Jessica Endres, LPC Intern Under the Supervision of Alison Porteau, LPC-S
Counselor at Oakwood Roots

After I decided that counseling was my calling, I pursued jobs that would provide relevant experience and contribute to my knowledge as a counselor. My first job was at a psychiatric hospital where I learned how to work with mental illness and how to care for those who have to fight daily with their own realities. Next I worked as a case manager helping facilitate recovery from mental illness by teaching coping skills and supporting clients to learn how to live with their illness. During my Masters degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, I changed gears to work with trauma, specifically sexual trauma, at the local rape crisis center and began working there as a counselor upon graduating and obtaining my license. Since graduating in 2017, I have completed training in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy which is a very helpful modality for teaching skills to regulate emotions, tolerate distress, be mindful and relate to others more effectively. In addition to being a counselor, I am also a registered yoga teacher, have studied the Spanish language for 10+ years and speak Spanish fluently. I believe in self-care as a foundation for everyone and strive to lead by example with clients in this area through my own hobbies of yoga, petting my dog, cooking, travelling with my husband and reading fiction.

One of my favorite counseling theories defines our basic human needs as survival, love/belonging, power, freedom, and fun (As a fun-loving person myself, I especially think the last need is important!). I would love to have the privilege of walking with you as you work to change your thoughts, behaviors and emotions which may have helped you meet one of these needs in the past but that may no longer serve you. There are many avenues that we may take in order to achieve your goals. I am flexible and patient to figure out what will work best for you and humble enough to refer you if what I am able to offer is not helpful for you. Through in depth discussions to help you gain insight into your own life and skills training to give you the skills to cope internally, my hope is that our time together will prepare you to cope with life stressors in the future. As your counselor, my goal is that one day, you don’t need me anymore and will be able to be confident in your own skills and ability to cope with life’s challenges.

Specialties:
sexual, physical, emotional trauma and abuse; self-harm, anxiety, suicidal ideation; mindfulness, yoga; hispanic/immigrant cultural issues

Client Focus:
adults, college students, adult survivors of childhood abuse, Spanish/bilingual speakers

Degree/s:
Bachelors of Arts in Psychology & Spanish, Texas A&M University
Masters of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Sam Houston State University

Additional Credentials:
National Certified Counselor, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy 2 Day Training Certification from PESI, Registered Yoga Teacher 200hr