The Professional

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (#T1450) in Portland, OR specializing in working with children and families. My therapy practice is called The Real Work and I am SO PROUD of the beautiful team of child specialists who work here with me! If you’re looking for therapy, that’s the place to go for kids and parents! A bit more about my background: I am trained in Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) and in DIR/Floortime therapy, a holistic, interdisciplinary approach to working with children, especially those diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder and other sensory processing differences. The work that I do with individuals, families, and parent-child relationships is influenced by interpersonal neurobiology and current research on attachment theory and mind-body integration. I love supporting parents and families as they confront new diagnoses or work through new challenges that come with each stage of development. 

I received my Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology: Marriage and Family Therapy from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology in 2013. Before that, I earned a B.A. in English, with an emphasis on Creative Writing. I still write, and my first love is fictional short stories! My love for the complexity of stories is what led me to a profession where I get to engage with human stories of resilience, struggle, love and creativity every day!

The Personal

I launched The Real Experts Community and classes after 13 years in practice as a therapist, and it was not just because I’d seen the desperate need of countless parents for community, specialzed support, and ongoing resources outside of therapy. It was also because I’d spent the past two years navigating increasingly difficult and intense needs and behaviors from my own son, who not only has a medical trauma history but also turned out to be both gifted and to have significant developmenetal differences: a Twice-Exceptional kid of my own. School was not a match for him, we were in the midst of covid, and I felt incredibly lost, alone, and I wanted to find another way to work that allowed me the ability to support parents on-the-go, in case my son needed me. Enter: The Real Experts. I truly hope that we can all share our experiences together as we navigate our complicated and often pain-filled and exhausting lifestyles with our neurodivergent kids. Join me! I can’t wait to meet you and hear all about you and your child!

Rebekah’s Educational Background

Portland State University: Infant Toddler Mental Health, 2018-2019

Association for Play Therapy: Registered Play Therapist

Chicago School of Professional Psychology: Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy, 2013

Azusa Pacific University: Bachelor of Arts in English

Rebekah’s Professional Affiliations

Association for Play Therapy (APT)
Oregon Association for Play Therapy (ORAPT) American Association for Marital and Family Therapy (AAMFT)

Training and Background

• As an LMFT I regularly participate in continuing education in Play Therapy, Law and Ethics, Family Systems and other areas of interest.

• Portland State University’s Graduate Certificate Program in Infant Mental Health,

• Faculty: Play Strong Institute at The Center for Connection

Professional Training

In 2013, I began my work as a therapist as a Developmental Supervisor and Intake Clinician at Real Connections Child Development Institute in Monrovia, CA, where I was supervised by Ben Zequeira-Russell, Psy.D. (lic. #psy19727). Here I was trained in DIR/Floortime and worked with children and families with diagnoses of Autism Spectrum Disorder, sensory processing differences, medical fragility and other genetic and nuerodevelopmental differences.

The approach here was based in interpersonal neurobiology, child development, and the DIR model for intervention. I got to provide one-on-one child centered treatment with a special priority on connecting with and learning from parents of these children. I believe that supporting parents in their choices, ability to manage stress, and in celebrating their successes is integral to family and individual health.

I am currently working towards my certification as a Registered Play Therapist through the Association for Play Therapy.

MY WORKSHOPS AND PRESENTATIONS

Assessing Neurodevelopmental Differences in Play Therapy // Play Strong Institute at The Center for Connection // October 2018

Working with Parents in Play Therapy // Firefly Institute for Research and Education // May 2019