Isaiah Barlett, LCSW

My Style as a Therapist:

My goal is to build a supportive relationship with you, in which you can be your full self. I bring in an attachment lens, which means I’m really curious about the relationships you have with others and how this has shaped you. While I want to help you explore the deepest parts of your experience, I also love fun and witty banter! We can also get creative, such as you sharing a song that’s been really resonating with you during our session. I am able to challenge you to confront the things you may tend to avoid or struggle to sit with, while helping you stay grounded in self compassion. 

I approach therapy with a deep awareness that we’re all living within oppressive systems. I will honor the ways this impacts your experiences, self-expression, and relationships. I am also a HAES therapist, weight neutral, and fat positive provider.

Why I’m a Therapist:

I come from a family of healthcare providers and I’ve been in therapy my whole life! It’s been quite the journey, and I’ve learned a lot about myself and what I want in life. I’ve also learned a lot about the kind of therapist I want to be from my own experiences in therapy. When I began to seek out support with my transition process, it was hard for me to access gender affirming care and I felt really unsupported. This inspired me to pursue my Masters in Social Work from New York University, in hopes that I could be that supportive person for queer and trans folks.

I’m originally from Durham, NC and see clients there in addition to Portland, OR. As someone who grew up in Durham, I have a lot of love for the city. I feel disheartened by the impacts of gentrification there and the resulting increased cost of living. I also appreciate the city’s diversity and how it has become more queer & trans affirming over time. I also understand how challenging it can be to be a queer & trans person in a red state. It may be even more challenging if you’re experiencing queerphobia/transphobia and racism or xenophobia. While I now live in Oregon, I have an understanding of what life is like in Durham and go back regularly, which is why I’m eager to support clients there as well.

A Bit About Me as a Human:

I believe in a future that centers restorative justice, indigenous rights, universal healthcare, queer liberation, disability justice, and anti-racism. Outside of my work, I am a dedicated adventurer and spend as much time as I can bicycle touring, skiing, and surfing. I enjoy bringing this same enthusiasm, energy, and love of exploration into my clinical work. I have two cats (Phoebe Bridgers and Rufus Wainwright-pictured above!) and I adore them so very much.

Training & Licensure:

LCSW in OR (L16392) & NC (C019032)

Master’s in Social Work from New York University

Emotionally Focused Therapy Core Skills

Externship in Emotionally Focused Therapy 

An Introduction to Internal Family Systems Therapy

Introduction to Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

The Body Hierarchy: Impacts of Racism, Ableism and Transphobia

Fundamentals of Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy (in progress) 

Infinite Minds Conference