Bre Pleasant
They/Them | Provisional Registered Art Therapist & Professional Counselor Associate
In sessions, I enjoy working with clients that demonstrates strong visual-spatial awareness and uses color and texture to communicate emotions that may be difficult to verbalize. It’s incredibly meaningful to witness clients become more confident in choosing their materials and setting the pace of their creative process. That sense of ownership fosters both emotional regulation and self-trust. I also tailor each session to meet my clients’ needs, often creating a calm, low-stimulation environment with predictable transitions so they can engage and explore at their own rhythm.
For me, art isn’t just an activity—it’s a language that connects our inner experiences with the world around us, opening the door to deeper understanding and healing.
Currently Accepting New Clients In-Person & Online
How I Got Here
Like many of the clients I work with, I'm late-diagnosed neurodivergent and live with an autoimmune disorder, and for a long time I didn't have language for either of those things. What I did have was a growing understanding of what it feels like to mask, to push through, to navigate burnout and religious trauma and a nervous system that seemed to operate by its own unpredictable rules. I knew what it was like to sit in a therapy office and feel like the approach just didn't quite reach me. Like something important was being left out of the room. Art changed that for me.
Creativity became the bridge between my internal world and everything I couldn't yet say out loud. It gave me access to parts of myself that words alone hadn't been able to touch, and it showed me that healing doesn't have to look like talking your way through something. Sometimes it looks like making something. Sometimes it looks like slowing down enough to notice what your body has been trying to tell you all along. That realization is what encouraged me become an art therapist, and itt's what continues to shape every aspect of how I work with clients today.
My Approach to Therapy
Working with me tends to feel less like a structured appointment and more like a place of collaborative exploration, where you set the pace and I follow your lead with curiosity and care.
I work holistically and creatively, drawing from a wide range of modalities rather than applying a single method to everyone. Some of the practices I draw from most often come from somatic therapy, polyvagal theory, Internal Family Systems (IFS), depth work, expressive arts, ACT, DBT, mindfulness, eco therapy, play therapy, solution-focused therapy, and strengths-based work. What we reach for in any given session depends entirely on what feels meaningful or necessary on that particular day.
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While I work with a variety of clinical concerns, some that I’m most passionate about include:
ADHD
Autism
Burnout
Chronic Pain
Grief and Loss
People Pleasing
Perfectionism
Self-Esteem
Trauma healing
Women’s Issues
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I love working with people in all seasons of life—teens, adults, and elders alike—and I’m continually inspired by the many ways culture, identity, and lived experience shape who we are and how we heal.
My work is grounded in deep respect for difference and a genuine curiosity about each person’s unique story.
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I offer in-person therapy at both our Portland and Milwaukie office locations, as well as virtual therapy across Oregon.
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I hold a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts from Eastern Illinois University and a Master’s Degree in Art Therapy from Lewis & Clark College.
I’m currently a Registered Provisional Art Therapist (ATR-P 25-173) and a Professional Counseling Associate (R11188) with the state of Oregon.
When I’m not working…
Most days I'm in my garden with a D&D podcast keeping me company, dancing around the kitchen to 2000s R&B while cooking something I've never tried before, or making something with power tools while classic dad rock plays in the background. I have a deep appreciation for going completely down the rabbit hole on whatever my current special interest happens to be, and I will absolutely over-analyze the latest TV show or film with anyone patient enough to let me.
On lower-energy days I'm hanging upside down in my hammock, making eco-art with my cat, or watching a movie with my partner.
Let’s Work Together!
If you find yourself connecting with what I’ve shared, I encourage fill out our online interest form and our admin team will reach out personally to learn more about what you're looking for and help match you with the right therapist. You also welcome to reach out to me directly at bre@linkpdx.org with any questions you may have about me or how I work.