Marie Mellberg

Hi, I am Marie (she/her) (pronounced like “Mary”)! I am a trans-racial adoptee who grew up, primarily, in Portland, Oregon. Being raised by a White family, I am intimately aware of and well-versed in the specific type of racism that is perpetrated by well-meaning progressives (mainly in the form of microaggressions and racial gaslighting).

I graduated with my master’s in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling (clinical mental health, specializing in chronic illnesses, disability, and psychosocial adjustment) from Portland State University (PSU), a CACREP accredited program, in 2015. Later, I was the Program Coordinator and Assistant Professor for the Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling program at PSU and taught several graduate counseling-specific courses at Lewis & Clark College.

My therapeutic process is to facilitate personal growth through collaboration, bringing about resilience, self-empowerment, and independence. I believe that every person has a best self and that by tapping into our strengths we can precipitate lasting change. The bio-psycho-social counseling approach of mind, body, and spirit in working with the total individual is the basic theoretical foundation of my work with clients and supervisees.

As part of my values, I believe early-career professionals deserve strong support to build the foundation of their careers in counseling. Enjoying your work and your life while allowing it to become deep and meaningful are critical to avoid burnout and I am a fan of quality-of-life. Ongoing supervision and consultation are essential to maintaining the boundaries required for a successful work-life balance.

I offer strengths-based work and I am committed to providing care and supervision that recognizes and is tailored to the experiences and needs of those most marginalized and minoritized. This includes, but is not limited to, the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color), LGBTQ+, and Disabled communities.

In my general framework for clinical supervision, I consider the dynamic aspects in the client-therapist relationship, in hand with our nature as biological beings (cuz science!). To aid in organizing your supervision experience, I use the Systems Approach, the Discrimination Model, and Relational Alliance Model as my primary supervision modalities, all of which are grounded in the Relational-Cultural and Feminist Theories. I will always consider your development and competency level with an emphasis on honoring your identity and supporting your growth and development.

While supervision is primarily meant to strengthen your clinical skills, I recognize that there are many intersections of identities and the effect of socio-cultural systems on members of minoritized groups and my role is to facilitate the discovery process within the context of the individual’s cultural worldview. We will work on how we can work to address issues of power, systemic dysfunction in institutions, the intersections of race, gender, ability and culture, vicarious trauma, and inter/cross-cultural awareness and communication. I encourage awareness of parallel processes and transference/countertransference.

I also believe clinicians need truly safe and engaging spaces to address their own mental health in supervision. I help clinicians develop their clinical skills, areas of expertise, and work through complicated ethical or self-as-the-therapist issues. I provide a space to efficiently troubleshoot everyday challenges when working with clients that go beyond treatment, keeping ethics and your values aligned to your best practices inside and outside of the therapy room.

I share many of the intersectionalities of the clients and supervisees I work with and, as a Queer Woman of Color (QWOC) with a non-apparent disability, I have lived experience that can be invaluable. Working within institutions that were built from and continue to function from White supremacy has been difficult, however, I work tirelessly to be a part of the change that I want to see in these structures; and benefitting from my proximity to Whiteness, I am in a unique and privileged position to use my voice and platform to bring marginalized and minoritized voices to the table.

I have a deep understanding of Portland’s history as an anti-Black system, and the knowledge and experience around advocacy and policy to make real changes for the communities most impacted. I have honed my skills in advocacy, facilitation, training, leadership, consultation, advising, clinical supervision, and community organizing. I enjoy collaborating with multi-disciplinary and diverse teams to create and problem-solve new processes and systems. I believe that my background in culturally and disability-specific counseling, education, and lived experience can assist in helping facilitate an opportunity for my clients, supervisees, and myself to learn and grow together.

Credentials

Education

  • Master of Science, Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling ~ (2015)
  • Bachelor of Arts, Psychology ~ (2011)

Advanced Training

  • “An Intercultural Approach to Supervision and Training” ~ (2024)
  • “Student Counselor Wellness: Creating a Culture of Shared Responsibility for Counselors in Training Burnout” ~ (2024)
  • “Fostering Culturally Responsive Clinical Mental Health Counselors: Supervision Strategies and Considerations” ~ 2024)
  • “Providing Supervision for Art Therapy Students” ~ (2023)
  • “Clinical Supervision and Expressive Arts” ~ (2023)
  • “Trauma Informed Spirit & Soul” ~ (2023)
  • “Ethics in Group Supervision” ~ (2023)
  • “Integrated Behavioral Healthcare: Integrating A Holistic & Culturally Sensitive Approach to Improve Health & Wellness in BIPOC Communities” ~ (2023)
  • “Reclaiming Identity & Healing Through Decolonization: A Liberation Psychology & Trauma Informed Approach to BIPOC Assessment” ~ (2023)
  • “Therapy in the Borderlands: Strengths-Based, Feminist, and Decolonial Approaches for Latinx Immigrant Clients and Their Families” ~ (2023)
  • “Putting the Ancient Cultural Tradition Back into our Stolen Practices: From Personal to Collective Liberation” ~ (2023)
  • “Examining The Implications of Systemic Racism and Oppression on BIPOC Boys and Men as They Relate to Trauma and Suicidality: Culturally and Trauma Informed Clinical, Risk, Assessment & Intervention” ~ (2023)
  • “Ethical Considerations of Telehealth and Social Media within Communities of Color” ~ (2023)
  • “Restorative Ethics: A Meditative Exploration of Ethical Vulnerabilities and Strengths” ~ (2022)
  • “Exploring Mandated Reporting through the Lens of Racial & Social Justice” ~ (2022)
  • “Advanced Clinical Supervision: Power, Transparency, and Self of The Therapist Issues in Supervision” ~ (2022)
  • “A Kaleidoscope of Career Interventions in an Age of Uncertainty” ~ (2021)
  • “An Intercultural Approach to Diversity Work: Effective Cultural Frameworks and Polyvagal-Informed Skills” ~ (2021)
  • “Sharpening Your Tools to Teach Coping Skills” ~ (2020)
  • “The Ethics of Self-Care: An Art Based Approach” ~ (2020)
  • “Emergency TelementalHealth Implementation: Moving Fast While Maintaining Standard of Care” ~ (2020)
  • “30-hour Clinical Supervision Training for Counselors & Therapists” ~ (2019)
  • “Grit & Grace: Multicultural Women’s Mental Health Conference” ~ (2019)
  • “The Couples Erotic Flow: Demystifying Sex Therapy with A Simple, Fun, and Effective Model” ~ (2019)
  • “Fall into You: Creating the Working Life You Want” ~ (2019)
  • “Sexual Shame” ~ (2019)
  • “Scope of Practice” ~ (2019)
  • “RACE TALKS Facilitator Training” ~ (2019)
  • “Externship in Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples” ~ (2018)
  • “Elder Abuse and Dementia” ~ (2018)
  • “Talking with Your Clients About Death and Dying” ~ (2018)
  • “Loneliness and Older Adults” ~ (2018)
  • “TBI: Behavioral Challenges, Needs and Strategies” ~ (2018)
  • “Navigating Aging/Disability Services for Complex Behavioral Health Clients” ~ (2018)
  • “The Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) Training” ~ (2017)
  • “Customized Self-Employment” ~ (2017)
  • “Creating Community Careers” ~ (2017)
  • “Understanding Medicaid Services and CAPS Assessments” ~ (2017)
  • “Racial Microaggressions in Clinical Practice” ~ (2017)
  • “Connection – Challenging Ageism” ~ (2017)
  • “Substance Use Disorders and Cognition” ~ (2017)
  • “Dementia in Older Adults with Chronic Mental Health Diagnosis” ~ (2017)
  • “Older Adults: Substance Use and Cognition” ~ (2017)
  • “Gambling and Older Adults” ~ (2017)
  • “Assessment and Planning for Gender-Affirming Surgery” ~ (2017)
  • “Introduction to Assertive Engagement” ~ (2017)
  • “Experiences of Dissociation within the Clinical Session” ~ (2017)
  • “Buried in Treasures Facilitator Training” ~ (2017)
  • “Hoarding Behaviors: Best Practices for Helping Clients in Low-Income Housing” ~ (2017)
  • “HIPAA and Behavioral Health” ~ (2017)
  • “CBT for Psychosis: An Individualized, Insight Oriented Approach” ~ (2016)
  • “Counseling Sex Trafficking Survivors: Understanding & Treating Complex Trauma” ~ (2016)
  • “Trauma & the Body: The Missing Piece of the Narrative” ~ (2016)
  • “Science on Tap: The Neuroscience of Trauma: From Trigger Warnings to PTSD with Dr. Larry Sherman” ~ (2016)
  • “Clinical Hypnosis” ~ (2016)
  • “Neurobiology of PTSD” ~ (2015)
  • “Options Counseling Class Summer/Fall 2015” ~ (2015)
  • “TBI: Returning to College After Concussions & Mild Brain Injuries” ~ (2015)
  • “Critical Family History” ~ (2015)
  • “Minimizing Trauma in the Healthcare Setting” ~ (2015)
  • “Living with Brain Injury & Neurological Changes: Thinking Outside the Box” ~ (2015)
  • “Ethical Issues in Multicultural Counseling” ~ (2015)
  • “Protecting Human Research Participants” ~ Certification Number: 1683843 ~ (2015)
  • “Hoarding Disorder: Effective Approaches to Assessment, Diagnosis and Treatment” ~ (2015)
  • “Enhancing Reflective Practice: The Ethics of Cultural Self-Awareness” ~ (2015)
  • “When Treatment Becomes Trauma: Defining, Preventing, and Transforming Medical Trauma” ~ (2015)
  • “Understanding Certification in Sexuality Education, Counseling, and Therapy” ~ (2014)
  • “Counseling Clients Experiencing Grief and Loss” ~ (2014)
  • “Working with Physical and Emotional Pain: Strategic Application of Mindful Awareness” ~ (2014)
  • “Exploring the Mind-Body Connection: Therapeutic Practices and Techniques” ~ (2014)
  • “Caring for Iraq and Afghanistan War Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury” ~ (2014)
  • “Addressing the Psychological Health of Warriors and Their Families” ~ (2014)
  • “Looking Ahead – Strategies for Better Outcomes” ~ (2014)
  • “Working with Substance-Abusing Trauma Survivors: An Introduction to Seeking Safety” ~ (2014)
  • “The Vision for Vocational Rehabilitation: Where We Are Headed and How We Will Get There” ~ (2014)
  • “Understanding and Treating Military Sexual Trauma” ~ (2014)

Teaching Experience

  • Portland State University – College of Education
    • “Foundations of Rehabilitation Counseling” (COUN 590) ~ (2019-2021)
    • “Case Management” (COUN 593) ~ (2019-2021)
    • “Multicultural Perspectives in Counseling” (COUN 581) ~ (2020-2022)
    • “Medical Aspects of Disability” (COUN 591) ~ (2020-2022)
    • “Career & Lifestyle Planning” (COUN 568) ~ (2020)
    • “Contemporary Issues & Applications in Rehabilitation Counseling” (COUN 595) ~ (2020-2022)
    • “Psychosocial Aspects of Disability” (COUN 592) ~ (2022)
  • Lewis & Clark College – Graduate School of Counselor Education
    • “Diversity & Social Equity” (AT 550) ~ (2018-2021)
    • “Clinical Practice: Counseling Skills in Art Therapy practice” (AT 526) ~ (2021-2022)
  • Cascadia Behavioral HealthCare & Independent Living Resources
    • “How to Obtain a Personal Care Attendant for Clients” (Staff Training) ~ (2017-2018)
    • “Interpersonal Relationships” ~ (2014-2018)

Presentation Experience

  • “Intent vs. Impact within Context” – (CEU Cultural Competency Certification: 1 hour) ~ Lewis and Clark College ~ (2020)
  • “Cultural Competency in Practice” – (CEU Cultural Competency Certification: 4 hours) ~ Transformational Learning Collective ~ (2019)
  • “Career Counseling in Private Practice” – Portland State University, Career Counseling ~ (2019)
  • “Multiculturalism, Social Justice, and Identity” – Portland State University, Introduction to Counseling ~ (2019)
  • “Clinical Relationship” – Lewis & Clark College, Potential Students Interview Day ~ (2019-2021)
  • “Working with People with Disabilities, People of Color and the GLBTQ+ Community” – Portland State University, Career and Lifestyle Planning ~ (2018)
  • “Counseling Students with Disabilities” – University of Portland, Foundations of Counseling for Student Affairs Professionals ~ (2018)
  • “Hoarding Disorder” – Independent Living Resources, Staff Training ~ (2015)