experiences. After our visit, I immediately went online and cancelled all my upcoming appointments with her via MyChart. The best part of my experience with Dr. Kobus was her office staff, who was very polite and understanding when he had to call and ask if I had intentionally cancelled all my upcoming appointments (yes) and if I would like to reschedule them (no).
Really effective doctors and nurses. I've seen a lot of good come from here.
Location
Also in Portland
Dr. Alix Sklarew, DPT, is a physical therapist in Portland, Oregon, specializing in STOTT Pilates-based rehabilitation. Her approach integrates precise movement teaching with gentle hands-on techniques for holistic healing. Dr. Sklarew holds certifications in women's pelvic health and vestibular rehabilitation, along with additional training in CranioSacral Therapy and Visceral Manipulation. She earned her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from California State University, Northridge. Dr. Sklarew works with a wide range of orthopedic conditions, with a particular interest in Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder (HSD) and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). Her philosophy centers on patient expertise, prioritizing close listening and collaborative treatment planning to restore pain-free movement and function, often addressing complex or persistent issues.
Anya Valsamakis is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) with over 25 years of experience in social work, including mental health, case management, education, and career planning. She integrates her social work values into a therapeutic relationship, emphasizing trust, truth-telling, and collaboration to foster transformation. Valsamakis has a particular interest in the empowerment of women and girls, and immigrants and refugees, driven by a commitment to social justice. Her practice incorporates somatic, body-mind counseling methods, which blend conscious insights with unconscious discoveries communicated through the body. She holds a Bachelor's and Master's Degree (MSW) in social work and has studied mediation and intercultural communication.
Sara Bowes is a licensed acupuncturist and board-certified Chinese herbalist practicing in Southeast Portland, Oregon, with over 14 years of experience. Her approach is rooted in classical Chinese medicine, focusing on identifying root causes and underlying patterns of imbalance to promote lasting health. Sara offers a range of natural and holistic treatments, including acupuncture, microneedling, light therapy, gua sha, cupping, and herbal medicine. She also provides nutritional and lifestyle counseling. Sara has extensive training in mindfulness-based somatic therapy, interpersonal neurobiology, and whole foods nutrition. She particularly enjoys working with women experiencing digestive issues, menstrual and hormonal challenges, and those navigating perimenopause and menopause. Her treatments aim to harness the body's innate capacity for healing, regeneration, and recalibration, offering effective change with minimal side effects.