David A. Ryan

David is currently not accepting new patients.

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Expertise & Specialties:

• Anxiety Disorders (generalized anxiety, social anxiety, panic disorders)

• Attachment Issues

• Behavioral and Emotional Dysregulation

• Experiential, in-the-moment therapy

• Guiding clients through moments of stuckness into forward movement

• Interpersonal and Relationship Concerns

• Relational healing and emotional safety

• Self-discovery and self-validation

• Self-Esteem and Identity Issues

• Shame and Guilt

• Supporting emotional risk-taking and growth

• Transforming insight into embodied change

• Trauma and PTSD

• Working with clients navigating complex internal landscapes with curiosity and care

 

Therapy Approaches & Training:

• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

• Brainspotting

• Somatic and experiential methods

• Moment-to-moment relational work that is practical and deeply attuned

• Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy

• Jungian Approach
   

 

Meet David:
I see therapy as a creative, collaborative process of self-discovery and self-validation. I believe each person already holds the inner wisdom and potential to grow into their most fully expressed self. For me, understanding the “why” matters only if it helps us grasp the “what” and “how” needed to open the heart to risk, connection, and transformation.

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With over 25 years in the helping profession, I focus on trauma-informed care, experiential therapy, and relational healing. I specialize in working with clients who are navigating self-discovery, emotional resilience, and a deeper understanding of themselves in connection with others. My work is centered on creating a space where meaningful, experiential change can occur in the moment and is shaped by decades of walking alongside people through a wide range of life experiences. 

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While I’ve studied countless modalities and theories, I return again and again to what makes a difference in the room. I believe that change doesn’t come from insight alone—it comes from what we’re able to feel, risk, and experience in real time. I work with individuals who are ready to engage in this kind of courageous, present-moment work—clients who are looking not just to understand themselves, but to shift how they relate to themselves and others.

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Clinical Background:

I’m a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and have spent over 25 years immersed in the helping professions. My career has included clinical work, program development, and organizational leadership. I currently serve as Co-Chief Executive Officer and Co-Chief Clinical Officer at Connections First in Portland, Oregon. I’m trained in EMDR and Brainspotting and am continually engaged in ongoing professional learning and development.

 

What to Expect in Therapy:
I bring a dynamic, responsive, and creative energy to each session. I aim to stay close to a client’s growing edge and support the next step, wherever it may lead. While I draw from well-established clinical frameworks, I believe the most important work we do is what happens between us, moment by moment. My approach is grounded, intuitive, and always tailored to the unfolding process in the room.

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I offer a therapeutic experience that’s alive, engaged, and rooted in the here-and-now. I value honesty, emotional risk, and real connection. Clients can expect to be challenged and supported in equal measure—to move beyond insight into direct, embodied experience. My intention is always to co-create a space where something real can happen, something that can’t be unlearned.

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At this time, I am not accepting new clients. If you’re interested in learning more about our team at Connections First, I invite you to contact us at (503) 427-1952 or email hello@connectionsfirst.org. We’ll be glad to help you find a clinician who’s the right fit for your journey.