Daren Ford, LCSW
Daren accepts:
Kaiser
Moda
PacificSource
OHP Trillium
Independent Contractor Therapist
Are you carrying trauma that feels too overwhelming to face on your own?
Do you find yourself using alcohol or other substances as a way to cope with pain, stress, or the uncertainty of the world around you?
Have traditional approaches to treatment left you feeling unseen, unheard, or pathologized?
I believe healing is not about “fixing what’s wrong with you,” but about honoring your lived experience, your resilience, and the communities that have shaped you. Rather than reducing your story to symptoms or labels, I approach our work together through the lens of empowerment, social justice, and trauma-informed care.
I recognize that our current mental health system often carries the weight of colonization and medicalized frameworks that can feel alienating—especially for those of us who live at the intersections of marginalized identities. Decolonizing mental health means centering your voice, your culture, your values, and your community, instead of forcing you to fit into a system that may not have been built for you.
My practice is especially affirming for artists, musicians, LGBTQ+ and polyamorous individuals, and others who navigate vibrant subcultures or nontraditional paths. I understand how creativity, identity, and chosen communities can be sources of both strength and struggle, and I hold space for the complexity of these experiences.
We are living in a time of deep political and social uncertainty, and it is normal to feel anxious, overwhelmed, or disheartened by the world around us. In our work, we will not only explore how your personal history has shaped your beliefs and coping strategies, but also how systemic forces—racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, classism—impact your ability to thrive.
Together, we will work toward building self-compassion, resilience, and sustainable coping strategies that honor who you are. Your life challenges and your successes alike are sources of wisdom and strength, and our therapeutic relationship will be a place where you can bring your full self—without judgment, without shame, and without needing to fit into a box.
Education and Experience
Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies
Masters in Social Work
Licensed Clinical Social Worker since 2013
Substance Use Disorder Counselor and Mental Health Provider at The Native American Rehabilitation Association
Behavioral Specialist, Community Care Social Worker, Research Associate for Addiction Technology Transfer Center, Lead Social Worker for The IMPACT Team and Faculty for Oregon Health and Science University
Faculty for School of Social Work at Portland State University
Contracted Faculty for the Indian Health Board
Consultant for the American Society of Addiction Medicine
Nine years in group clinical private practice
Client Focus
Individual Adults (18+)
Modalities & Styles
DBT, EMDR, EFT, IFS, Somatic
Specialties
Addiction & addiction recovery
ADHD
Anger/anger management
Anxiety & depression
Grief & loss
Body image/dysmorphia
Childhood trauma
Health issues/chronic illness
LGBTQIA+ issues
Men’s issues
