Women’s Mental Health In Portland
Image: HeLa Cells.
Are You A Woman in Portland Who Feels Frustrated, Overwhelmed, And Burnt Out?
Have you been struggling with mood swings, irritability, or severe anxiety?
Do you feel burnt out from having to fulfill a million demands and carry a million responsibilities?
Does it feel like no one acknowledges how hard you work or how stressed you feel?
Maybe you're in a relationship or marriage where your needs aren't being met and you don't feel seen or appreciated for who you are. Or perhaps you're part of Portland's tech industry, healthcare sector, or creative economy, and you feel like you have to work twice as hard as your male counterparts just to move ahead—and even then you don't reap the same rewards.
This inequality is real: Oregon women who work full-time earn only 88.5% of what their male colleagues make. On top of this financial disparity, you might be struggling to achieve a healthy work-life balance, especially if you have a family with children, and this could leave you wondering if it's time to invest in self-care and get professional support.
Understanding the Unique Pressures Facing Women in the Rose City
Portland women face distinct challenges, from navigating careers in the competitive Pearl District business sector to managing family life in neighborhoods like Irvington or Hawthorne. The pressure to excel professionally while maintaining personal relationships can be particularly intense in a city where the cost of living continues to rise and work-life balance remains elusive for many.
Postpartum And Reproductive Issues Could Take A Toll On Your Mental Health
On top of work demands and family stress, there may be medical problems getting in the way of your ability to be productive and enjoy life. You might be wrestling with menopause, pre-menstrual mood disorders, and other issues tied to getting older and navigating life cycle challenges.
What's more, maybe you're struggling with infertility—you're aware that your biological clock is ticking, and that's created a sense of anxiety about whether you'll be able to have children or not.
Or perhaps you're a new mother who's dealing with postpartum depression, and you're finding that life with your newborn is not as joyful as you expected. According to the CDC, 1 in 8 women (12.5%) in the U.S. experience postpartum depression, while Oregon historically reports rates around 18.2% —significantly higher than the national average.
No matter what your challenges are, I am here to help. As a Board Certified psychiatrist, therapist, and a woman myself, I specialize in treating women's mental health issues and I am confident that I can provide the compassionate and evidence-based support you're looking for. With over three decades of clinical experience, including my unique training from Harvard, Cornell, and Columbia, I bring a depth of understanding that Portland women can count on.
Many Women In Our Society Suffer In Silence
In a patriarchal society, women are often taught to put other people before themselves and sacrifice their own needs for the sake of others. They're told to prioritize their children, their jobs, their spouses, and their families above their own self-care. As a result, many women end up sleeping little, gaining weight, and going through their days exhausted and burnt out. Yet because they're not supposed to prioritize their needs, they often suffer in silence.
Additionally, many women face an uphill climb when it comes to their careers. Not only are they often underpaid and underappreciated in the workplace, but few of them have mentors to help advocate for raises and promotions. The pressure to "have it all" while navigating systemic workplace inequalities can be overwhelming, especially in Portland's competitive job market. In many ways, the cards are stacked against us, and this is one of many reasons why more and more women are turning to therapy for extra support.
Supporting Portland's Professional Women
Whether you're navigating the tech industry in the Silicon Forest, working in healthcare at OHSU, or building your career in Portland's creative sector, the unique pressures facing professional women require specialized support. As the founder of Mary E. Theodore, MD, MPH Psychiatry, I understand the specific challenges facing women in the Portland metropolitan area.
Women Are Often Ignored Or Invalidated By The Medical Profession
Unfortunately, when women seek medical help, they are often overlooked and their concerns are minimized or downplayed. This has been the case for centuries, and it still continues to this day. If they present with anger, they are usually blamed for their own problems—few are willing to look deeper at the hurt and loss that lie beneath their anger. Oftentimes, medical professionals even label women as "crazy" when they express pain and frustration.
What's more, when women experience anxiety, depression, ADHD, and other mental health disorders, their symptoms often present differently than men. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 26.4% of women experience mental illness compared to 19.7% of men, yet they often receive less adequate treatment. This is why it's important for them to see a trusted female psychiatrist with expertise in treating women's issues and experience working through many of those same issues herself.
Therapy Can Help Women Get Compassionate, Evidence-Based Care in Northwest Portland
Most women are used to being overlooked or invalidated by medical professionals. Thankfully, you won't have to worry about that at my practice. Here, you will be taken seriously. You will undergo a thorough evaluation and receive comprehensive and evidence-based care. Your fears, pains, and losses will be acknowledged and empathically addressed. And most importantly, you will finally get the results you're looking for.
The great thing about seeking therapy with me is that I understand the challenges of being a woman firsthand. I am attuned to the biases women face, and I have experienced many of them myself. I also possess extensive medical training, decades of clinical experience, and an in-depth understanding of gynecology and other medical issues that allow me to provide targeted therapy and medication management for my patients. It makes it easier to coordinate care, keep track of medication side effects, maintain an up-to-date safety record, and minimize delays between treatments.
What To Expect In Women's Counseling Sessions At Our Nob Hill Practice
Treatment with me will be customized to meet your needs, goals, and preferences, as I understand that every woman is different and deserves individualized care. Whether you're a busy professional commuting from Sellwood-Moreland, a mother in the Beaumont-Wilshire neighborhood, or a student at OHSU, I’ll tailor my approach to fit your unique circumstances.
In general, the three main pillars of my approach to women's therapy are outlined as follows:
Diagnoses and Medical Testing—In the beginning, I will conduct an in-depth medical assessment of your symptoms. Drawing from my Master's in Public Health as well as my medical doctorate from Albert Einstein College of Medicine, I bring a comprehensive medical perspective often missing in standard therapy practices. This can help us rule out any underlying medical disorders and figure out if any co-occurring conditions are impacting your anxiety, depression, ADHD, etc.
Insight-Oriented Psychotherapy—During our counseling sessions, I can help you work on increasing self-esteem, investing in self-care, and improving your mental health. Therapy can also focus on working through postpartum depression/anxiety as well as challenges related to infertility, as these issues can take a toll on your emotional wellbeing.
Medication Management—Medication is not mandatory, but it can make the work of therapy easier, helping you stabilize your mood and giving you the motivation to implement lifestyle changes. As a Board Certified psychiatrist with extensive training in psychopharmacology, I have the expertise to assess what kinds of medication would benefit you and discuss your readiness to pursue pharmaceutical treatment. Together, we'll carefully evaluate options that align with your goals and lifestyle.
Thanks to my in-depth knowledge of medical issues and my compassionate approach to therapy, my patients really do get better. They don't languish in therapy for years, and they often get results after the first day. I aim to help women improve their lives in a way that is efficient and lasting, and I believe that I can do the same for you.
You May Have Some Concerns About Women's Mental Health Therapy in Portland…
I have tried doctors before and that always ends in frustration.
I am up to date on the latest literature about women's physical and mental health, and I am a woman myself who has had personal experience as a patient in the medical profession. With my unique background—from my role as Director of Mental Health at a Manhattan HIV center to my experience as a first responder at Ground Zero on 9/11—I bring an extraordinary depth of compassion and understanding to my Portland practice. I understand the unique social and cultural barriers that women face, as I have navigated them myself. Between my personal experience and my professional acumen, I'm confident that this time will be different for you, and that you will finally start to feel better.
I worry that I’m too busy for counseling.
Most women are used to putting others first and themselves last, which is why many of them end up depleted, overworked, and underappreciated. This is especially true for women juggling careers, raising families, or managing the demands of Portland’s entrepreneurial culture.
Counseling is a chance to put yourself first and invest in self-care. When your own mental health improves, it can revitalize your life and give you the energy to serve others more effectively. What's more, I offer flexible meeting times as well as virtual sessions, so I am confident that I can accommodate your busy schedule.
My Nob Hill location is also easily accessible via public transit, with nearby MAX stops and convenient parking options for those coming from Southeast Portland, Beaverton, or Lake Oswego.
I’m not sure that I want to go on medication.
Depending on your symptoms, I may recommend medication, but whether you take it is always up to you. The good news is that, because I am a licensed psychiatrist with Board Certification and specialized training, I am able to help patients develop a medication plan that is safe, effective, and comfortable for them. This is especially important if you are pregnant or looking to become pregnant—I can help you manage your medications in a way that won't harm your baby.
You Deserve To Feel Seen, Heard, Supported, And Understood
If you want to see a specialist in Portland who understands women's mental health issues from both a personal and professional standpoint, then I encourage you to pursue therapy with me. To learn more about my approach, you can use the contact form or call 646-593-2134.
Serving patients in Portland, Oregon at our Nob Hill office (2250 NW Flanders St #310), conveniently located near Good Samaritan Hospital and accessible from Northwest 23rd Avenue, the Pearl District, and all Portland metro neighborhoods. Also serving patients in NYC and throughout New York via telehealth and in-person sessions.
Are You Ready To Schedule A Session Or Still Have A Question?
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