T Dawson Woodrum , PhD

I am a licensed psychologist in Oregon (#3497). I work with adults (ages 18 and above) who are confronted with many types of issues and concerns. These include life transitions (grief, life-threatening health diagnoses, career, retirement), identity (gender, sexuality), relationship discord (family, intimate partners), and trauma (acute and chronic).

Prior to becoming a psychologist, I was a compliance professional in the biopharmaceutical industry; I spent most of my time traveling around the world and working with people from many cultures.

I consider myself a life-long student of what it means to be human and the common joys and struggles of existence. My curiosity has provided a rich tapestry of life experiences that include surviving law school, managing large teams of highly talented people, training a service dog, learning how to raise my own food, identifying edible plants in the wild, building a fire in the rain, and playing the guitar and Irish tin whistle (but not at the same time).

I live my life according to the proposition that to be human means our existence precedes our essence. As a result, we are constantly evolving based on the choices we make from moment to moment.

Psychotherapy is about meaning-making. During our sessions, I listen actively without judgement or jumping to conclusions. My primary goal is to understand you as to want to be understood - without rigid diagnoses or other labels.

Research has shown that the relationship we co-create is one of the common factors that contribute to successful treatment. Every session will start with a focus on you and what will serve you best in the present moment. Every session will end with a review of how the session went and what I might do better the next time we meet. We will work together to fully understand who you have been, who you are in the present, and who you aspire to be. We will also consider how your current beliefs may be based on long-held assumptions and are no longer your own. Ultimately, good therapy will free up your capacity to make new choices that are more closely aligned with your own values and increase acceptance of the givens of existence in the world as a human being.

I am a member of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH). I conduct evaluations for readiness for hormone replacement treatment (HRT) and gender affirming surgeries. I also provide gender affirming care for adults who are addressing their own gender identity or are seeking support as an ally for a child, partner or friend.

I also provide consultation services to organizations and communities committed to training their workforce and members on developing gender-affirming relationships with transgender and gender-diverse people.

One of my favorite quotes is from Viktor Frankl: "A person without meaning is like a mountain climber who enters a dense fog and, lacking the goal before his eyes, is in danger of succumbing to a total weariness".