Mitchell West, Professional Counselor Associate
Bend, Oregon
VerifiedFeaturedTelehealth Available
My Approach to Therapy
Has something completely shaken your foundation? Feeling like your whole life is changing against your will can be confusing.
I'm best able to help people who feel like everything is suddenly uprooting, and they feel helpless to address it. For some, a faith crisis makes them question the very core of their identity. For others, something traumatic happened, and it feels like their mind and body will not let them move on. And for some, they want to be prepared in case this happens in their marriage, so I offer premarital counseling and give them the best tools I can.
To help you best, I use established, evidence-based practices. In most cases, this means I use an approach that is well-respected and well-researched. In some cases, if we both agree, I may use an approach that is newer, but still has solid research behind it.
When we work together, we work within your framework rather than me imposing mine on you, and we collaborate to get you where you want to be, whether that's where you used to be or somewhere new. You are the most important person in therapy, so I work less as a teacher and more as a guide, honoring your needs and wishes.
My Guiding Ethical Principles
My values as a person have little place in the therapeutic process. Perhaps that's a little on the nose, but my personal values are not my therapeutic values. My core values as a therapist are all about your improvement and welfare, and can be embodied in these principles:
1) We work within your framework and paradigm.
2) Your personal values are central to the process.
3) You know yourself better than I ever could.
4) We collaborate to help you achieve your goals, or as close as you can get to them.
5) We are honest with each other and work to solve any personal issues that might arise.
I became a counselor not to impose personal values or because of personal identity, but because of my own experiences with mental health and spiritual challenges and because of the fulfillment I find helping others on their own journey. My core value as a therapist is to always put your needs first.
Expertise & Specialties
Age Groups I Work With
TeensAdultsElders
Therapy Services & Specialties
Concerns & Challenges Addressed
Adjusting to Change / Life TransitionsMoney and Financial IssuesParentingPosttraumatic Stress / TraumaPre-Marital CounselingReligious IssuesSpiritualityStress
Therapeutic Approaches & Evidence-Based Methods
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Cognitive Processing TherapyExposure TherapyFamily Systems TherapyMindfulness-Based InterventionsMotivational Interviewing Parent WorkPerson-Centered Therapy (Rogerian Therapy)