Frequently Asked Questions

Absolutely! Although women do gravitate towards my therapeutic approach, services, and personality, my caseload consistently includes individuals who are not this gender. I am honored to be continually educated on and immersed in gender-affirming care practices to provide quality support to everyone.

Given the narrow support options available for these specialized topics, I offer non-therapeutic coaching in a limited capacity. We can discuss in consultation how therapy and coaching differ, and if it would be the right fit for you. You can learn more about coaching services HERE.

Coaching Services are provided under the same policies as therapy.

Coaching is offered in all 50 states: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.

Coaching is offered in Europe, Canada, Mexico, Central America, and South America.

No. That is the short answer. The long answer is also No, but with some context of why you may feel this way. Families, Culture, Media: numerous external outlets are framing mental health support as only for those who are “disturbed” or “broken”. In reality, seeing a mental health specialist is no different than regularly seeing a physician. Although there are mental health specialists that support those with severe emotional concerns, just like medical specialists, many counselors help others with more common challenges, including relational issues, self-esteem, codependency, family dynamics, and transitions, to name a few. And if you aren’t sure what is going on for you, counseling can help you better understand and express what is causing this discomfort and confusion. Our emotional well-being is part of our overall health, and seeing a counselor is a way to approach this holistically.

The counseling experience is unique to every individual and group, given specific goal-related needs or just what comes up that day, but some things are common among most. You’ll experience a range of emotions, which can be uncomfortable, but temporary. This discomfort can be rewarding when you can move through it with compassion in a safe space.

Each session may present differently, although your primary purpose for growth is always kept in mind. Sometimes we may talk comfortably seated, while other times we may be experiencing your change through motion, role-playing, creativity, mindfulness, recognition and renegotiation of thoughts and behaviors, or other therapeutic functions. Although we will traverse this experience together, you are the authority in your life.

I may take notes — this allows me to be present with you, while ensuring I remember important moments. However, your confidentiality is critical to me, and all paper notes are cross-shredded after your session.

I will ask you to engage in homework between sessions. The time to complete homework can vary but will be realistic to what you can accomplish. In the following session, we will discuss progress and frustrations. Homework allows you to continue your progress outside of our time together.

During the initial period of counseling, and ongoing, if I deem it unethical to continue to provide treatment to you based on additional needs that arise that are outside my scope of practice, or if there is a concern for the goodness of fit between myself and you, the client, I will provide referrals to other counselors who may be a better fit. As needs arise, I may also offer trusted referrals to encourage your healing journey in conjunction with our time together, such as an acupuncturist, massage therapist, yoga practitioner, or another wellness coach. I do not receive any compensation for this, but some practitioners will offer you a discount on their services for my referral.

Building a collaborative relationship with my clients is essential to me, so I welcome feedback. I understand the counseling process may feel overwhelming - but I am with you in this. Although I encourage you to openly discuss any discomfort and challenges arising during our work together as an active participant in your ongoing treatment, I will consistently bring up this conversation in session to provide you the space, should you need it.

Counseling/Therapy is Offered in Oregon.

After clicking the secure link to your session, you will be brought to a cartoon waiting room with a comfy-looking couch. When our session time arrives, our videos will be connected so we can see and hear each other.

Click here to view a short slideshow of my therapeutic space to give you an idea of what you see once I enter the virtual room.

I do not provide crisis counseling. In the case of an emergency or crisis, please get in touch with one of the following:

—Call or Text BlackLine (prioritizing BIPOC) at 800-604-5841

—Call Trans Lifeline (run by and for Trans people) at 877-565-8860

—Text the word "NAMI" to 741741

—Call Lines for Life (to talk to a suicide or substance use specialist) at 800-273-8255

—Text Lines for Life (to talk to a suicide or substance use specialist) at 988

—Call Multnomah County Crisis Line at 503-988-4888

—Go to Your Local Hospital Emergency Room

—Visit the 24-hour Crisis Unit at Unity Center for Behavioral Health at 1225 NE 2nd Ave. in Portland

—Call Emergency Services at 911

Current and returning clients will have access to secure messaging through their individual portals, which is the ethically preferred method of communication.

New clients can contact me here.

Email, Voicemail, and Text Messages are not secure forms of communication, leaving the potential for the contents to be viewed or heard by a third party.

I respond to inquiries within 24-48 hours during typical weekdays.

With the popularity of social media, it is important to explain why I choose not to friend/follow clients or otherwise engage in social media in a personal capacity. Social media engagement can lead to a breach of confidentiality and a breakdown of professional boundaries that may harm clients and the counseling relationship. The ethics I have vowed to uphold do not allow personal relationships with current and former clients. Additionally, posting contents of conversations from counseling sessions through social media may likely waive the privilege of communication rights that Oregon state would normally uphold for you. Lastly, it is important to know that liking/following or generally engaging with professional social media accounts could imply to the public that you are a client, and, in doing so, you understand that can impact confidentiality.

Jennifer Gray Counseling, LLC utilizes community email marketing campaigns to communicate with interested parties about resources and services provided by Jennifer Gray Counseling, LLC. To join the email list, you must go to Jennifer Gray's counseling website and opt-in to the email list on your own volition. To protect your confidentiality, Jennifer Gray Counseling, LLC does not manually add any clients to this email list. Please note, if you choose to join the email list via Jennifer Gray's counseling website, your first & last name and email address will be stored in Jennifer Gray Counseling, LLC's email marketing service provider, Squarespace, and thus, may no longer be protected by state or federal rules of confidentiality. If you opt-in to the email list and decide later that you wish to be removed, you can unsubscribe at any time. To be clear, this email list exists to provide free resources and information for our community and will never be used to communicate with you about clinical matters. You will regularly receive email newsletters. You are under no obligation to join the email list and may unsubscribe at any time without any adverse effect on your ability to receive health care services at Jennifer Gray Counseling, LLC or from Jennifer Gray, herself.

Clients will receive a complete copy of the Notice of Privacy Practices, but you are welcome to email me directly for a copy, too.