Holistic Healing
Addressing both psychological and physical aspects of wellness for complete healing.
Meet Megan Strickland
Welcome — I'm so glad you're here. Life can feel overwhelming when your mind and body are both asking for attention.
Whether you're navigating trauma, chronic pain, health challenges, or simply striving to feel more balanced, my goal is to help you reconnect with yourself and thrive — not just survive.
Schedule Consultation
Professional Credentials
Licensed Professional Counselor
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Oregon and CPCP in Nevada, providing evidence-based therapy and psychological assessment services.
Oregon LPC · Nevada CPCP
Psychology Resident
Currently completing residency in Behavioral Health and Health Psychology at Essentia Health.
Essentia Health — Behavioral Health & Health Psychology
PhD Candidate in Clinical Psychology (Health Emphasis)
Ph.D. Candidate at Pace University, specializing in clinical psychology with a health emphasis and focus on trauma-informed care.
Why I Founded Thrive Psychological Services
As the Owner and Clinical Director of Thrive Psychological Services, I founded this practice to bring together my passion for trauma-informed care and health psychology — creating a space where people can heal and grow holistically.
My vision is to provide care that honors the whole person — mind, body, and spirit — recognizing that true healing happens when we address all aspects of our experience.
Evidence-Based Care
Using proven therapeutic approaches while honoring your unique experience and needs.
Compassionate Space
Creating a safe, affirming environment where you can explore and heal at your own pace.
My Therapeutic Approach
Integrative Mind-Body Focus
At Thrive Psychological Services, I integrate evidence-based therapies with a deep understanding of the mind-body connection. Healing begins when we listen to the stories our bodies tell — and work together to restore balance, meaning, and well-being.
I blend Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Written Exposure Therapy (WET), and mind-body interventions to address both psychological and physical aspects of distress.
Warm, Collaborative Care
My approach is warm, collaborative, and grounded in compassion. I see therapy as a space to explore your experiences, strengthen self-understanding, and develop tools to live in alignment with your values.
You are the expert on your own life. I'm here to walk alongside you, offering evidence-based tools and a safe space for healing and growth.
Areas of Specialization
Trauma & PTSD Recovery
Specialized training in trauma-informed care and evidence-based treatments including Written Exposure Therapy (WET) for PTSD.
- Single-incident trauma
- Complex trauma and PTSD
- Medical trauma
- Interpersonal trauma
Health Psychology
Specialized focus on the intersection of physical and mental health, particularly for those managing chronic conditions.
- Chronic pain management
- Medical diagnosis adjustment
- Health behavior change
- Illness-related stress
Anxiety & Depression
Evidence-based treatment for mood and anxiety disorders using CBT, DBT, and ACT approaches.
- Generalized anxiety disorder
- Major depression
- Panic disorder
- Social anxiety
Psychological Assessment
Comprehensive evaluations for diagnostic clarification and treatment planning across various conditions.
- Adult ADHD assessment
- Autism spectrum evaluation
- Diagnostic clarification
- Health psychology evaluation
Training & Experience
Current: Essentia Health Residency
Psychology Resident in Behavioral Health and Health Psychology, providing integrated care for patients managing medical and psychological concerns.
Medical Settings Experience
Extensive training in medical settings providing therapy and psychological assessment for individuals facing trauma, chronic pain, and health-related stress.
- Penn Medicine Princeton Health
- SUNY Downstate Medical Center
- Maria Fareri Children's Hospital
Doctoral Training
Ph.D. Candidate in Clinical Psychology (Health Emphasis) at Pace University with specialized training in health psychology and trauma-informed care.
Research & Scholarship
Current Research
I am currently conducting research exploring the effectiveness of Written Exposure Therapy (WET) for patients with comorbid PTSD and chronic pain — an intersection that is deeply personal to my clinical work and represents a significant gap in current treatment approaches.
This research aims to understand how trauma-focused interventions can be adapted and optimized for individuals managing both psychological trauma and chronic physical pain, potentially offering new pathways for integrated treatment.
Additionally, my dissertation research explores the impact of early life stress on cortisol reactivity in adulthood and examines the relationship between cortisol reactivity and diurnal cortisol patterns, contributing to our understanding of how early experiences shape stress response systems throughout life.
Research Focus Areas
- Written Exposure Therapy effectiveness for comorbid conditions
- PTSD and chronic pain intersection
- Trauma-informed approaches in health psychology
- Mind-body interventions for complex presentations
Published Research & Academic Contributions
My research contributions span trauma treatment, health psychology, and the integration of evidence-based practices in clinical settings.
Depressive and Anxious Symptoms, Experimentally Manipulated Acute Social-Evaluative Threat, and Cortisol Reactivity
Psychosomatic Medicine, 86(8), 710–719 (2024)
Strickland, M. G., Myszkowski, N., Hooker, E. D., Zoccola, P. M., & Dickerson, S. S. Investigating the relationship between depressive and anxious symptoms and cortisol reactivity to acute social-evaluative threat in laboratory settings.
https://doi.org/10.1097/PSY.0000000000001336Self-administered mindfulness interventions reduce stress in a large, randomized controlled multi-site study
Nature Human Behavior, 8, 1716–1725 (2024)
Sparacio, A., et al…Strickland, M. G…Gabriela Jiga-Boy. A comprehensive multi-site randomized controlled trial examining the effectiveness of self-administered mindfulness interventions in reducing stress across diverse populations.
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-024-01907-7Co-rumination may mitigate depressive and anxious symptoms for those high in social interaction anxiety
Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 40(5), 381–403 (2021)
Strickland, M. G. & Anastasio, P. Exploring the protective role of co-rumination in individuals with high social interaction anxiety and its impact on depressive and anxious symptoms.
doi:10.1521/jscp.2021.40.5.403Expressive flexibility and trait anxiety in India and the United States
Personality and Individual Differences, 163, 110049 (2020)
Strickland, M. G., & Skolnick, A. J. A cross-cultural examination of expressive flexibility and trait anxiety patterns between Indian and United States populations.
http://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2020.110049Outside of Therapy
When I'm not seeing clients, you can usually find me hiking by the water with my bernedoodle, making homemade pasta, or reading a good psychological thriller.
These moments of creativity, movement, and reflection help me stay grounded, and remind me of the same balance I hope to help my clients cultivate.
Service Areas
Oregon
Oregon residents via secure HIPAA-compliant telehealth platform
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Oregon
Nevada
Nevada residents via secure HIPAA-compliant telehealth platform
CPCP in Nevada
Let's Connect
If you're ready to start feeling more grounded and connected to yourself, I'd love to meet you. Reach out for a free 15-minute consultation to see if we're a good fit.
Schedule Free Consultation