Cheri Partain

(she/her)
Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Contact Us For Availability
Contact Us for Current Insurance Availability | Direct Payment Available

Cheri believes that each of us has the capacity to heal no matter where we might have started or what we are currently facing. Her job is to help you uncover the truths you already know and become the best version of yourself. She does this by validating your lived experience, helping you recognize and harness your strengths, and using a lot of humor along the way to let you know therapy can be fun, you are safe, and we can do this together!

Cheri specializes in working with children and families and her approach is compassionate, strengths-based, non-judgmental, and client-led. She is an attachment therapist, which means that she will help you explore your current and past relationships and how these attachments, or lack thereof, play a part in current challenges. With children she does this through play and storytelling, with adolescents she may do this through music and media, and with families/parents she uses a multi-modality approach to help each person in the constellation feel heard and understood.

Cheri holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology with a minor in Japanese from Linfield College (99’) and a master’s degree from Portland State University in social work (04’). She has been a social worker for two decades working extensively in the adoption and foster care community, as well as child welfare and therefore has expertise in supporting a variety of families in whatever forms they may take.  In addition to standard coursework, she is trained in Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI), Therapeutic Lifestory Work, and Collaborative Problem Solving (Tier 1). She leans heavily on family systems theory and cognitive behavioral theory, as well as polyvagal theory and mindfulness.  She is also a strong and active ally for those who identify as LGBTQIA+ and welcome those from diverse backgrounds to be in therapeutic relationship with her.

When not at work, you will typically find Cheri spending time with her two teenagers and partner finding as many opportunities to laugh as possible. When not wearing her mom hat, she enjoys running on the trails of Forest Park, backpacking, downhill skiing, practicing yoga, or curling up with a very good book and a strong cup of coffee with a large side of chocolate.