Linnea G. Van Kirk, LMFT, CA License #102557, OR #T1873

Who I Am

My name is Linnea G. Van Kirk, and I have been in the behavioral health field since 2005 and a practicing therapist since 2009. I have been fully licensed and in my own practice since 2017 in CA, and in OR since 2021. I graduated from Scripps/Claremont with a BA in Philosophy and Argosy University with an MA in Psychology. I received my training and internship hours with Pacific Clinics, one of the oldest and widely-respected community mental health organizations in California. I strongly believe that everyone is capable of profound change, and my approach to services is investigative, supportive and direct. I tend to work well with those looking for a more active approach to therapy.

Because I strongly believe in a mind/body connection, in early 2024 I became a Certified Holistic Nutritionist through AFPA. It had become clear that I needed to expand my ability to talk with my clients about general health and nutrition. So many mental health conditions are potentially tied to diet, autoimmune disorders and other physiological issues, and I believe it is important for my clients to know this. This certification allows me to talk to my clients about their whole being, and to provide true, holistic therapy.

How I Work

My process of therapy involves a combination of Narrative and Cognitive Behavioral techniques. We will begin by going back through the time-line of your life to find the points of distress that may be contributing to current life impairments. I will ask investigative questions that are designed to find the problems, but also to identify the moments of beauty and courage that you may have missed. We will look for the dysfunctional patterns that tend to repeat, sometimes even across generations, that may have you feeling like you are doomed to keep making the same mistakes.

If you have been feeling less like the author of our own life and more like a character with no control, we can work together to write you a new story, This story should feel wholly yours and authentic to you. We will go over past actions and choices that you may be identifying as mistakes, or that others have shamed you for, and will discuss how they played a valuable role in shaping you into someone far stronger than you know. Your new story can be one filled with power, strength, and moments of greatness that will allow you to take back control of your life. Everyone needs a chance to tell their story, and I am ready to hear yours.