About Me
Melody Chow
LCSW, LICSW — licensed clinical social worker in Oregon and Washington
Accepted insurances: Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield /Regence, Optum/United, OHP Open Card, OHP Trillium, Kaiser, Moda, PacificSource, and Providence. Out-of-pocket fee is $185.
I can also provide a superbill for my out-of-network clients to help with reimbursement.
Introduction
Growing up today is tough! In addition to balancing homework, extracurriculars, friends, and family, kids also have to deal with increasing mental health stress. Our society feels less and less like a village, leading to more strain on caregivers as they try to parent in today’s climate. As your therapist, I staunchly advocate for children and families using a multi-systems approach by coordinating care with school counselors, doctors, etc to support clients holistically. Our sessions are a safe space for clients to vent, process, and work through life's obstacles.
My background is in documentary filmmaking, which I have used as a tool to advocate for social justice. Through my volunteer work with Basic Rights Oregon and the Sexual Assault Resource Center of Oregon, two organizations that help people have their voices heard, I realized that I wanted to dedicate my life further to helping others by becoming a therapist. I got my master’s of social work degree from Portland State University. My two internships were with the Beaverton School District as a school social worker intern and with the Native American Youth and Family Center as a parent-child support specialist intern. Upon graduation, I started working as a child and family therapist in Vancouver and made connections with the local resources specific to here in the Pacific Northwest. I went on to have my own private practice here in St. John's Portland. My years of experience have honed my therapy practice to honor a child’s autonomy while also working with caregivers to ensure safety and mutual understanding, and I feel so lucky to serve the families I do.
My approach to therapy is relational and interactive. One of the interventions I use is play therapy, the goals of which are to strengthen emotional wellness, social relationships, personal strengths, and communication skills. I will meet with caregivers for one-on-one adult sessions to understand the broader picture of what is going on at home. I have a ton of board games we can play, art supplies, and I also help clients by using sand tray therapy. Similar to art therapy, people can use sand tray therapy as another way to express themselves without using words. Additionally, if someone is looking to learn new coping skills, I am trained in cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy, which specifically help with maladaptive behaviors such as negative self-talk and self-harm.
Meeting someone new for therapy can be scary. What I can offer is a pressure-free safe space where we can talk or just play Uno and chat about your favorite movies or TV shows. Our time would be dedicated to focusing on whatever is most important to you and what you think will help you get the most out of life. I'm here and ready to start when you are!
I have a happy-go-lucky puppy named Hank who loves the outdoors and digging holes. My current favorite musical artist is Phoebe Bridgers and my favorite cartoon is Over the Garden Wall. In my free time, I enjoy tufting rugs and crocheting stuffed animals. But probably my favorite thing to do in my free time is go out to eat! Top recommendations to eat in St. John’s Portland is Mikasa Sushi & Ramen, Thai Cottage, and Signal Pizza.
Specialty: 2SLGBTQIA+ youth and young adults, ages 6 - 24, Asian Americans, children of immigrant parents, religious trauma
Interventions: Play Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Narrative Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Culturally-Specific, Family Systems, and Attachment Based Therapy.
I am best for people who: want a collaborator to help them develop their skills to handle life’s many stressors.
Telehealth status: Provides both in-person and telehealth.
