Compassionate and effective trauma and anxiety counseling.

EMDR, IFS and Accelerated Resolution Therapy

I specialize in using EMDR and other proven methods to help you overcome your trauma and anxiety, get to the root of your challenges and find relief.

Based in Tigard, OR and online

Trauma counselor Renee Boles in chair talking to client

Hello. I’m so glad we found each other.

You are in the right place if you are ready for a different kind of therapy.

Does this sound like you? You want peace but instead:

  • You feel like you’re spiraling, ruminating and the other shoe is about to drop.

  • You’re haunted by your past and fears.

  • You’ve never really gotten to the heart of the issue.

  • You’re exhausted.

  • You feel “not good enough” or like “something is wrong with you”.

  • You’re so sick of feeling this way and ready for a change!

EMDR counselor Renee Boles in chair with coffee cup

That’s where I come in.

I’m an official “EMDRIA EMDR certified” counselor and a self-proclaimed training-junkie. That means I’ve received training in some of the most effective methods in order to empower you to see lasting change.

After years of being dissatisfied with some of the more standard methods that didn’t seem to help enough, I went searching for something more. Eventually I found EMDR, IFS and Accelerated Resolution Therapy and I’m so glad I did. I saw more improvement and change in clients using these techniques and I’m hoping the same will be true for YOU.

typing on computer at desk
two people sitting near each other in similar chairs

Join me.

Alongside learning more skills to help you get a handle on those strong emotions, I also help you build insight into your inner world and reprocess the things that are keeping you stuck in your symptoms so that you can think about yourself and the world differently. I have several years of experience helping people like you overcome trauma, anxiety, and PTSD and improve their overall well-being. Work with me to see how you can get lasting change too.

My Specialities and Methods

  • Maybe you’ve experienced trauma and have been diagnosed with PTSD. Many people reach out to me specifically because they want to try EMDR and have heard that this eye movement therapy can really help for trauma. Or maybe you had a “good enough” childhood but that one bad experience in your past keeps plaguing you. You’ve tried to move past it and you just can’t. Common examples are:

    • a traumatic child labor experience

    • sexual abuse

    • a traumatic medical experience

    • a nasty car accident

    • seeing a loved one pass away

    • exposure to physical abuse

    If a trauma or a bad event is still effecting your relationships, your thoughts, your body response and more, then that's a sign that the experience is not resolved and needs to be addressed. See my EMDR page or the Accelerated Resolution Therapy page to find out how one or both of these eye movement therapies can help you feel free at last.

  • Spiraling, ruminating and panic really throw a wrench in your ability to enjoy life and find more peace. These are all symptoms of stress and anxiety. As you may already know, it’s incredibly uncomfortable to live with the fear of getting a panic attack or feel like you have some sort of anxiety disorder. If traditional anxiety counseling hasn’t worked for you, it’s time to try something different. EMDR and many other methods I offer can help address chronic stress and anxiety and even panic attacks.

    If you are terrified of going to the dentist or doctor or getting in your car after a nasty car accident, then you know how much your anxiety negatively impacts your life. A fear of flying, dogs, spiders or other more specific fears are just a few examples of phobias. But you don’t have to live with the intensity of that fear any longer. If any of these keeps you paralyzed and interrupts your life, it’s time to get help. I provide counseling for anxiety and specific fears to empower you to find more peace. Your future is waiting.

  • You’re an achiever. You’re capable and everyone thinks you can handle it. But inside, you’re scared that you can’t. You feel like an imposter-like you’re not good enough. You’re afraid you’ll do something wrong or you’ll fail. And you can’t understand why because you look like you have it all together. Address that internal turmoil. Get to the root of the issue, improve your sense of self and debunk the beliefs about yourself that maintain your low self-esteem. Gain insight into why you feel the way you do and build self-awareness. Find out how and feel more confident, perhaps for the first time ever. Learn more about how EMDR can help with by checking out my EMDR page.

  • Want to integrate your Christian faith into our sessions together? No problem. Looking for a Christian counselor? I’m glad you found me. If requested, I can integrate a Biblical or Christian worldview into our time together. You can speak freely about your spiritual perspective whether it’s a source of comfort or a part of your life that you are questioning or hurt by. I strive to provide counseling online or in-person for clients near the Portland area in a safe and non-judgmental space and with a Christian perspective if you’d prefer. I can provide EMDR therapy, Accelerated Resolution Therapy and other trauma-informed modalities through a Christian world lens as appropriate. Check out my Christian Perspective page for more information.

  • This isn’t your sit down and vent and get nowhere type of session. EMDR is a different approach. And I’ve gotten enough advanced training and experience to become certified in EMDR to help you most efficiently move towards your goals. Ready to get started? If so, book a free consultation with me. If you want to find out more, check out my EMDR page.

  • Do you have a strong inner critic? Having trouble understanding why you do what you do? Instead of demonizing each part of you or trying to dismiss those pesky feelings, let’s work to understand them together using this very gentle approach to inner therapy work and healing.

  • While lesser known, this amazing therapy combines a variety of concepts from EMDR to progress you in working through a traumatic event faster. It’s different, in part, due to its focus on moving people to more peace in just a few sessions and “erasing and replacing” negative images. While arguably not as thorough as EMDR, it’s a great option if you’re looking to make some progress in addressing a specific traumatic event in less time. I offer Accelerated Resolution therapy in a weekly and biweekly 55 minute format, or in 3 hour blocks called “intensives” so that you can see your results faster and with less interruption to your life. To find our more about Accelerated Resolution Therapy, check out my page dedicated to this modality.

Ready to get started?

Here’s how it works.

  • Contact me.

    Set up a free consultation through my website or just give me a call when you get a minute. We’ll talk logistics (insurance, schedules etc.) and make sure we’re the right fit for each other. Then we’ll set up our official first counseling appointment.

  • Learn skills to manage emotions.

    If you’re like most people, you wouldn’t mind adding some more skills to your toolbox to help you manage emotions better. And that’s great, because that’s also one of the steps in EMDR therapy and a helpful skillset to have.

  • Get to the heart of the matter.

    Once you’re feeling more confident in your ability to manage emotions, we’ll get to the root of the issue using the method that best meets your needs. You’ll start to see and feel things differently and notice changes.

  • See lasting change and find more peace.

    Therapy ends when you’ve addressed your concerns and you’re seeing the changes in your life that you want to see. Oh what a life that will be! Give me a call or schedule a free consult today.

Validated methods.

Compassionate care.