About A Better Way Counseling Center

A Better Way Counseling Center is a mental health center and was established in 1997. The Center was founded by David Leventer, LPC, LMFT, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Licensed Professional Counselor. He has been counseling families, couples and individuals for over fifteen years and has worked in a variety of settings including hospitals, family agencies, and counseling centers such as the Women's Counseling Center and the Men's Resource Center. He designed the eating disorder treatment and the family counseling program at the Center specifically to meet the needs of the Portland community.

Other providers at the Center include Valeria Lewandoski, LCSW, clinical supervisor, Sarah B. Dorsey, LCSW, Rhianna Cooper, M.Ed., Lesley Burke, LPC, ATR, CADC1 and Lauren Tracy, M.A.

Lesley Burke is an individual and group therapist with experience treating adults and adolescents with addiction and trauma-related issues.  She has worked in women’s residential and outpatient treatment, providing therapy to young women with a variety of emotional and behavioral issues including addiction, abuse, body image and relationship problems.  She completed her Master’s Degree in Art Therapy/ Counseling at Marylhurst University, and is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Registered Art Therapist and Certified Addictions Counselor.  Lesley’s approach to therapy includes psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, and mindfulness techniques, as well as art therapy to facilitate self-expression and personal growth.

Rhianna Cooper is an individual, couples and family therapist with experience in treating a wide range of issues. She completed her Master’s Degree in Couples and Family Therapy at the University of Oregon. In the past she has worked in a variety of settings including a residential treatment center for women suffering from eating disorders, a school setting as a school-based family therapist and at a community-based outpatient counseling clinic. She utilizes multiple treatment approaches including Family Systems, Cognitive Behavioral and Psychodynamic to help clients utilize their strengths, overcome challenges and communicate more effectively. At A Better Way Counseling Center, Rhianna provides counseling for families, couples and individuals struggling with eating disorders, childhood behavioral problems, depression, anxiety and relationship difficulties.

Sarah Dorsey is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with twenty five years of varied clinical experience. For the past ten years Sarah has been an individual and group psychotherapist working with clients struggling with anxiety, depression, PTSD and eating disorders. She has extensive experience working with people who have chronic mental illness and their families. When working in a hospital setting, Sarah performed psychiatric evaluations in the emergency room and the Intensive Care Unit. As a social worker on various medical/surgical inpatient units she assisted patients with home care plans and community referral. Sarah incorporates various therapeutic techniques, including cognitive behavioral therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, psychodynamic psychotherapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and mindfulness mediation to assist clients in achieving their goals.

Lauren Tracy is an individual, couples and group therapist with experience treating trauma-related emotional issues. She completed her Master’s Degree in Art Therapy Counseling from Marylhurst University. Her approach to counseling includes cognitive-behavioral and psychodynamic theory, as well as promoting communication and self-discovery through creative expression.  Lauren has worked in residential and day-treatment programs for adolescents and young-adults suffering from anxiety, depression, and conduct disorders. She also volunteers her time as a counselor working with the elderly and domestic violence survivors. She believes that every person has a unique creative voice that is innate in recovery. Treatment with her is a process based on personal strengths, collaboration, and a community/team approach.

Valeria Lewandoski is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and has been the Center's clinical supervisor since 1997. She was also the director of the Grotto Counseling Center, and has worked with adults, children and families for over 25 years.

They bring expertise to A Better Way Counseling Center in providing individual psychotherapy, couples therapy, family therapy, group counseling and counseling about career concerns.

A Better Way Counseling Center is also proud to be a leader in the field of continuing education of therapists. We are certified by the national organizations for both counselors and psychologists to offer continuing education for credit to both of these professions. We co-sponsor quarterly seminars for professionals to further their education in the treatment of eating disorders.

Our staff is also available to provide training and inservices to other professionals in the areas of eating disorders, family therapy, recovery from chemical dependency, anger management and violence intervention counseling.

If you would like more information about our inservices, our continuing education offerings, or our national certifications, please contact us by clicking the blue “Contact us” link below.

Contact us for further information about our programs. We would also be happy to send you one or both of our free pamphlets: one describing the steps to recovery from eating disorders, the other on the way to have a happier, healthy family.

A Better Way Counseling Center
818 NW 17th Avenue, Suite 8
Portland, Oregon 97209
(503) 226-9061