Paige Myers-Matthews
Licensed Professional Counselor
Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor
Pronouns: They/Them
Identities: Queer, Non-Binary
Style: Egalitarian, Social Justice Based, and Anti-Oppressive
Works with:
- Individuals
- Child/Family
- Teens
- Groups
Who I am as a Therapist
Hi, I’m Paige. I’m a queer non-binary therapist. I can help you look at how systems—family systems, social systems, and systems of oppression—impact your mental health. I want to help you break down the ways systems have impacted you. I will help you find and reclaim who you really are and who you were before those systems hurt you.
As a therapist I specialize in serving queer and trans children, teens, and adults. I help trans children and teens explore their gender, and I help queer and trans youth and adults figure out how to feel better. I also help families learn new strategies to be safe and supportive to their queer and transgender children. While I do specialize in working with queer and trans clients, I also work with clients who struggle with trauma, PTSD, substance use, sexual health, and oppression and/or discrimination.
In a therapy session, I may use a combination of EMDR and talk therapy to help you find solutions to feel better. I am a collaborative therapist; we will work together to help you feel better. You are the expert of your life, and I am here as a guide, offering some new potential paths to explore.
In addition to being a therapist, I am also a researcher, currently focusing my research on trans substance use. I also have my PhD in Education and Leadership, and my dissertation explored why non-binary people use drugs and alcohol for sex.
Overall, I commit to being a safe healthcare provider for all. If you have ever felt excluded by healthcare systems—due to income, gender, race, sexuality, disability, trauma, or anything else—I am here for you.
Specialty Areas
Mental Health Challenges
- Activism & Burnout
- Addiction & Substance Use
- Anger
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Anxiety (General, Panic, Phobias)
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Attachment & Relational Challenges
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Behavioral Challenges in Children
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Consensually Non-Monogamous Relationships
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Cultural & Systemic Oppression
- Depression
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Immigration & Acculturation
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LGBTQIA+
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Life Transitions
- Gender transitions
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Managing Stress
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Trauma Recovery (PTSD & Abuse)
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School Issues
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Spirituality
Therapeutic Approaches
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Anti-Racist Trauma-Informed Care (ARTIC)
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Transgender Affirming Care
- Feminist Therapy
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Compassionate Communication (NVC)
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Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
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Motivational Interviewing (MI)
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Narrative Therapy
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Solution-Focused Therapy
Who I am when I’m not a Therapist
When I’m not at work, I’m researching the relationship between queer substance use and sexual health. Outside of work, I spend my time at hot springs, vegan restaurants, queer events, and hanging out with my chickens.
Education
- Doctoral Candidate, Education and Leadership at Pacific University
- Master of Counseling, Oregon State University Cascades
- Bachelor of Science in Communication, Boston University
Training & Experience
- EMDR Trained
- Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor
- Experience working with queer and trans individuals in rural and urban areas of Oregon
- Experience working at a substance use treatment center
- Experience, training, and research addressing sex/drug-linked behavior