Kori DeSimone

About Kori

Hi! We might be a good fit if you are looking for a 1:1 therapist and any of these questions feel familiar:

• Am I exploring my queer and/or trans identity in relationship to my family, my community, society and/or the history and ancestry of queer and/or trans people?
• Am I curious about what’s going on in my body, because I am often stuck in my head?
• How do I process the impact of the trauma or pain carried by those who have hurt me, or those that I have loved?
• What are boundaries, really?
• Is my curiosity piqued by any of the following perspectives: decolonization, feminist-intersectional, parts work, narrative and/or somatics?

Or, if you are looking for a relationship therapist:

• What is “working” within our current relationship(s)?
• What parts of me are drawn to or activated by the various parts within you?
• What would healthy and holistic boundaries look like for us?
• What patterns are my partner(s) and I stuck in?
• What realities do we dream for our relationship(s)?

Specializations

I work with adults navigating anxiety, PTSD and trauma, ADHD, neurodivergence, and emotional regulation, as well as the impact of sexual and emotional abuse. My work supports exploration of identity — including gender identity and LGBTQ+ experiences — alongside life transitions, adjustment, and grief. In relationship work I support romantic and family relationship conflicts, polyamorous and open relationships, dating challenges, divorce and separation, codependency, people-pleasing, communication skills, and boundaries.

My Approach

I’m a therapist because life and/or oppressive systems create experiences, biases, and coping skills that don’t always reinforce that we matter. Therefore, my role is to support you as you create a meaningful life worth living. My goal is to be a consistent and collaborative support with my clients. Additionally, I value communicating with transparency, kindness and directness.

As a queer person, I believe my clients when they tell me about their histories and their hopes for the future. I know that inviting someone else into your life, or your relationships, can feel risky. I don’t see myself as an expert, a judge, or a product manager. I’m here to support you and your partner(s) as you create a meaningful life worth living.

Training & Certifications

• MA in Couples, Marriage and Family Counseling — Portland State University
• Supervised by Rainer Quinn Catkin Rivenburgh, MAAT, ATR-BC, ATCS, LAT, LPC, SEP

Outside of Work

When I’m not a therapist, I am most likely doing one of the following:

• Wearing goggles in a river as I look for rocks.
• Eating things that bring me comfort or joy.
• Forgetting the rules to a board game I’ve played 100 times.
• Reading a book that makes me cry, makes me laugh or makes me go “I DID NOT SEE THAT COMING!”
• Looking around at the people I love, in awe that we exist in the same universe at the same time.