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).

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The number one factor for success in therapy is having a quality relationship between client and therapist (Stubbe, 2018). Yet, the process of finding the right fit can be daunting, sometimes even traumatizing. In order to facilitate a genuine connection 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 sex. 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). I also rely on feedback from clients to improve their experience in sessions with me. 

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Some of my areas of interest are with anxiety, stress, trauma, obsessional thoughts/behaviors, and depression. I believe that most thoughts and behaviors originate from an attempt to meet one’s needs. These behaviors are designed to keep us safe and are usually effective at the time of their creation. As time passes however, these behaviors no longer serve us. It’s my goal to help clients identify their needs and replace dysfunctional behaviors with functional ones in order to live happier, healthier lives. I operate under the Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) assumption that everyone is doing the best they can and we can do better. 

I am also very interested in working with people who have experiences with bipolar disorder. I am familiar with the implications of being medicated with these experiences, helping clients become grounded in the here and now, and validating the complex emotions that come with not being fully “in control” of one’s thoughts and behaviors. 

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I am originally from California, where I earned my M.A. in Counseling and graduated with honors (summa cum laude). I have participated as a research assistant at the Stanford Graduate School of Education on projects related to Carol Dweck’s Mindset theory. I was a research assistant at Palo Alto University, where we researched sexual shame. I’ve worked with children on the autism spectrum using Applied Behavioral Analysis. I have extensive personal experience with mental health challenges and frequently apply the skills I teach to my clients in my personal life. 

 

Stubbe D. E. (2018). The Therapeutic Alliance: The Fundamental Element of Psychotherapy. Focus (American Psychiatric Publishing), 16(4), 402–403. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.focus.20180022

 

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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