Chi Baker, M.S., L.P.C.

My Philosophy

Healing is a balance between the past and the present. It incorporates life experiences, family of origin, culture, ethnicity, personal goals, and identified resources.  An exploration of what has happened in the past to where you are today provides a framework to create new spaces, outlooks, and a better way of life.

My personal mantra is that Life is about Thriving, not just Surviving. From a person/client centered approach, I see all people as capable of healing themselves, and truly believe in their ability to make positive change.

My Practice

My scope of counseling extends from individuals to couples, families, and groups. I enjoy working with a broad range of ages, from adolescents to the geriatric population. My mental health counseling experience covers depression, anxiety, PTSD, borderline, eating disorders, bipolar disorder, ADHD, anger management, grief and loss, and schizophrenia to name a few.

In my practice, I use a combination of many different healing techniques. It is a melding of ancient Eastern Mindfulness Practices with modern day Western Evidence Based Therapy Practices.

In cognitive behavioral therapy, one of the most effective tools in today’s psychotherapy practices, you and I examine how your thoughts and actions dictate today, and how to alter them to create a new tomorrow.

Taking aspects from Dialectical Behavior Therapy, I teach emotional regulation (controlling the highs and lows) distress tolerance (skillfully handling a crisis), and interpersonal effectiveness (how to communicate successfully with others). These are essential components to lifelong skills.

Motivational Interviewing, from an addiction recovery standpoint, allows clients to assess and make their own decisions and challenge themselves to move towards sobriety.

In couples counseling, I combine Compassionate Communication with Nonviolent Communication and weave in Gottman Method concepts, in order to create effective communication along with an increased sense of intimacy, respect, and trust.

Beyond Traditional Talk Therapy

My personal counseling philosophy does not simply look at mental health or addiction issues. It includes looking at all aspects of a person’s life: family, friends, job, living environment, recreation, diet, exercise, nutrition, spiritual practices, budget/finances, and past, present, and future experiences and goals.

As a Tai Chi, Qi Gong, and Kung Fu teacher, I also offer an alternative to traditional talk therapy. For some a combination of the two are helpful, for others they choose one or the other. Movement/ mindful therapy has shown benefits for anger management, depression, anxiety, trauma work, couples’ communication, addictions, prevention and cure for chronic physical illness, and mental fortitude. Particularly for teenagers, doing “martial arts” training is less intimidating and far more “cool” than having to see a “therapist.”

Long-term healing and change comes from within, and extends outward. I see therapy as a lifestyle that continues outside of the counseling room and into each integral aspect of your life.

My Qualifications

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the State of Oregon for mental health counseling, a National Certified Addictions Therapist (MAC), and a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC) with over 20 years of experience working with a wide variety of populations in many different environments, including inpatient, outpatient, therapeutic wilderness settings, jails, schools, and homes. I also have over 15 years experience working with clients who have drug, alcohol and gambling addictions, as well as those who are chronic criminal offenders.