Therapists in Portland, ME and Nearby Locations

Find a therapist in Portland, Maine that meets your needs. Browse our comprehensive list of affordable and licensed therapists in Portland to find a professional specializing in counseling people with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship issues, grief and more.

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Jennifer Greiner
LMHC, LCPC, ATR
In-Person Sessions:

Kennenbunk, Maine

Teletherapy for Clients In:

Maine

I work with open-minded individuals who are committed to getting support and changing the way you deal with life's stressors. I use creative methods and mindful thinking to find transformative healing modalities, catered specifically to you, to help...
Emily Leslie
MA, LCPCC, NCC
In-Person Sessions:

Portland, Maine

Teletherapy for Clients In:

Maine

Counseling offers the opportunity to pause and approach life with intentionality. Our time together will invite you into a nonjudgmental space to be seen, heard, and encouraged on your journey. I specialize in helping Christian clients understand...
Kevin Kervick
LMFT-Supervisor
Teletherapy for Clients In:

Maine, Pennsylvania

Experienced MFT with practical approach and traditional values.
In-Person Sessions:

Wells, Maine

Teletherapy for Clients In:

Maine

Are you struggling with fear, lack of confidence, self doubt, anger, and hurt? Do you feel overwhelmed trying to juggle the demands of family, work or school, and relationships? Is there a sense that something needs to change but you can’t figure...
In-Person Sessions:

Saco, Maine

Teletherapy for Clients In:

Maine

As a Social Worker, Rick Woodcock has been helping children, families, and individuals make positive changes in their lives since 1998. After obtaining his Master's Degree from The University of Maine, Rick completed two years of supervised clinical...
Teletherapy for Clients In:

Maine

I provide counseling to couples and individuals to effectively address the troubles they are having in their relationships and personal lives. Areas of significant experience counseling people include; relationship discord, intimacy, anxiety, grief,...
Teletherapy for Clients In:

Maine, New York

Dr. Elizabeth Merrill is a Board Certified Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Certified Group Psychotherapist in Maine, New York, and Illinois. She is also a Florida registered telehealth provider. Dr. Merrill has been working with adults,...
Cheryl Klein
Licensed Pastoral Counselor
Teletherapy for Clients In:

Maine

I am a licensed pastoral counselor trained to work with emotional, psychological and faith issues, when relevant. That being said, I have no interest or "agenda" for convincing or encouraging any client to participate in any particular faith, but...

An Overview of Mental Health in Portland, Maine

Portland, Maine’s many charms include the oldest working lighthouse in the country, constructed in 1791. Built on the Portland Peninsula, Portland is a fishing port in Cumberland County, as well as the largest city in Maine. It is closer to Europe than any other U.S. port. Around 40 percent of the state’s population lives in the Portland metro area. The famous poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, grew up here; his family home is a tourist attraction. Maine is America’s safest state, and it has the lowest violent crime rate.

Since 94.4 percent of Maine’s population is white, Maine has the least diversity in the nation. For non-white citizens, obtaining mental health care could be problematic; a difference in ethnicity between the provider and the client may inhibit finding a good fit. In some cultures, seeking treatment for mental illness is unacceptable, further stigmatizing people who are ethnically in the minority.

Mental Health Issues in Portland

In a study of national suicide rates covering nearly two decades, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported in 2018 that the suicide rate in Maine increased by 27.4 percent. Mental health services have not kept pace with treatment needs. The Maine chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness states that mental illness affects 25 percent of Maine citizens.

The CDC noted an alarming trend that made national news headlines: Of the 27 states included in suicide research data, over 50 percent of the total suicide victims did not exhibit any signs of mental illness before terminating their lives. According to the director of the National Institute of Mental Health, this does not necessarily mean individuals were not ill; instead, it may give additional support to the evidence that people are not receiving mental health diagnoses and the follow-up treatment they desperately need.

A troubling statistic noted by a former president of the American Psychological Association is that suicides among women are catching up to the number of suicide deaths by men. Numbers are even higher among female veterans.

Students in Crisis at Portland Schools

Maine educators, including the South Portland School Superintendent and Portland School Assistant Superintendent, note that Maine’s Department of Health and Human Services budget for 2018 has cut funding for critical mental health programs in their schools.

For example, a South Portland school superintendent’s district had partnered with an agency to improve school attendance and provide mental health programs. The state budget no longer financially supports the program. In another Portland school district, the state shut down middle school and high school mental health clinics that provided critical mental health counseling to students.

The executive director of a Maine psychological association notes that insurance companies undercut mental health care programs, even though national laws require that health insurance coverage include significant mental health treatment. Insurance providers skirt the law by offering a few token therapy sessions, somewhat like placing a Band-Aid on a severed artery.

Obstructions to Portland Mental Health Access

Maine is a mental health care professional shortage area listed by the Henry J Kaiser Family Foundation. According to recent data, the state has only met 33.58 percent of the number of mental health practitioners needed to remove the HPSA designation. Calculations determine the needs of the community and the ratio of available providers. Maine is still over two-thirds behind in providers needed to meet the state’s mental health treatment needs.

Barriers to achieving mental health access in Portland include:

  • Low mental health provider ratios.
  • Cultural and language issues for minorities.
  • The stigma of mental illness means citizens may not seek help.
  • Insufficient mental health component in insurance plans.
  • Withdrawal of state funding, particularly for school programs.
  • High suicide rate.
  • Lower quality of care given to minorities.
  • Undiagnosed mental illness results in a
  • Substance abuse can cause or worsen mental illness.

Mental Health Services Are Available for Portland Residents

Maine’s Office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHS) evaluates substance abuse and services for mental health.  Maine’s National Alliance on Mental Illness is a U.S. group of advocates who represent those affected by mental illness.