Ann Surber, LCSW

Psychotherapy in Portland, Oregon

Frequently Asked Questions

How long are sessions and how often do we meet?

Sessions are 55 minutes long.

In my practice, we meet at least once a week. This helps maintain continuity and supports the depth and momentum of psychodynamic work. I do not offer biweekly or monthly therapy sessions. For some people, meeting more than once a week may be beneficial, and I will make recommendations about frequency as we go based on your needs and the clinical work.

Where is your office located?

My office is located in downtown Portland, at 917 SW Oak St. Please inquire for current openings.

Do you offer telehealth?

Yes, for clients in Oregon and Illinois I offer telehealth services via HIPAA-compliant platforms.

What are the benefits of psychodynamic therapy?

Psychodynamic therapy can help develop one's capacities over time, though individual outcomes will vary. Some examples of how this might look include:

• having a better grasp on what you feel, as you feel it
• discovering new ways of responding to painful or distressing feelings
• becoming more able to tolerate and manage stressful moments or periods of uncertainty
• improving communication in your relationships, feeling closer and more connected to others
• developing more compassion toward yourself and for others
• understanding more of who you are and what you want, to make choices aligned with yourself

This kind of therapy can be particularly helpful for those who may already have some insight into their lives to explore more deeply around feelings. Knowing something intellectually is often different from fully experiencing it. If you are already curious about yourself, you are in a wonderful position to begin.

How long does psychotherapy take?

Therapy is much like planting a garden. The most important changes are often not immediately visible. A garden requires sustained time, care, and attention to eventually flourish, and that doesn’t happen overnight. Emotional growth is no different. The ways we think, relate, feel, and protect ourselves develop over many years, so we can expect that lasting change takes time. While there may be some relief or shifts in perspective relatively early in treatment, deeper and more enduring changes reveal themselves gradually. The length of therapy varies from person to person and depends on many factors, including one's goals, life circumstances, and the frequency of sessions.