About Adam J. Rodríguez · Portland
Adam J. Rodríguez, PsyD is a licensed clinical psychologist in Portland, Oregon, who provides individual, couple, and group psychotherapy to adolescents and adults. With over 15 years of clinical experience, he maintains a private practice (Pa'lante, LLC) alongside adjunct teaching positions at Lewis & Clark College and the Oregon Psychoanalytic Center. His clinical work is largely informed by modern psychoanalytic theory and Social Justice Theory, with particular emphasis on working with people who identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and LGBTQIA+ clients, including attention to the intersection of race, culture, sexuality, and other identities in mental health.
Adam J. Rodríguez, PsyD operates a Portland-based psychotherapy practice under Pa'lante, LLC, offering individual, couple, and group psychotherapy to adolescents and adults. A first-generation college graduate himself, Dr. Rodríguez earned his B.A. in Psychology from San Francisco State University (2007), followed by an M.A. (2009) and Psy.D. (2011) from The Wright Institute in Berkeley, California. He holds clinical psychology licensure in both Oregon (License #2701) and California (PSY 25105), with NPI #1861747412. His clinical training was broad and cross-cultural, including a post-doctoral fellowship with Pacific Forensic Psychology Associates providing mandated outpatient psychotherapy to high-risk sex offenders and individuals released from incarceration; an internship at California Pacific Medical Center's Department of Psychiatry working with patients living with chronic mental illness; and clinical work at the Pop Wuj Medical Clinic in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. He previously served as Director of Clinical Training and Assistant Professor in the Clinical Psychology Department at Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont, California. His current professional appointments include adjunct faculty at Lewis & Clark College and faculty/supervisor at the Oregon Psychoanalytic Center. He also serves on the board of ELSO, Inc., a Portland-area behavioral health organization. He is the editor of the 2023 anthology 'Know That You Are Worthy: Experiences From First-Generation College Students' (Rowman & Littlefield). His office is located at 818 NW 17th Avenue, Suite 4 in Portland's historic Nob Hill/Alphabet District, with additional addresses listed at 833 SW 11th Avenue, Suite 414.
- In business
- Practice established September 2012 (Private Practice, Pa'lante, LLC — over 15 years of clinical experience)
- Owner
- Adam J. Rodríguez, PsyD (owner of private practice Pa'lante, LLC)
- Serves
- Portland, Oregon (with historical practice in San Francisco, CA; telehealth options listed on MiResource)
About Dr. Adam J. Rodríguez
Adam J. Rodríguez, PsyD is a licensed clinical psychologist in Oregon (License #2701) and California (PSY 25105) with more than 15 years of experience treating adolescents and adults. He identifies on his website as a 'First Gen. Teacher. Author,' reflecting his work as a first-generation college graduate, his academic teaching career, and his role as editor of the 2023 anthology 'Know That You Are Worthy: Experiences From First-Generation College Students' (Rowman & Littlefield). He maintains private practice through Pa'lante, LLC, and holds adjunct faculty and supervisor roles at Lewis & Clark College and the Oregon Psychoanalytic Center.
- Bilingual cultural background; identifies as Hispanic/Latinx (per MiResource profile)
- Pronouns: He/Him/His
- Practice DBA: Pa'lante, LLC (San Francisco and Portland)
Therapy Services & Approach
Dr. Rodríguez provides individual, couple, and group psychotherapy, along with education, consultation, and training to professionals and students. His work is largely informed by modern psychoanalytic theory and Social Justice Theory, with attention to the role of power, privilege, and cultural dominance in shaping emotional and psychological experience. A central tenet of his practice is that knowledge and meaning are co-constructed through language and relationship, and that 'problems in living' are best understood as relational, contextual, interpretive, and situated within dominant cultural discourse.
- Modern psychoanalytic orientation
- Social Justice Theory framework
- Intersectional attention to race, gender, sexuality, class, religion, and age
Areas of Clinical Focus
The practice serves people experiencing depression and anxiety, relationship difficulties, loss and grief, serious mental illness, trauma, and struggles in school or work. Dr. Rodríguez works extensively with clients who identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and as LGBTQIA+, including individuals navigating internalized racism, heteronormativity, heterosexism, and homophobia. He has particular clinical interest in the adjustment and isolation of first-generation college students of color facing microaggressions, academic challenges, and online racism.
- BIPOC mental health
- LGBTQIA+ mental health
- First-generation college student support
- Trauma, depression, anxiety, grief
- Serious mental illness (per MiResource: Bipolar Disorder, Borderline Personality, suicidal ideation)
Ages & Client Populations
Per his MiResource profile, Dr. Rodríguez accepts teens (13–17), young adults (18–30), adults, and seniors (65+). He provides both in-person and remote (voice and video) sessions, and is currently listed as accepting clients. The practice serves clients in Portland and historically maintained a San Francisco presence as well.
- Teens (13–17)
- Young adults (18–30)
- Adults
- Seniors (65+)
- Remote / in-person options
Education & Training
Before becoming a psychologist, Dr. Rodríguez worked as a Corporate Trainer for Bank of America. He then earned his doctorate in clinical psychology from The Wright Institute in Berkeley, CA (M.A. 2009; Psy.D. 2011), following an undergraduate degree in Psychology from San Francisco State University (B.A. 2007). His training spans psychoanalysis, neuropsychology, cross-cultural awareness, severe mental illness, and forensic psychology.
- B.A., Psychology — San Francisco State University (2007)
- M.A. — The Wright Institute, Berkeley, CA (2009)
- Psy.D. — The Wright Institute, Berkeley, CA (2011)
Clinical Training & Fellowships
Dr. Rodríguez completed a post-doctoral fellowship with Pacific Forensic Psychology Associates, Inc., providing mandated outpatient psychotherapy to high-risk sex offenders and other individuals released from incarceration. He completed his internship at California Pacific Medical Center's Department of Psychiatry, where he delivered individual, couple, and group psychotherapy to patients with chronic mental illness. Additional training included clinical positions at The Wright Institute Clinic, Cleo Eulau Center, San Francisco Child Abuse Prevention Center, Mills College, and the Pop Wuj Medical Clinic in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala.
- Post-doctoral fellowship: Pacific Forensic Psychology Associates, Inc.
- Internship: California Pacific Medical Center, Dept. of Psychiatry
- Clinical work: The Wright Institute Clinic, Cleo Eulau Center, SFCAPC, Mills College, Pop Wuj Medical Clinic (Guatemala)
Academic & Faculty Appointments
Dr. Rodríguez is adjunct faculty at Lewis & Clark College in Portland (since May 2017) and adjunct faculty and supervisor at the Oregon Psychoanalytic Center (since January 2018). He previously served as a tenure-track Assistant Professor and Director of Clinical Training in the Clinical Psychology Department at Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont, CA (August 2013 – August 2016), where he oversaw clinical training, the annual Practicum Fair, IRB processes, and produced institutional manuals and practicum directories.
- Adjunct Faculty, Lewis & Clark College (2017–present)
- Adjunct Faculty / Supervisor, Oregon Psychoanalytic Center (2018–present)
- Former Asst. Professor & Director of Clinical Training, Notre Dame de Namur University (2013–2016)
Teaching & Presentations
He has taught and presented to undergraduates, graduate students, doctoral students, psychiatry residents, and medical students at California Pacific Medical Center, The Psychotherapy Institute, The PsychoSocial Foundation, Pacific Forensic Psychology Associates, San Jose State University, The Wright Institute, and Pop Wuj Medical Clinic in Guatemala.
- California Pacific Medical Center
- The Psychotherapy Institute
- The PsychoSocial Foundation
- Pacific Forensic Psychology Associates
- San Jose State University
- The Wright Institute
- Pop Wuj Medical Clinic (Quetzaltenango, Guatemala)
Publications & Editorial Work
Dr. Rodríguez has published multiple essays and articles across online blogs and academic journals. His recent publication is the 2023 edited anthology 'Know That You Are Worthy: Experiences From First-Generation College Students,' published by Rowman & Littlefield, which also includes a critique of postsecondary education. While at Notre Dame de Namur University, he authored several institutional documents including an IRB Manual and Checklist (2015), a Research Manual (2015), and the Annual Notre Dame de Namur University Practicum Directory (2013). He also briefly served as Associate Editor of the California Journal of Oriental Medicine (Feb–Apr 2006).
- Rodríguez, A. (Ed.) (2023). Know That You Are Worthy: Experiences From First-Generation College Students. Rowman & Littlefield.
- Rodríguez, A. (2015). Institutional Review Board Manual and Checklist (unpublished)
- Rodríguez, A. (2015). Research Manual (unpublished)
- Rodríguez, A. (2013). Annual NDNU Practicum Directory (unpublished)
- Associate Editor, California Journal of Oriental Medicine (2006)
Professional Affiliations & Board Service
Dr. Rodríguez is a member of the International Association for Relational Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy (IARPP) and the Psychotherapy Action Network (PsiAN), where he previously served on the board. He currently serves on the board of ELSO, Inc., a Portland-based organization (https://www.elsoincpdx.org/), and has served on a variety of other professional committees.
- IARPP — International Association for Relational Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy
- PsiAN — Psychotherapy Action Network (former board member)
- ELSO, Inc. — current board member (Portland)
Office Location & Contact
Dr. Rodríguez's office is conveniently located at 818 NW 17th Avenue, Suite 4, in Portland's Alphabet District/Nob Hill neighborhood. He welcomes calls and emails with questions or to schedule a consultation. The published CV lists a secondary mailing address at 833 SW 11th Avenue, Suite 414, Portland, OR 97205 (Medical Dental Building).
- Primary office: 818 NW 17th Avenue, Suite 4, Portland, OR
- Secondary address: 833 SW 11th Avenue, Suite 414, Portland, OR 97205 (Medical Dental Building)
- Phone: 503-308-9770
- Website: https://www.dradamrodriguez.com/