Dyann Bockstahler

Licensed Clinical Social Worker 

Pronouns: She/Her

Therapeutic Style: Friendly, Affirming, and Supportive

Services Provided:
*Telehealth only

• Adult Individual Therapy
• Teen Family Therapy
• Adult Family Therapy

Who I am as a Therapist

I grew up in a small town in rural Kansas where values of kindness, compassion and carring for each other were practiced and influenced my decision to become a social worker and therapist which I have not regretted.

After graduating with my Master's Degree, I combined my love of children and education, and worked in a therapeutic day school with neurodiverse students for many years. Wanting to expand my experiences and skills, I joined a private practice where I worked for 22 years. Here I focused on children's issues, saw teens and families, as well as adults. These experiences informed who I am as a therapist and how I show up for each client. I work to make the therapeutic space I share with each client emotionally safe so that vulnerability and taking chances is valued and results in understanding one's history and issues. Being honest with each client and encouraging and supporting clients to do the same, results in making the changes important in emotional growth. This can be a scary process so it is important to share those feelings in therapy so they can be acknowledged and accepted.
I lived and worked in a integrated community all of my adult life in the Chicago area. This experience is treasured and has resulted in my becoming accepting of other's differences that are different than my own. Being exposed to new ideas and beliefs is important to my growth as a therapist. Being older and having life experiences that I bring to my work with clients has enabled me to use my skills in a meaningful way.

Areas of Focus

Therapeutic Approaches 

• Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• Anti-Racist Trauma-Informed Care (ARTIC)
• Attachment Based Therapy
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS)
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
• Emotionally Focused Therapy
• Exposure Therapy
• Gender Affirming Care (GAC)
• Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS)
• Mindfulness
• Narrative Therapy
• Psychodynamic
• Solution-Focused Therapy
• Trauma Therapy

Who I am when I'm not a Therapist

When I am not being a therapist, I enjoy walking in my neighborhood, visiting with my neighbors and petting their dogs. I love living in Oregon for the proximity to the coast and the beautiful scenery and hiking opportunities. While the long gloomy, rainy winters are not my favorite, I will choose them any day over blizzards and sub-zero weather of the Midwest! I am a big fan of the library and love reading a variety of topics. Making desserts (my birthday cakes are legendary!) and baking bread are also fun past times!

Training & Experience  

• Worked as a school social worker in a therapeutic day school with neurodiverse children, ages 5-14 for 34 years
• Worked in a private practice for 22 years as a LCSW, before moving from the Chicago area to the Portland area.