Emily Gillard, Professional Counselor AssociateI am a Professional Counselor Associate registered with the Oregon Board of Licensed Professional Counselors and Therapists. People have been central in my career - in public relations, working with families in foster care and most recently counseling in public schools.
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I am passionate about supporting individuals through life's challenges, stressors and losses and celebrating their joys, laughter and successes. Life ebbs and flows, there are constant shifts… and I am convinced there is opportunity to weave these experiences together into something meaningful. Your wisdom will get you there and I would love to hold space for you on your journey.
The Counseling Process
I believe individuals hold within themselves the ability to stand within their own power and strength and that unhelpful patterns of thinking and being can often get in the way. Within the counseling process we will hold space for your story and uncover motivations for embarking on a therapeutic journey. Using your inherent strength, we will confront what is no longer working for you, lean into areas of discomfort and avoidance and develop strategies for you to utilize on your path to empowerment. This is a learning journey where my role is to support you in building new skills to incorporate into your life. I look forward to being with you in this process because it is hard to do it alone. With positive space and regard, we will regularly evaluate your progress and rootedness in your vision as you unlock awareness, healing and joy. I draw on my professional experience, training and education using cognitive behavioral and person-centered counseling techniques.
Practice Areas
I am passionate about supporting women to maintain and regain their voice, their joy and their power in relationships, motherhood and careers. My experience working with young people and their families in middle and high schools as a school counselor and within the foster care system has given me a depth of experience and empathy for those navigating life's many challenges - relationship issues, anxiety, depression, loss and trauma. And through these experiences as well as experiences of my own, I developed a passion for connecting with the rewards and challenges of parenting in particular. While I hold my time with adolescence near and dear to my heart and will continue to see a small number of them in my practice, I am making a shift to primarily focus on working with adults in private practice.
Professional Experience
I hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and Speech Communication, a Masters of Education in School Counseling from Lewis and Clark Graduate School of Education and completion of additional coursework in clinical mental health counseling with University of Phoenix. During my 15 year tenure as a school counselor, I was a leader in championing equity for students and families, providing responsive counseling services and developing programs conducive to emotional regulation and wellness.