Peggy Rost, IFS Therapy in Oregon

Professional Background

Education, License & Certifications

Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Gettysburg College

Master of Public Administration Degree in New York City

Master of Social work from Portland State

LCSW #L11878

Other Training

Internal Family Systems Level 1

Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Hello and welcome! My name is Peggy (she/her) and I’m a Clinical Social Worker licensed in the state of Oregon, though I recently returned to New England to be closer to family. I’m grateful for the flexibility and cross-country connections that telehealth can provide, and am delighted to be joining the team at The IFS Telehealth Collective. I believe that every individual has the innate ability to live a meaningful, fulfilling life and I’m here to help clients explore their parts to cultivate a sense of harmony within both their external and internal environments. Life is full of transitions that entail both joy and suffering, and none of it has to be faced alone.  

My Approach

As the beloved spiritual teacher, Ram Dass, wrote, “We are all just walking each other home.” I am committed to walking alongside my clients while offering perspective, curiosity, and  compassion, and strive to help them find a sense of home within themselves and with others. My clients have described me as warm, non-judgemental, intuitive, and easy to talk to, all qualities that I believe lend themselves well to IFS. In addition, I incorporate aspects of Acceptance Commitment Therapy and Non-Violent Communication. 

My Journey 

I have worked in healthcare and human services for over fifteen years. After receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Gettysburg College, I worked in a shelter for families experiencing homelessness in Vermont. I then went on to obtain a Master of Public Administration degree in New York City, thinking that I wanted to participate in the human services field on a more macro-level. While I was working as a Program Coordinator in a hospital’s Community Health Improvement department, I began working with an IFS therapist for my own personal exploration. No other kind of therapy had ever resonated with me so fully and I decided to attend one of Dick Schwartz’s week-long retreats at Kripalu where I deepened my connection with the model even more. Shortly after that, I felt called to become a therapist and moved to Portland, OR to pursue graduate studies. While there, I interned at a county behavioral health clinic and later worked as a counselor serving families affected by Parkinson’s disease.  In addition to my formal training in IFS, I’ve completed trainings in Acceptance Commitment Therapy and other approaches that support my work with adults across the lifespan. I am also a certified yoga instructor. 

Specialties

I work with adults who are navigating depression, anxiety, trauma, life transitions, grief, relationship dynamics, and chronic physical conditions. I have a passion for working with older adults and have a lot of experience working with individuals living with progressive neurological diseases and family caregivers.  

About Me

When I’m not working, I enjoy walking in the woods or by the ocean with my dog, making playlists for every occasion, cooking, and trying new restaurants and seeing live music with my partner and friends.