About Me

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Welcome! My name is Birk, and I am a doctoral therapist and intern here at PMHW. From a young age, I have found the space between two people to be a powerful source of compassion, meaning, and change. As a therapist, I believe in establishing an open atmosphere of mutual trust and respect, where you and your life can be heard and explored at your pace and without judgment, and your personal healing can start to take root and grow in all kinds of new, even surprising directions.

Therapeutic Approach

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My approach to psychotherapy is strongly rooted in psychodynamic thinking, emphasizing what might be going on underneath the surface, both within our own minds and among our closest relationships, in the past and the present. Fresh insight into these dynamics, uncovering vulnerability in a place of emotional support, can offer new life to old patterns of thinking and behavior that may have left us feeling stuck or at a loss in our lives, and help us, in the fullness of our identities and our place in the world, build lives and relationships of greater fulfillment.

Credentials & Experience

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I hold a bachelor’s degree from Columbia University in the study of religion, emphasizing Buddhist and existential philosophies, and, after a somewhat misguided career in finance and technology, recently completed a Masters in Applied Psychology from Long Island University. Additionally, I have undergone two years of psychoanalytically-oriented training and clinical work at the New York Psychoanalytic Institute, along with six months working on an in-patient hospital ward for more severe cases of psychological distress, and an additional year working at a university-based community clinic.

Outside the Office

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New to the area, I am excited to explore Portland’s natural beauty and live music scene, cheer on its sports teams, and otherwise experience all the wonders Portlandia has to offer!

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