“I believe people are generally capable of overcoming obstacles in their lives — sometimes they just need help finding the right tools.”
Hi, I’m Aaron Potratz. First and foremost, I am passionate about relationships and families. I see them as the key to happiness and health in life. In order for us to have good relationships, we also need to be healthy as individuals. My desire is to help you improve all of these so that you can experience life to the fullest.
I am also passionate about helping people through difficult life experiences, including trauma. Trauma can come from many situations — including but not limited to physical, sexual, verbal, psychological, or emotional abuse, natural disasters, war, car accidents, and many other events from childhood as well as adulthood. I can help you get relief from the pain of these experiences so that you can live a happier, more peaceful life.
“I have over 18 years of experience as a therapist, am a skilled communicator, and can adapt quickly to meet the needs of my clients in the way that works best for them. And I like to use humor to keep things fun and digestible!”
I am a creative and energetic problem-solver who brings a warm environment to my practice. I often use humor in sessions to provide a safe and comfortable atmosphere for exploration and growth — while staying professional and mindful of working toward your treatment goals.
I screen new clients to ensure we’re the best fit together. I offer in-person and telehealth sessions Monday through Thursday.
I am skilled and knowledgeable with several approaches to therapy, and I will work to understand your personality and needs so I can help you in the way that resonates best. If you struggle with thoughts, I’ll use CBT or Narrative. If you struggle with emotions, I’ll use EFT or ACT. If you’ve experienced trauma, I’ll use EMDR or IFS.
These approaches explore client strengths and successes, as well as possibilities for change. They focus on the experiences we have, the meaning we make of them, and what we do in response — and they help direct our focus to concrete behaviors that can be done to achieve your desired outcome.
I completed my Master’s Degree in Marriage & Family Therapy at George Fox University and earned my license (LPC #C2453) to practice in Oregon. I am also a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC).
Prior to founding Discover Counseling in 2007, I worked as a therapist at Cedar Counseling Center, as a Drug Court Supervisor and Counselor at CODA Inc. and Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare, and as an Adult Mental Health Counselor. I grew up in Seattle, Washington and moved to Oregon in 2003.
I am an Oregon Board-approved clinical supervisor and provide supervision to graduate student interns and post-master’s registered associates. I also host the Shrink Think Podcast and offer private practice consulting for therapists.
In my spare time, I enjoy listening to music and podcasts, lifting weights, playing sports, and spending time with my family. I grew up in Seattle, Washington and moved to Oregon in 2003.
In addition to seeing clients, Aaron works directly with clinicians — supervising pre-licensed counselors and consulting with therapy practice owners on operations and systems.
Aaron provides individual and group supervision for pre-licensed counselors working toward Oregon LPC licensure — both clinicians joining the Discover Counseling team and associates working in other settings. His supervision is clinically rigorous and relationally grounded, focused on developing you as a whole clinician, not just logging hours.
Learn About SupervisionAaron consults with group practice owners on the systems and operations that make sustainable practices possible — intake workflows, documentation, staffing, and technology implementation. His approach uses confidentiality-aware tools, including AI-assisted workflow analysis, to identify operational gaps before they become bottlenecks. Built from 18 years of running a practice, not from a business school framework.
Learn About Consulting