Abby Goldsby

(She/They)

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Expertise & Specialties:

• Complex trauma (developmental, relational, attachment)

• Dissociation and dissociative experiences

• Intellectualizers or those who feel as if they are "too self-aware"

• Chronic shame and self-worth issues, "people pleasing," avoidance, emotional regulation concerns

• Neurodivergence-informed (ADHD and Autism Spectrum)

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Therapy Approaches & Training:

• Internal Family Systems (IFS)

• Coherence Therapy

• Trauma-Informed Stabilization Treatment

• LGBTQIA+ affirming care

• Relational framework

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Meet Abby:

I take a compassionate, curious approach to difficult symptoms, believing that these started off as well-intentioned solutions formed to help you survive. Through relational safety built at your own pace, the past emotional learning at the root of the issues can be gently untangled and finally left behind. My hope is that therapy will bring you clarity, inner peace, and a sense of wholeness.

 

Most of my clients have experienced some kind of significant dysfunction in their attachment figures or upbringings, which on top of traditional trauma symptoms usually leads to secondary issues of anxiety, depression, internalized shame, interpersonal struggles like "people pleasing" or avoidance, chronic dysregulation such as dissociation or reactivity, and dissonance between what is rationally known and what feels emotionally true. Many have found these to be a barrier to progress in therapy in the past. I practice from the assumption that these all make sense on a deep and personal level to you, and that we can work with them instead of against them. 

 

To do this, my approach integrates powerful, depth-oriented styles of therapy, including Coherence Therapy and Internal Family Systems. These involve the neurobiological process of memory reconsolidation to update old emotional truths, bridging the gaps between mind and body, and building a kinder relationship with your inner world. I'm further grounded in a trauma-informed, anti-oppressive framework that respects and trusts your lived experiences. I value consent, collaboration, and authenticity as central to our work together. As a queer-identified, neuro-affirming therapist, I also specialize in LGBTQIA+ issues and work to understand and accommodate your unique needs.

 

Clinical Background:

Since 2018, I've worked in various mental health settings including community clinics, school-based outpatient, psychiatric residential treatment, and crisis lines. I earned my Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri and my Master's degree in Professional Mental Health Counseling from Lewis & Clark College here in Portland. 

 

What to Expect in Therapy:

Expect a space where all parts of you will be welcomed with warmth and care. I use bottom-up modalities for healing, meaning that instead of traditional talk therapy where you stay in your head, we'll safely explore and process on an embodied level to create profound, lasting shifts inside. If you're ready to do the deep work to heal, I'd be honored to be your guide.