Claire Barcenas-Hester
Team Lead
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
CADC
 

All about Claire

Hi, my name is Claire (she/her) and I provide in-person and telehealth services to individuals in Oregon. As a therapist, I am warm, open, encouraging, and pragmatic.  When everything feels like it’s going wrong, it can be hard to recognize your own strengths or see the bigger picture. Therapy can be a place to make space for the hard things while also acknowledging your progress, resilience, and successes. We’ll have honest conversations, practice new skills, and challenge patterns when needed (but we can still have a laugh along the way, too!). My goal is for you to feel seen and validated while also feeling supported to explore new perspectives, build new skills, and create a life that feels fulfilling and worth living. 

I have a particular interest in working with people exploring their relationship with substances, bipolar spectrum disorders, OCD, BPD, suicidality and self-harm, folks who are exploring identity, and who notice challenges with emotion regulation. These experiences can affect our relationships, work, self-esteem, parenting, and how we respond when emotions feel overwhelming. I believe meaningful change starts with understanding what is happening rather than judging yourself for it. Whether you’re exploring changes to substance use, trying to better understand your mood patterns, stuck in a thought loop, or learning to respond differently when emotions become intense, we’ll find strategies that are realistic, flexible, sustainable, and effective for you. 

I hold a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Michigan. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) in Oregon. I have extensive training in DBT and other therapy modalities. I use she/her pronouns and identify as a cis, queer white woman. I am body-positive and queer-affirming, and always welcome folks to show up as their authentic selves. Talk to me about cats, D&D, podcasts, brass instruments, knitting, or your crafts!