Cheryl Calderon, Licensed Clinical Social Worker
THERAPEUTIC APPROACH
NARM | Internal Family Systems | Mindfulness & Somatic | Existential | Ketamine Therapy
A NON-JUDGMENTAL APPROACH TO THERAPY
I specialize in counseling adults and their family members through depression, trauma, cancer, aging, grief & loss, death & dying, and end-of-life planning, using an array of evidence-based therapeutic approaches to meet my client’s needs. I have advanced training and expertise in a variety of therapeutic modalities, and draw frequently from NARM (NeuroAffective Relational Model), Internal Family Systems, Mindfulness & Somatic-Based Practices, Existential Therapy, and Ketamine Therapy.
NARM (NEUROAFFECTIVE RELATIONAL MODEL)
The NeuroAffective Relational Model (NARM) addresses the attachment, relational and developmental trauma that contribute to early patterns of disconnection that can be at the root of lifelong challenges. Maybe our need for trust, independence, love, and connection were not fulfilled in our early relationships. With curiosity and acceptance, I will help you reconnect to the parts of yourself that are organized, coherent, and functional so that you can increase your experiences of agency, self-esteem, joy, and connectedness.
INTERNAL FAMILY SYSTEMS
Internal Family Systems is a therapeutic approach that allows us to identify and embrace your whole self – from the wounded parts and the painful emotions to the aspects that try and protect you from those pieces of yourself. Your core self knows how to heal, and together we can work on restoring your inner balance and harmony, calming the discord.
MINDFULNESS AND SOMATIC-BASED PRACTICES
Mindfulness is a state in which you increase your awareness of the present moment in a non-judgmental and open manner. Somatic-based practices help connect the experiences in your body with the thoughts and feelings in your mind. I often use Mindfulness and Somatic-Based practices in conjunction with other therapeutic modalities, especially when clients feel trapped by physical or emotional stress, or disconnected from their body, other people, or the environment.
EXISTENTIAL THERAPY
You may sometimes feel lost, empty, or purposeless, and you may struggle to find meaning as things change in your life. Existential Therapy facilitates growth by acknowledging that we are all mortal and have a limited amount of time here on earth. It aims to increase your self-awareness and self-understanding so that you can applaud your abilities and aspirations while also acknowledging your human limitations.
KETAMINE THERAPY
Introduced in 1962, Ketamine is commonly used as an anesthetic in medicine and an analgesic in pain management. More recently, researchers have found low doses of ketamine can also be an effective treatment for psychological pain and distress, especially treatment resistant depression – depression that has not lifted through traditional anti-depressant medications or talk therapy. Ketamine Therapy, also known as Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy or KAP, is talk therapy with a licensed clinician that takes place while a person temporarily experiences a relaxed, open-minded state induced by a low-dose of ketamine taken sublingually (dissolved under the tongue). Studies indicate the combined effect of pharmacology and psychotherapy can have an especially positive and long-lasting effect on a person’s well-being, reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety. I received my advanced training in Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy through Polaris Institute and use it in combination with the evidence-based talk therapies in which I am also highly trained. If you are interested in Ketamine Therapy in Portland, we will work in close partnership with a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner to determine whether low-dose ketamine might be a safe, supportive option for you.
Ketamine Therapy sessions are scheduled as a 90-minute or 3-hour appointment; they are preceded by a one-hour intake and followed by a one-hour integration appointment. Clients arrive to the Ketamine Therapy session in Portland with their own ketamine lozenge, prescribed by the board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with whom I partner. With a lower dose prescription (also known as a “relational dose”), the medicine allows a client to easily access difficult topics and emotions without experiencing any psychedelic effects. A higher dose prescription creates a psychedelic effect which allows clients to heal parts of themselves that are often inaccessible in regular talk therapy. Clients are required to have a trusted person provide transportation following their appointment for Ketamine Therapy in Portland. Ketamine Therapy sessions are considered short-term therapy and can be done once, weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly for a limited period, with the option for follow-up sessions as needed. Since Ketamine Therapy is a specialized treatment, it is highly recommended that clients also continue to work with their regular therapist throughout treatment with me.
My wish for you is that one day you will wake up and feel empowered by the parts of yourself that you once labeled as flawed.
– Hannah Blums