Lyndsey Upton (They/Them), M.Ed, NCC, Professional Counselor Associate specializes in neurodivergence, LGBTQ+, disability, trauma, depression, and anxiety therapy for older adolescents and adults. They received their Masters of Education in Professional Mental Health Counseling from the University of West Georgia. Lyndsey is currently working under the supervision of Emily Decker, MS, LPC.
As a mental health professional, I work from an underlying Person-Centered, Existential, and Third-Wave Positive Psychology approach, with the client as the expert of their own life and a willingness to be flexible in therapeutic technique or theory as it aids the client’s presenting concerns. I also take from Liberation Psychology and include a Social Justice/Feminism Orientation to therapy, teaching clients to handle issues individually while also understanding and rising out of contextual suffering based in economic, racial, gender, sexuality, and other systems of oppression. I aim to help clients re-write the stories of their lives as well as establish a systems-based understanding of illness or suffering while embracing the systemic healing factors at their fingertips. I attempt to always maintain a contextual understanding of suffering and illness through the lenses of colonialism, ableism, non-medical models of disability, discrimination, marginalization, class and wealth differences, and inequitable treatment.
Utilizing primarily neurodivergent and disability affirming along with trauma-informed practices; I operate out of a lense combining Somatic, Acceptance and Commitment (ACT) Therapy, IFS/Parts Work-informed, Interpersonal Neurobiology, Polyvagal, and Expressive Arts foundations as a basis for therapy. My outlook on the primary mode of change is the reconnection of clients to their values, purpose, and life goals; as well as the acceptance of suffering as a normal part of living, and the other side of the coin when developing a life filled with meaning. I utilize the inherent wisdom of our brains and bodies, with an understanding of the brain’s natural social nature and healing capabilities, as well as helping clients to reconsolidate and integrate their understanding of themselves with all their differing parts and with current scientific findings. I also utilize Dialectical Behavioral interventions and modified cognitive work, with those it is helpful for, in order to further aid clients in the process of regulating and understanding their emotions and keeping them safe.
While fighting against suffering and pain are common and normal experiences to have, they make the pain worse and last longer than it could have. My philosophy to therapy entails helping clients accept, adapt, and cope with uncomfortable emotions and experiences in a way that doesn’t extend suffering. I also view mental health treatment holistically, with an emphasis on multiple factors of wellness and how co-occurring conditions and contexts such as physical pain or oppression can exacerbate suffering, and consider working holistically and contextually as important aspects of your treatment with me. Finally, I utilize the benefits of humor, human connection, and transference work; as well as connecting back to whatever spirituality, meaning, or connections are important in your life as aspects of treatment worth noting and measuring.
Special interests/training: neurodivergence, LGBTQ+, late diagnosed/discovered autistic & ADHD, Somatics, interactions between behavior and neuroscience, CALM, ASSIST, DBT, anti-ableist therapy, Anti-Oppressive Trauma work, Mutual/Direct Aid
Primary Modalities: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Internal Family Systems (IFS)/Parts Work-informed, Somatic Embodiment, Interpersonal Neurobiology, Expressive Arts, Mindfulness, Humanistic/Existential Theory, Feminist/Social Justice Theory
Insurance: Oregon Medicaid, CareOregon, HealthShare, Open Card, Out of Pocket - Discount Available for Uninsured
In the News
Check out Lyndsey's appearance on the Autistics Speak podcast:
