Hi! My name is Ghesline (sounds like Jess-lean) (she/her/hers), and I am a Professional Counseling Associate registered in the state of Oregon. I am originally from California, where I earned my M.A. in Counseling and graduated with honors (summa cum laude).

The number one factor for success in therapy is having a quality therapeutic alliance between client and therapist. Yet, the process of finding the right fit can be daunting, sometimes even traumatizing. In order to facilitate a genuine connection with clients, I meet clients where they are at using trauma-informed care, cultural competency, and a person centered approach. This means I am careful to avoid retraumatization, I respect clients’ personal values, and I approach clients with unconditional positive regard even when discussing potentially difficult topics such as suicidal ideation or sexuality. I prioritize developing a safe, confidential space for clients to explore the challenges that brought them into therapy. I model and guide clients into engaging their parasympathetic nervous system (I.e. resting state or opposite of fight or flight) while also utilizing evidence based practices such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectal behavioral therapy (DBT), mindfulness, and motivational interviewing (MI). I leverage my personal experience with mental health issues to help clients feel understood.

I can help treat:

• Trauma (PTSD, complex trauma, childhood trauma, inter generational, domestic violence, hypersensitivity, borderline personality disorder)

• Depression

• Anxiety

• Bipolar 

• People who have experienced psychotic events

• Relationship issues

• LGBTQIA+ issues

• Sexuality issues (normative
  and non-normative)

• Suicidal ideation