Garret Forshee (he/him)

Licensed Clinical Social Worker #69914

CLINICAL APPROACH

We all can use a trusted person to bounce things off from time to time. Someone invested in asking about life's painful and prideful moments. Someone that can give an objective perspective on relationship problems or life decisions. Someone that thoroughly enjoys learning about why you see the world the way you do.

I gravitate towards cognitive behavioral therapy interventions in an effort to help clients gain awareness on their actions, feelings and thoughts. I believe once we understand the reasons why we react emotionally, we are able to use that knowledge to redirect how we think, feel, and act in the future. I place a heavy emphasis on validation and building rapport; getting to know clients on a variety of levels helps tough conversations happen more naturally when the context is filled in.

Throughout my career, I have most enjoyed working with teenagers and young adults who are ready to discuss what matters most to them, question habitual thinking and behavior patterns, and see how it feels to do things differently every once in a while.

ABOUT ME

Therapy has been a great fit for me as I am a very social person, I love getting into the details of situations, decisions, relationships, and analyzing them with others. I grew up volunteering a bunch, and although the finished project was satisfying, the most memorable moments were times spent talking with new people. In my free time, I try to stay active and social through hiking, surfing, getting out of the house, running, seeing movies in the theaters, and hanging out with family and friends in the area. One of my initial motivations to be a therapist was a hope to make a positive impact on the ongoing acts of violence around this country.

SERVICES I OFFER

Virtual sessions for:

  • Individual Therapy (Teens)

THERAPEUTIC MODALITIES & PRACTICES I USE

  • Mindfulness

  • Motivational Interviewing

  • Narrative Therapy

  • Solution-Focused Therapy

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (trauma-informed)

  • Crisis Intervention

  • Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)


SPECIALTIES

  • Phobias

  • Violent acts

  • Threats of violence

  • OCD

  • Depression

  • Anxiety


AREAS OF CONCERN I WORK WITH

  • Loneliness

  • Narcissism

  • Neglect

  • Oppositional & Defiant Behaviors

  • Parenting Issues

  • Perfectionism

  • Personality Disorders

  • Pessimism

  • Phobias

  • Procrastination & Motivation

  • Psychosis

  • PTSD

  • Relationship Problems

  • Schizoaffective Disorder

  • Schizophrenia

  • School Avoidance

  • Self-Esteem

  • Self-Harm

  • Sensitivity To Rejection & Criticism

  • Sensory Processing

  • Shyness

  • Sleep Problems (Nightmares, Night Terrors, Insomnia)

  • Social Skills

  • Spiritual & Religious Issues

  • Stress & Stress Management

  • Suicide (Attempted, Ideation)

  • Terminal Illness

  • Trauma

  • Trust Issues

  • Video Game Addiction

  • Abandonment

  • Abuse (Emotional, Verbal, Physical, Sexual) (Offender)

  • Abuse (Emotional, Verbal, Physical, Sexual) (Survivor)

  • Academic Problems

  • Acting Out Behaviors

  • Adoption

  • Aggression/Violence (In Children, Teens & Adults)

  • Anger

  • Anxiety (Generalized, OCD, Panic Attacks, Panic Disorder, Social)

  • Attachment Issues

  • Attention Problems/ADHD

  • Bipolar

  • Bullied By Others

  • Bullies Others

  • Codependency

  • Depression (Major, Seasonal)

  • Discrimination

  • Divorce (Supporting Teens)

  • Family Conflict

  • Fire Setting

  • Grief, Loss & Bereavement

  • Health & Medical Problems

  • Identity Exploration

  • Illness Within the Family

  • Impulsivity

  • Learning Difficulties

  • LGBTQ+ Concerns (Anxiety, Coming Out, Depression, Discrimination from Family/Friends/Community)

  • Life Transitions

* Areas of concern in bold are areas I'm particularly passionate about working with

EDUCATION & WORK EXPERIENCE

Education:

  • Masters of Social Work from Portland State University

  • B.A. in Social Work from University of Portland

Work Experience: 

  • Therapist at Teen Therapy Center (2018-present)

  • Clinical Social Worker for the University of Irvine Medical Center, providing support to patients receiving treatment in the Emergency Department, Trauma Unit, Burn ICU, Medical Pulmonary ICU, NICU, Palliative Care, General Medicine, Neurology, Neurosurgery, and outpatient clinic service teams. (2018)

  • Medical Social Worker for Sutter Health, providing psychosocial assessment, crisis intervention, emotional support, and information on beneficial community services to ICU patients and their families. (2016-2018)

  • Medical Social Worker for Sub-Acute Saratoga Children's Hospital, collaborating with the medical team, families, and community agencies to provide a quality and beneficial living environment for patients undergoing significant medical treatment. Coordinating discharges and family support groups. Co-leading group therapy sessions with patients on a weekly basis. (2012-2016)

  • Caseworker for the Department of Human Services. Providing ongoing support to teenagers in the legal custody of the State of Oregon. Caseworker for the Teen Unit and CSEC (Commercially and Sexually Exploited Children) Unit. Coordinating foster placements, attending court hearings, participating in IEP meetings, crisis intervention, investigating opportunities for reunification or adoption. (2008-2012)

  • Teacher Counselor for Christie Care Residential Treatment Center (2012)