relationship counseling for individuals & couples
Brenda Fowler, LPC
Love is complicated
It is wild that we choose to pair up.
It is ridiculously brave to say —
"I want to be in this world with you, let’s walk through it together"
And then we keep at it, not because it’s easy, or simple (or gets easier, or simpler) but because relationships are meaningful, interesting, challenging, joyful, and at the heart of it all.
MY APPROACH
I meet you where you are at, and work with you to do what it takes to change.
I began my study of psychology in 1988 at Columbia University in New York City. Since then, I have studied early childhood development, received investment and insurance licenses, and earned my MA in Counseling with an emphasis in Depth Psychology at Pacifica Graduate Institute in Santa Barbara. I have done post-grad continuing education with leaders in the field of attachment work, neuroscience, and couples counseling.
I explored many careers before becoming a therapist -- and all of them are part of the patchwork that makes up who I am now. I do not have this life figured out but I do appreciate and savor the journey.
I saw my first clients in the summer of 2006 and knew immediately that I would focus exclusively on helping people build better relationships. You can feel sure when you step into my office that I will work with you to improve your connection and communication with other humans and that I bring all of my focus and drive to that end.
Why the name Turnstone Counseling? I get that question a lot so I've written a bit about it HERE.
Here are some articles I've written that will give you a feel for my counseling style.
Follow me on TWITTER: Follow @turnstonepdx
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"We always think we are at the end of our discoveries. We never are. We go on discovering that we are this, that, and other things, and sometimes we have astounding experiences". - C.G. Jung
HERE IS WHAT SOME OF MY FRIENDS & COLLEAGUES HAVE TO SAY ABOUT ME:
"Brenda Fowler has the rarest of gifts for a healer: She is able to sit, and abide with patients who are in the throes of deep pain, challenges, crises. She has the courage to allow herself to attune, through empathy, to another's suffering, while listening intently for intimations of healing that might emerge from pain. Brenda brings an artistry to her work, compassionately holding up a clear mirror in which one can behold small miracles that are seeking to be born through the hard, yet joyous endeavor of transformation."
-Jacob Shefa, Educational Consultant to At-Risk Youth
"Brenda adeptly blends wisdom and humility in her approach to counseling and life. She is trustworthy, genuine, and wise and she offers sound guidance based on her own personal and professional life experiences. In your quest for solutions, Brenda will not give you answers - she will support you in finding and following your own truths. Brenda is the first counselor that comes to mind when I refer clients for couples counseling."
-Zoë Presley, MA LPC
"I've been close friends with Brenda Fowler for nearly half of my life; in fact it has been the most durable friendship in my life. Brenda is a remarkable listener. She has a rare gift for knowing the right question to ask and the compassion to help you work through the answers, no matter how long and hard that may take. And in the end there is not only greater clarity, but also peace and joy."
-David Peterson del Mar, PhD
"From our first meeting with Brenda, we recognized and have grown to love her focus, depth and insight. Brenda is thoughtful, spontaneous and generous. We are inspired by her passion for her work and her interest in continually expanding her knowledge. We always enjoy spending time with her and her family."
~ Chuck Sve LAc and Zannah Martell RN
"Brenda Fowler may be one of the smartest people I know. She doesn't miss much. She is witty, thoughtful, insightful, and completely dedicated to human dignity. She is not a person who is afraid of hard work. Couples work is not easy. It's not for the faint of heart. Lots of therapists wont do it. She loves it-- go figure! Although I am not in the consulting room with her, I know she does it well, because that is just who she is. She has incredibly high standards."
-Kimberlyn McGreal, MA, Pattern Analyst
"When it comes to couples therapists, Brenda Fowler is the real deal. She brings warmth, intelligence, presence, and passion to her work with couples; her respect for her clients is clear and her commitment unwavering. You won't find a more attuned therapist anywhere."
-Jennifer Wohl, LPC
EDUCATION, CREDENTIALS & CERTIFICATIONS
BA Columbia University
MA Pacifica Graduate Institute
Ongoing training:
Brainspotting
Attachment Theory