about me

hello.

I’m Catherine Lee (she/hers) and I’m so glad that you are here.

Ever since I can remember, I have always gravitated to stories. Whether it was from the books I would read, or from sitting with someone sharing their life story- I’ve always been drawn to them. I’ve also been drawn to the experience of human suffering. Growing up as a child of immigrant parents and immersed in the community, I was surrounded by many rich stories filled with beauty, pain, and a whole lot of resilience. Perhaps all of these moments are what eventually drew me to pursue a career in counseling. Regardless of what led me here, I consider it a great privilege to journey alongside my clients.

I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Oregon and a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Washington currently providing virtual counseling for individuals in both states. I received my Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling in 2018 and hold a Bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Sciences which I received in 2012. In addition to my private practice, I have had the privilege of working with a diverse range of clients in different outpatient clinic settings, community mental health, as well as in higher education.

My counseling approach is trauma-informed, strengths-based, and relational.

I strongly believe that there is much healing that can naturally occur in the context of a safe relationship and my aim is to provide a safe nonjudgmental space for you to be able to process through your emotions and thoughts, as well as offer a hand in brainstorming ways to find some relief as well. I view counseling as a collaborative process, with us working together to explore different insights and discover ways for you to feel more like your authentic self and more in line with your values.

This may look like:

• recognizing patterns in your life that are not serving you anymore.

• learning skills to manage your stress.

• harnessing your natural set of skills, strengths, and resources.

• getting more in tune with your emotions, your intuition, as well as building your mind-body connection.

I draw from various evidence-based modalities including techniques from:

• Solution Focused Therapy: a collaborative strengths-based approach in which we amplify the skills, strengths, and resources that are working for you.

• ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy): mindfulness and acceptance skills, as well as finding ways to align more consistently with your values.

• DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy): providing skills to manage painful emotions and to navigate conflict in relationships.

• Motivational Interviewing: helping resolve ambivalence to uncover your internal motivation.

• EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing): an evidence-based tool for helping people reprocess traumatic memories. It can lead to a reduction in emotional distress and negative somatic sensations as well.

Overall, I like to tailor counseling to the unique needs of my individual clients.

Outside of work, you can catch me walking my sassy dog Roni, cheering on the Portland Trailblazers, listening to podcasts, and enjoying the beautiful nature that the Pacific Northwest has to offer.