Janel Ruehl (she/her)

My Background and Approach

I am a current graduate student of Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Oregon State University-Cascades in Bend, Oregon. Having studied mindfulness for more than a decade, I am very interested in the intersection of body-based self-awareness with cognitive and behavioral theories of change. I utilize a systems approach to counseling, based on the Restoration Therapy Model, supporting clients to see and appreciate the ways they are both impacted by and impacting others in their systems of family and community. I love working with individuals, couples, and families to uncover insights about the patterns that are keeping you stuck in suffering and working together to discover how to move forward with long-lasting change.

Why I Became a Therapist

After years of struggling with depression and anxiety that often left me feeling trapped in difficult life experiences, I finally sought help. My life just didn't feel like it was working out the way I wanted, but I also didn't know what I wanted from life! Working with a professional counselor helped me develop greater self-awareness and begin to put my past experiences into a new perspective. I learned how to be open to new experiences again, and to make meaning of all that had come before. I love facilitating powerful new insights for my clients, working collaboratively to reduce feelings of isolation, increase self-awareness, and find new inspiration for the future. Prior to becoming a Counselor, I worked for over a decade in the non-profit and local government arena. I am a passionate advocate for community, with many years of experience facilitating community-led action to create meaningful change in local systems.