ABOUT ME

Welcome! I'm Laurel Barnes, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker based in Portland, Oregon.

I became a social worker in 2008 because I care deeply about people's stories and about what helps us move through life's hardest moments with connection, dignity, and a sense of purpose. I've always been interested in the ways people make meaning of their experiences, especially during times of uncertainty, loss, change, and transition.

For many years, I worked as a pediatric neuro-oncology social worker, walking alongside children, young adults, and their families as they navigated the challenges of a brain tumor diagnosis. I have also worked in child advocacy, child welfare, and community-building with and for LGBTQ+ parented families. These experiences continue to shape how I show up as a therapist—with curiosity, compassion, and a deep respect for the many ways we respond to uncertainty, loss, and change.

My hope is to create a space where you can bring the parts of your story that feel messy, painful, confusing, hopeful, or unclear. I believe therapy can be a place to slow down, make sense of what you're carrying, reconnect with what matters most to you, and discover new possibilities for moving forward.

Outside of my work, I love sewing, reading, taking road trips, and disappearing into a really good TV drama. You'll often find me exploring the woods or, if I'm especially lucky, floating down a river. I also happen to love rain, which makes the Pacific Northwest a pretty perfect place for me to call home.