Ashlea Tenner
“We can do hard things.” – Glennon Doyle
Asking for help can be hard. Taking this step to seeking counseling is a brave one and shows you are already taking action to start exploring changes in your life. I’m excited for you to start this process of self-exploration and am here to provide support and compassion from the passenger seat. You are capable of moving mountains, but know that you do not need to do it alone.
As humans, we are excellent at finding ways to avoid painful feelings of sadness, grief, shame, anger, and fear. We can do this by building emotional walls that keep the people out, hiding our deepest fears even from ourselves, and distracting or numbing with substances, addictive behaviors, work, or the pursuit of fleeting pleasures. While some avoidance techniques can successfully pause painful feelings short term, long term use of these techniques are not only ineffective but often create a cycle of increasingly severe emotional pain as well as contributing to increased risk of health and relationship problems.
As hard as it may be at times to see a way forward when we are in the midst of these challenges, we always have the opportunity to slow down, assess, and make choices that move us in a direction we value. Together we can explore what you value most, which areas you have most control over, and which direction feels most authentic to you to take a step in the right direction. These steps may feel small at first but over time can lead to significant changes in how you view yourself, your situation, and your path forward to your best and most meaningful life.
True happiness is deeper than the fleeting feeling of joy. Living in a state of happiness comes when we can honor and create space for all of our feelings, find meaningful experience in the here and now, live authentically, and practice moving in a direction we value.
You have a unique story and will need a therapy approach that is tailored specifically for you. While I have experience drawing from many theories and approaches, my therapeutic foundation stems mostly from:
● Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
● Motivational Interviewing
● Mindfulness
● Trauma Informed Care
Areas of Specialty Include:
- Anxiety
- Sexuality and Gender
- LGBTQIA+ Affirmative Practice
- Professional Populations/Healthcare Professionals
- Burnout
- Life Transitions
- Self Development/Goal Setting
- Feeling Stuck
Education and Credentials:
I have 11 years of experience working in the field of co-occurring addiction and mental illness, working primarily in residential treatment settings with both adolescents and adults. I most recently have enjoyed working with the professional healthcare population addressing issues such as work stress, burnout, stigma, and impairment at work. My education was heavily focused on social justice and anti-racism and as a queer/bi-sexual identifying person, I hold affirmative practice as a core value in my work. I warmly welcome people of any identity into my office and am committed to maintaining a safe space.
Masters of Arts in Addiction and
Mental Health Counseling, Lewis and Clark Graduation School, 2016
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Oregon
State University, 2010
Licensed Professional Counselor, State
of Oregon / OBLPCT, #C5172
Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor
I, State of Oregon / MHACBO, #16-10-16
If you are ready, please reach out to
set up an appointment. We’ll start wherever you are in your journey,
without judgement, and explore together what the next best step might look like for you.