General Info

A Better Way Counseling Center is a state certified 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, Julie Berman, MA, MFA and Rhianna Cooper, M.Ed. 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. Julie Berman is a Professional Counselor who specializes in eating disorders. She completed her Masters Degree in counseling at the Counseling Psychology Program at Lewis and Clark College. She has worked with individuals in both hospital and college counseling centers. She also has an MFA in creative writing from Sarah Lawrence College, taught writing at New York University and is a published author. She works with a wide range of people with a special focus in women from adolescence through adulthood. Incorporating writing, art, and various forms of creativity into a therapeutic setting is integral to her 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. 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. 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.