Eugene Therapists

Angela Barnhurst

Nichelle Benson

Professional Counselor Associate

My name is Nichelle Benson, and I am a Professional Counselor Associate working towards licensure. I am originally from Colorado, but I followed the magic of the Pacific Northwest out to Eugene! I am a wife and soon-to-be-mother who enjoys reading, writing, and adventuring in the deep, mossy forests and anywhere near water.

Despite being an introvert, I enjoy being a chipper, bubbly person. My philosophy about therapy is that we get to fully explore our humanness together; while therapy does often involve discussing deep-seeded traumas and difficult challenges, we can lean into the awkwardness of human experiences and find laughter in our path towards growth and understanding.

Nichelle's Approach

I truly believe that people are the experts of their own lives, with their own wisdom and experiences that contribute to the ways in which they make meaning in the world around them. My role as a therapist is to encourage clients to explore the intersection between their mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical health so that they can continue exploring the stories that add meaning to their life and adjust any core beliefs that are limiting to the person they want to be. I approach therapy from a holistic perspective that considers personal, psychosocial, and cultural dimensions that impact our identities. I strive to create a space that is warm, open, and nonjudgmental for you to explore the patterns you engage in and experience yourself fully.

Guided by the principles of Person-Centered, Existential-Humanistic, Compassion-Focused, and Narrative approaches, my goal as a therapist is to empower individuals on their path to holistic well-being. I draw from various counseling theories and therapeutic approaches to best help clients meet their goals, including Internal Family Systems, Trauma-Informed Care, Polyvagal Theory, and Attachment Theory.

More About Nichelle Benson

Experience

I provide individual, family, and group therapies to children, teens, and adults. I have clinical and other professional experience in navigating social and cultural barriers within the context of families. I have special clinical interest in treating trauma, especially related to the medical system, perinatal mental health, and chronic pain.

Education

I hold a Master of Arts degree in Counseling and Human Services with an emphasis in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS).

Can I Help You?

I treat patients for:

  • Depression, grief, loss, sadness
  • Anxiety, worry, stress, panic
  • Bipolar Disorder
  • Developmental/Autism Spectrum Disorder
  • OCD: Obsessive-Compulsive Thoughts or Actions
  • Relationship struggles (couple, family, or parenting)
  • Traumatic Events, Trauma, PTSD
 Angela Barnhurst