geometry-shapes iconStress / Mental Stress / Work Stress, First Responders, Depression, Anxiety, Men’s Issues, Military / Veteran
Online in Oregon
24 years in practice
Ages served: 18-65+
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Accepted insurance & self-pay

DB accepts 26 insurers
Aetna
Anthem
Cigna | Evernorth
Cigna | Evernorth - Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Firefly Health Plan | Cigna PPO Network
Adventist Health Associates | Employee Health Plan
Adventist Health Associates | Non-Employee Health Plan
Blue Cross Blue Shield | Anthem (Blue Card)
Carelon
Compsych
Devoted Health | Medicare Advantage
First Health Network
HealthSpring | Medicare Advantage
JP Farley Corporation
Multi Plan PHCS
Oscar Health
Poppins Health
Providence Health Plan
Providence Health Plan Medicare Advantage
Quest Behavioral Health
Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon | BCBS
Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon | BCBS Medicare Advantage
UMR
United Healthcare | Optum
United Healthcare | Optum - Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
United Healthcare | Optum Medicare Advantage
Uprise EAP
SELF-PAY COSTS
Out-of-pocket session costs for clients who don’t have insurance or aren’t covered by their insurance for mental health services.
$200
first session
$170
subsequent sessions
About Provider

About DB

I am a licensed professional counselor (LPC) with over 24 years of experience supporting adults facing trauma, PTSD, anxiety, depression, anger, burnout, and life transitions. I specialize in men’s mental health, including work with veterans, first responders, healthcare professionals, executives, and individuals navigating moral injury, leadership stress, and a loss of purpose. My approach is grounded in practical, evidence-based care that honors resilience, responsibility, and personal values.


I earned my doctorate in counseling psychology from Argosy University. I draw from cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, and integrative, strengths-based methods. When desired, I also incorporate faith-informed principles to support meaning, clarity, and emotional regulation while helping clients build practical tools for lasting change.


If you are carrying the weight of trauma, duty, or chronic stress and feel stuck in survival mode, therapy can help you regain clarity and direction. I provide a straightforward, respectful space to process challenges, strengthen coping skills, and move toward a more grounded, purpose-driven life. I would be honored to support you on your next step forward.

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"I have experience helping adults, including veterans, first responders, executives, and individuals of faith, work through trauma, rediscover purpose, and build lives rooted in clarity, strength, and resilience through practical, evidence-based therapy."

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Get to know DB

Why did you decide to become a counselor or psychiatric provider?

I decided to become a counselor because of my own journey through the hidden wounds of military service and high-stakes work—wrestling with anger, moral injury, isolation, and a deep sense that life should mean more than just surviving. As a young infantryman in the Army National Guard, I saw good men carry invisible burdens that no one talked about, and later, as a first responder and crisis worker, I watched strong people quietly break under the weight of trauma and duty.


I tried the usual routes—pushing through, staying busy, relying on grit alone—but eventually realized that real strength includes facing pain honestly and seeking wise help. When I finally did the hard work of counseling myself, grounded in biblical truth and practical tools, I experienced profound healing and a renewed sense of calling. It changed everything: my marriage, my parenting, my faith, and my ability to lead.


That transformation convinced me that men like the ones I served alongside—veterans, first responders, protectors, providers, men of faith—deserve a place where they can speak plainly about their struggles without shame, process their pain effectively, and rebuild lives rooted in courage, clarity, and conviction.


So I went back to school, earned my master’s and doctorate, gained the training and credentials, and committed the rest of my career to walking with men through the same darkness I once knew—helping them move from merely enduring to truly thriving. It’s not just a job; it’s a calling born out of gratitude for the healing I received and a desire to pay it forward to brothers who are carrying heavy loads alone.

What types of clients do you work best with?

I work best with men and women who are ready to do the focused, practical work of growth—particularly veterans, first responders, firearm owners, healthcare professionals, executives, outdoorsmen, ministry leaders, trauma survivors, and people of faith.


These are often resilient, high-capacity individuals who’ve carried heavy loads: PTSD, moral injury, burnout, anger, anxiety, relational strain, secondary trauma, perfectionism, or a quiet loss of purpose while protecting, providing, or holding everything together.


What draws them to me is a straightforward, no-nonsense approach that honors their strength, duty, and convictions—using CBT and DBT tools to reframe thinking, regulate emotions, set boundaries, and (when desired) align healing with Reformed Christian truth.


If you’re tired of merely coping, ready to process pain honestly, and committed to living with greater courage, clarity, peace, and purpose—whether as a protector, provider, partner, or leader—we’ll likely work well together. I’m here to help you move from surviving to thriving.

What's one thing you wish all clients knew about therapy, mental health, or the healing process?

One thing I wish every client knew is this: Seeking help for your mental health isn’t a sign of weakness—it’s an act of genuine strength and wisdom.

The strongest men and women I’ve ever known, both in uniform and out, are the ones willing to face their pain honestly, do the hard work of healing, and refuse to let unresolved wounds rob them of the life, relationships, and purpose they’re meant for.

Real courage isn’t just pushing through alone; it’s choosing to get the tools and support you need so you can lead, love, and live better—for yourself, your family, and everyone who depends on you. Therapy is simply training for the soul, and starting it means you’re already stronger than you think.

What can clients expect in their first session with you and in the early stages of therapy?

In the early stages, sessions focus on building trust, identifying key patterns and triggers, learning immediate skills for emotional regulation and thought reframing, and setting achievable goals. Homework is rare—I prioritize insights and progress that happen naturally in session, with optional light practice only when it feels useful to you. You’ll notice steady gains in clarity, steadiness, and hope as we build a strong foundation together in a focused, encouraging way that respects your time and strength.

What personal experiences or values inform your practice as a therapist/provider?

My practice is deeply shaped by my own journey through the invisible wounds of military service as a U.S. Army National Guard infantryman, high-stakes crisis work as a first responder, and years of carrying unresolved anger, moral injury, and quiet questions about purpose.


Those experiences taught me that real strength includes facing pain honestly rather than just pushing through, and that lasting healing comes from practical tools grounded in truth—especially biblical truth for those who share my Reformed Christian convictions.


Core values like duty, courage, personal responsibility, protecting the vulnerable, and living with integrity drive everything I do. Having benefited profoundly from therapy myself, I’m committed to offering men and women the same straightforward, judgment-free support that helped me become a better husband, father, leader, and man of faith—so they can move from merely surviving to truly thriving.

How do you tailor therapy to meet each client’s unique needs?

I tailor therapy to each client’s unique needs by starting with a thorough assessment of your story, struggles, strengths, values, and goals—then collaboratively building a plan that fits you precisely.

For some, we lean heavily on CBT to reframe unhelpful thoughts and DBT skills for emotional regulation and boundaries; for others who desire it, we weave in Reformed Christian truth to align healing with biblical conviction. Sessions stay practical and straightforward, paced to your readiness, respecting your resilience while gently challenging patterns that hold you back.

Whether you’re a veteran processing moral injury, a first responder managing burnout, a high-achieving professional seeking clarity, or anyone carrying quiet pain, the work is always customized—honoring your duty, faith (or lack thereof), lifestyle, and vision for thriving—so you gain exactly the tools and insights you need to move forward with courage and peace.

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Other areas of focus

SpecialitiesStress / Mental Stress / Work Stress, First Responders, Depression, Anxiety, Men’s Issues, Military / Veteran, Parenting, Family Conflict, Spirituality, Career Counseling, Anger Management, Thinking Disorders, Sports Performance, Psychosis, Performance Anxiety, Peer Relationships, Mood Disorders, Emotional Disturbance, Dual Diagnosis, Trauma / PTSD, Relationships, Self Esteem, Coping Skills, Behavioral Issues
ApproachesPsychodynamic, Faith-Based Counseling, Experiential Therapy, Strength-Based Therapy, Trauma-Focused, Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Psychotherapy, Forensic Psychology, Family / Marital, Any / Eclectic, Family Systems, Existential Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Humanistic / Rogerian, Christian Counseling
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Education and training

Years in practice
24 years
Graduating institute
Liberty University
Graduating degree
Master of Arts: HS Marriage & Family Counseling
Graduating institute
Argosy University
Graduating degree
Doctor of Education, Counseling Psychology
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Additional details

Languages spoken by this provider
English
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NPI number1396901757
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State of practiceOR
Practice location

Practice information

Book your first session

Individual Counseling
DB is available for Video visits.
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DB Palmer's profile image

DB Palmer

Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)