Jerry Deckelbaum

Jerry Deckelbaum, J.D., L.C.S.W.
833 SW 11th Avenue #914
Portland, OR 97205
Tel. 503.224.0033

My treatment philosophy is based on a belief that people are capable of personal deepening if they experience a sense of safety and connection.  Human nature seeks to find meaning in important  relationships,  dreams, creative pursuits, and loss.  For me, the ultimate psychological value is a shared realization of these experiences, leading to deepening of consciousness and an experience of soul.  My therapeutic influences are an integration of relational, Jungian, existential/humanistic, and Buddhist approaches.  I am an interactive therapist, and strive to work authentically and collaboratively with clients. 

In addition to working with individuals and couples, I facilitate a weekly men's group, now in its eighth year. This group has proved a powerful resource for men concerned with self-esteem, coming out as gay or bisexual, creativity, social anxiety, or other interpersonal challenges. I have recently completed a two-year professional seminar program of the North Pacific Institute for Analytical Psychology, and currently attend the Jung in Depth seminar of the Pacific Northwest Society of Jungian Analysts. As part of the work, I encourage clients to explore their creative interests as manifested through writings, art, music, and dreams. I have also come to believe that the expression of political concerns does not have to be a stranger to psychotherapy.

I am a clinical social worker licensed to practice in the State of Oregon by the Oregon Board of Clinical Social Workers.  I am a member of the National Association of Social Workers,  and of several Jungian-oriented study and consultation groups.  Prior to becoming a therapist,  I was a classical musician and an attorney.