Isolde Alford

 

Psy.D.

With a focus on building trust, empathy, and collaboration, I am passionate about working with individuals along the path of self-discovery and healing.

I am humbled by the strength and courage required to show up, do the work, and grow through this process.

I practice from a humanistic and strengths-based approach where we work together to identify your vision of well-being.

I provide psychological and neuropsychological assessments for children, teens, and adults. I value working collaboratively with individuals and families to help identify specific concerns. I do this by looking at the whole individual including looking at their biological/genetic development and what environmental factors may be contributing to current mental health symptoms. I provide a non-judgmental space where we can figure out how the pieces fit together, what the whole picture means, and where to go next. I believe that psychological evaluations can lead to greater self-awareness and be the steppingstone needed towards the cultivation of healing and joy in one’s life.

It was my own experience with psychologists that inspired me to pursue a career in psychology. As a child I struggled with learning differences and social anxieties. As I reached late adolescents I was burdened by feelings of depression and dysfunctional family dynamics. It wasn’t until my early 20’s when I decided to seek help and started to develop self-love and compassion towards myself. I believe my experience of suffering allows me to deeply connect with my clients and gives me greater purpose in my work.

Outside of work, I am an avid traveler. Half of my family is in Germany, and I try to visit them as much as possible. I enjoy learning new languages (or attempting to), studying different cultures, and soaking up as many random facts as I can. I also enjoy reading, meditation, art, movies, mythology, b-rated horror films, and spending time with my loved ones.

I assist clients who are experiencing a range of presenting concerns. Common concerns include: diagnostic clarification, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), learning differences, neurodivergence/autism, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, personality disorders, psychosis, traumatic brain injury, memory and executive functioning, and dual diagnosis.

AREAS OF FOCUS

WHO I WORK WITH: Adults, Children 8+, Teens

While I work with a wide range of people and presenting problems, some of my most common topics of focus include:

Psychological and Neuropsychological Assessment

  • Diagnostic Clarification

  • Autism or other forms of Neurodivergence

  • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

  • Memory and Executive Functioning

  • Intellectual Disabilities

  • Learning Differences

  • Personality Disorders

  • Mood Disorders

  • Anxiety Disorders

  • Post-traumatic Stress

  • Psychosis

  • Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

  • Traumatic Brain Injury

APPROACH

I approach my clients with care, compassion, and curiosity. I use a strength-based perspective when conducting psychological evaluations and providing feedback. My goal is to help clients gain insight and find answers to the questions they may have. My hope it to empower individuals to seek out the additional resources needed for real healing, all the while embracing what makes them unique and special as an individual. In my practice I use standardized, norm-referenced assessment tools with an individualized approach.

Professional Background

Over the past decade I have worked in various settings providing assessment and therapeutic services in school districts, state psychiatric hospitals, community mental health clinics, and private practices. I started my career as a therapist providing services to children and families. I decided to continue in my education and pursued my doctorate degree with an emphasis on psychological and neuropsychological assessment. Throughout my training I worked in various settings conducting assessments on children, teens, adults, and geriatric populations. I completed both my pre-doctoral internship and post-doctoral residency at APA accredited programs.

Education Credentials

I am a licensed Psychologist and hold a Doctorate Degree in Clinical Psychology and a Masters Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from George Fox University. I also hold a Bachelors Degree in Psychology from Oregon State University.

 
Psychological Assessments, AssessmentsDani ChambersInsight Northwest CounselingPortland, Anxiety, ADHD, Memory, Autism, Neurodivergence, PTSD, OCD, Psychosis, Dual Diagnosis, Eugene, Assessments, Personality Disorders, Mood Disorders, Traumatic Brain Injury