Jeannie Balenger: Camaraderie Counseling, LLC

College is often an exciting time in life where new opportunities open up. However, for many students it can also be extremely stressful and uncertain. Many students are the first in their family to go to college and lack the support to thrive while navigating college and supporting themselves and perhaps their families.

My name is Jeannie (yep, like “in a bottle”) I am originally from the Washington D.C. area but grew up in outer east Portland/Rockwood. Like many clients, I faced life challenges and adversities growing up, such as a single parent home, delinquency issues, and parental addiction, incarceration, and death. Before starting college, I worked in the restaurant industry for several years. I've spent the last 5 years working in higher education doing career counseling, academic advising, and college admissions.

Additionally, I have spent the past two years working at PSU’s Community Counseling Clinic, a low-cost community mental health clinic. Over the years, I have worked with students, and clients from many different backgrounds and life experiences, such as people struggling with addiction, fear of deportation, various mental health issues, houselessness, immigrants and refugees, people with disabilities, and low-income, BIPOC and Queer and people.

My life and work experiences have significantly influenced my decision to become a counselor. I strive to be a genuine, trusting and safe person for clients who have historically lacked safety and trust in relationships and within systems. I would be honored to collaborate with you.

In my spare time, I enjoy witty banter, social commentary, and starting books and not finishing them. I also enjoy making things like food, art, and jokes, exploring new places, cute pets, trivia, the 90s, geography and practicing my 2nd grade level Spanish.

You can schedule a Free consultation here: https://camaraderiecounselingllc.clientsecure.me/#home