I have a Masters of Science in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling from Portland State University, & I am registered as a Professional Counselor Associate in the State of Oregon (#R9658). My supervisor is Emily Berry, MS, LPC.
What is a “Professional Counselor Associate”? In order to become a fully licensed professional counselor (LPC) in Oregon, a counselor has to work for a period of time as an associate counselor under the supervision of a fully licensed clinician. I have a couple years to go until I will be fully licensed. Functionally, there is nothing a fully licensed clinician can do that an associate counselor cannot.
What is “Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling”? In addition to receiving all the core training to provide mental health counseling, I specialized in studying Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling (CRC).
CRC is a speciality in the counseling field that encompasses counseling people with disabilities, with a particular focus on issues related to employment. Vocational rehabilitation counseling is one of the oldest forms of counseling in the U.S. and the first to receive federal funding to assist veterans returning home from World War I.
I was inspired to specialize in rehabilitation counseling because it requires additional training in the medical and psychosocial aspects of disability & because I know how important work is to a person’s sense of self. I also appreciate how the disability perspective can account for the influence of environmental & systemic factors on mental health.
How long have you been working with clients? Portland State’s program is three years long and includes a second year practicum & a third year internship. I have been providing individual counseling services to adult clients since the Fall of 2024.
I have worked with clients experiencing anxiety, depression, C-PTSD, PTSD, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, & difficulties adjusting to major life transitions. I have also worked with adults transitioning out of federal prison and with people on competency restoration orders who have been charged with a crime and are waiting to be declared fit to stand trial.
I have held other roles in various non-profit behavioral health programs during the last eight years, prior to earning my degree. I have worked in substance use treatment services, including at a withdrawal management (aka "detox”) clinic. I have supported people with severe mental illnesses involved in the justice system. I have also worked as an employment specialist assisting people with returning to work after taking time off to care for their mental health. My work in these contexts has often involved supporting people while they are in crisis. It has also taught me about the strength, resilience, & basic goodness of human beings, even when they are in the most desperate circumstances.
