Delphine LeClaire, MFT Graduate Student Intern

About Me

Every person’s story matters, and I believe healing begins when that story is explored and understood—when we begin connecting the dots between past experiences and present struggles. Everyone deserves to feel valued, heard, and seen. Overwhelming experiences, experiences that are difficult to make sense of, and ruptures of safety or trust can continue to shape how we understand ourselves and relate to others. No one should feel alone in their struggles. I believe people deserve a safe space to process difficult emotions, better understand themselves and their relationships, and develop the confidence and skills to navigate what comes next. True transformation isn’t only about understanding the past; it’s also about developing tools for the present and discovering that the future can look different.

I am inspired by couples therapy and by our capacity for resilience—to be fully ourselves, remain true to who we are, and still build deep and meaningful connection with another person. What appears to be a communication problem on the surface can reflect deeper patterns in how partners seek connection, protect themselves, respond to conflict, and try to feel understood. I am a Marriage and Family Therapy graduate student at The Family Institute at Northwestern University and work with individuals and couples at Douglas Counseling as an MFT graduate student intern as part of my supervised clinical training. I have completed Levels 1, 2, and 3 Training in Gottman Method Couples Therapy, along with additional Gottman training in Treating Affairs and Trauma and Therapy for Partner Aggression and Abuse.

I guide clients with empathy, intention, and truth. My work is active, compassionate, and assessment-informed. My work with couples may include exploring the patterns that keep them feeling stuck and developing practical tools for communication, conflict management, friendship and intimacy, repairing painful interactions, and rebuilding trust.

I am currently seeing couples at Douglas Counseling in Lake Oswego, Oregon, on Saturdays 12:45-8:00pm, Sundays 10:00am-8:00pm, and Monday evenings 5:00-8:30pm.

Outside of my clinical work and graduate studies, I love baking homemade sourdough bread, cooking, and getting lost in a good book. When I’m not reading, you can usually find me hiking with my husband of 17 years and our two children.

Areas of Clinical Interest:

• Couples Therapy
• Gottman Method Couples Therapy
• Relationship Assessment
• Communication & Conflict
• Emotional Disconnection
• Infidelity & Affair Recovery
• Betrayal & Trust Repair
• Trust & Intimacy
• Trauma’s Impact on Relationships