You don’t have to fight your mind to feel better.
DR. Elisabeth Musch, Licensed Psychologist in ORegon and Washington
What would you like to know about me?
I’ve been a licensed psychologist in Oregon and Washington for the past 11 years. (If you’re interested in details of my training and education, you can see those by scrolling to the bottom of this page.) I spent the first part of my career as a senior staff psychologist in university counseling centers, which I like to think gave me a lot of practice working with people from many walks of life, dealing with all kinds of different concerns.
Because of that varied experience, I consider myself a generalist at heart. However, I have additional specialized training in and passion for helping folks who are navigating trauma, anxiety, OCD, and body image/disordered eating concerns.
On a more personal note, I have lived experience with anxiety and OCD, which informs some of that interest and passion I just mentioned. I’m a naturalized US citizen but was born in Bangkok, Thailand and am a bi-racial, bi-ethnic child of immigrants and a third-culture kid. (My father was Austrian, and my mother is Thai.) I grew up in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and have lived in Thailand and Canada, as well as the United States.
What it’s like to work with me
I often joke with friends, colleagues, and clients that I am a therapy nerd. I find people (and the range of ways to help them with their suffering) endlessly fascinating.
This is reflected in the way I work, in that my approach to therapy is integrative. (It draws from a variety of different approaches and is informed by what research tells us is effective with certain concerns.) Each person is unique, which means that what will be helpful to them may be different than what is helpful to someone else.
I help people relate differently to their discomfort—not by forcing it away, but by understanding what it might be trying to do for them, building a more compassionate relationship with their emotions and bodies, and creating space for new ways of responding that align with who they want to be rather than who old patterns expect them to be.
MY GUIDING PRINCIPLES
Compassion.
We’ll create a warm, nonjudgmental space where you can learn to approach your emotions with kindness and curiosity, rather than criticism.
Knowledge.
I’ll integrate psychological science into our work, not rigidly, but in a way that supports deep understanding and empowerment to respond differently.
Trust.
I believe in your innate ability to heal and adapt, even if you feel stuck.
Authenticity.
I aim to be myself in sessions and to help you connect with your true self.
TRAINING & EDUCATION
I’m committed to ongoing education & training to best support your healing.
Level 3 Internal Family Systems Therapist
EMDRIA-Certified EMDR Therapist
Senior Staff Psychologist, University of Oregon Counseling Center, 2014-2020
Postdoctoral Psychology Resident, Pacific University Student Counseling Center, 2012-2013
Doctoral Intern, Oregon State University Counseling and Psychological Services, 2011-2012
Ph.D., Counseling Psychology and School Psychology, Florida State University, 2012
Ed.S. and M.S., Mental Health Counseling, Florida State University, 2008