Dr. Elena Ruiz, PsyD
Clinical psychologist · FounderElena opened Stillwater in 2014 after a decade in hospital psychiatry. She works gently with anxiety and trauma using EMDR and CBT.
In person & video · English / Spanish
Counselling & psychotherapy · Portland, Oregon
Still water runs deep. So do you.
A calm, unhurried practice of licensed therapists for anxiety, low mood, relationships and trauma. In our Pearl District rooms or by secure video, wherever you are in Oregon.
Licensed in OregonMost insurance acceptedEvening & weekend times
Next openings4 therapists have new-client times this week.
How we can help
All servicesTherapy for the things you carry
Every therapist at Stillwater is licensed, trained in evidence-based approaches and chosen for their warmth.
Anxiety & stress
Racing thoughts, panic, sleepless nights. Learn practical skills to quiet the alarm and live with more ease.
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Depression & low mood
When everything feels heavy. We work at your pace to rebuild energy, meaning and self-compassion.
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Couples therapy
Stuck in the same argument? Gottman and EFT-informed sessions to reconnect and repair.
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Trauma & EMDR
Evidence-based trauma care — EMDR, CPT and somatic approaches — in a setting that feels safe.
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Teens & young adults
Support for ages 13–25 with school stress, identity, friendships and big feelings.
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Grief & life transitions
Loss, divorce, new parenthood, retirement. A steady place to make sense of what has changed.
Learn more →A one-minute pause
Before anything else, breathe with us.
Press start and follow the pebble: in for four, hold for two, out for six. Three rounds are usually enough to soften the edges of a hard day.
Ready when you are
3 rounds · about a minute
Our therapists
Try the matcherSix clinicians, one gentle approach
Not sure where to start? Our three-question matcher suggests who to talk to first.
David Okafor, LMFT
Couples & family therapistTwenty years of helping couples argue less and listen more. Level 3 Gottman-trained, endlessly patient, quietly funny.
In person & video · English
Claire Whitmore, LCSW
Therapist · Grief & life transitionsClaire supports people through loss, new parenthood and big change, with warmth and room for whatever you bring.
Video only · English
How it works
Getting started is simpler than it feels
Reach out
Book a free 15-minute call or use the matcher. We reply within one business day.
Get matched
Our intake coordinator pairs you with a therapist based on your needs, schedule and preferences.
First session
A relaxed 50-minute conversation about what brings you here and what you hope will change.
Grow at your pace
Weekly or fortnightly sessions, in person in Portland or by secure video anywhere in Oregon.
In person or online
A room that feels like exhaling
Our Pearl District rooms are quiet, soundproofed and full of daylight. Prefer home? Secure video sessions work just as well for most concerns.
- Soundproofed rooms, private side entrance
- HIPAA-compliant video, no downloads needed
- Early morning, evening and Saturday sessions
- Free parking and two blocks from the streetcar
In their words
Small shifts, real change
Shared with permission and anonymised to protect privacy.
“I had tried therapy twice before and never felt understood. Within three sessions with Elena I had words for things I’d carried for years.”
“David didn’t take sides. He gave us tools we still use at the kitchen table. We’re genuinely kinder to each other now.”
“Video sessions from my car on lunch break made it possible. Claire made it feel like a real room anyway.”
12years in Portland
6licensed clinicians
48htypical wait for a first session
$70sliding-scale sessions from
The journal
All articlesNotes on feeling better
What actually happens in a first therapy session
Paperwork, a lot of listening and no pressure to share everything at once. Here is what to expect.
The 4-7-8 breath, and why it works
A two-minute practice that nudges your nervous system out of fight-or-flight.
How to tell if your therapist is a good fit
Feeling safe matters more than credentials. Five signs it’s working, and what to do if it isn’t.
Whenever you’re ready
Begin with a free 15-minute call.
Talk with our intake coordinator, ask anything, and we’ll suggest the therapist who fits you best. No forms, no pressure.