Jeff Borchers, MS, PhD, LPC
Counseling is about self-discovery. My goal as a counselor is to help people uncover their vast potential for change as they face problems such as anxiety, depression, or conflict in relationships. As such, I consider it a privilege to work with my clients, and never cease to be amazed at their stories of courage and healing.
In my psychotherapy work with individuals, couples, and families, I often focus on relationships in the family or workplace. For example, couples who are struggling to re-connect often lack needed communication skills, some of which require training in the area of emotional intelligence or solutions for anxiety or depression.
In my practice, I utilize Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, enhanced by directed mindfulness, movement, and ecotherapy. In my work with couples and families, I use a combination of Emotionally-Focused Therapy and Gottman Marital Therapy. As an employee assistance professional, I have provided management consultations, group trainings, coaching, and counseling, I have also been certified in mediation and conflict management.
For the last three decades, I’ve taught traditional martial arts and hold a second-degree black belt in Shotokan karate-dō. I often bring this perspective into my work with individuals and groups, for example, as a framework for anger management and emotional self-control. As many of the core principles of traditional martial arts align with the goals of psychotherapy, I have integrated them in a course in mindfulness and movement, MindBodyOneTM.
My professional background also includes research, training, teaching, writing, policy analysis, and organizational development. Over the past 25 years, I have worked in academia, government, and the private sector on issues of social, ecological, and psychological well-being. This work has included (1) the development of risk assessment strategies and tools; (2) facilitating community-based partnerships for sustainability; and (3) organizational approaches to accommodate organizational complexity and uncertainty.
I hold a Masters degree in counseling from Capella University, a Ph.D. in ecology from Oregon State University, and a Masters degree from Yale University. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (C2588) practicing under the rules of the Oregon Board of Licensed Professional Counselors and Therapists.