Career Counseling in Portland, Oregon
Career counseling or coaching with Aaron Good, LPC, CRC, CCC at Trailhead Counseling, LLC, can help you plot your career at any stage in your life, whether you’re fresh out of school, unemployed, unhappy where you are, or planning your retirement. If you’re ready to plan your future with an NCDA Certified Career Counselor, give me a call!
I am currently taking new clients. Read more below and also check out some of my blog posts about career counseling here.
Career is Personal!
Often, career counseling is about more than just finding your next job; for many it’s an intensely personal process that ties together identity, purpose, and anxieties and fears about existence. Sometimes we just need a job for survival, and sometimes we want a job that provides some self-fulfillment. It’s helpful to have a therapist who understands this.
Mid-Career Counseling
Are you unhappy with your job, unsure about your career choices, or just looking for a change? We can collaborate to find what isn’t working about your current situation and explore steps towards a more rewarding career. Even if it seems like you have no options and you fear that you’ll have to stay in your career path forever, there’s always hope and it’s never too late to change.
College Students and Recent Graduates
So you finished your degree in biology/English/communications/Greek and you’re not quite sure what the next step is. Sure, some folks to go to graduate school, but is that really for you? How do you figure out your next move? Come see me and we can figure out whether your interests and values still align with your academic track and potential work opportunities.
Re-Launch / Unemployment
Have you found yourself out of work suddenly? Are your job-finding skills rusty? We can work together to mine your existing resources and connections and help you find meaningful work in your old career or find something new!
Retirement Age
People are living longer, and with a higher quality of life. This means more of us are reaching the age we thought we might retire without much of a plan for what to do next. Or, we quit working and quickly realize we need something to fill our time and give us a sense of purpose. If you’re an older worker, come on in and let’s collaborate to find work – paid or unpaid – perhaps in a field you’d never considered or always dreamed about!
Specific Skills
If you have specific areas you need help with, like crafting an ideal résumé and cover letter, practicing your interviewing skills, using LinkedIn, searching for jobs using the latest tools, developing your networking skills, or finding connections within a specific industry, I can help with those!
You can read more about career counseling in my blog posts.
My office is located near downtown Portland, Oregon, and I see people remotely via video sessions and phone for therapy throughout the state.
Frequently Asked Questions - FAQs:
How many career counseling sessions will I need?
Most clients complete the work in about 12 sessions over three months. We typically meet weekly, sometimes biweekly toward the end. The first few sessions focus on assessment and clarifying what you're looking for. The middle sessions explore options and test ideas. The final sessions help you make decisions and start moving. Some people finish faster; some take a little longer.
What's the difference between a career counselor and a career coach?
Career counselors are credentialed mental health professionals trained in both career development theory and clinical work. Career coaches typically focus on goal-setting and accountability without formal counseling credentials. As a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Certified Career Counselor (CCC), I bring both perspectives — which matters when career questions are tangled up with self-doubt, burnout, family pressure, or life transitions.
Are you accepting new career counseling clients?
Yes — career counseling is one of the parts of my practice with regular openings, since most career counseling engagements wrap up after about 12 sessions. The best way to start is a free 20-minute phone or video consultation. We use that time to see whether we'd work well together and whether career counseling is the right fit for what you're navigating.
Can I do career counseling remotely?
Yes. I see career counseling clients via secure video across Oregon. Career counseling actually translates very well to video — most of the work involves reflection, assessment, and conversation, and there's no clinical reason to need in-person contact unless you prefer it. I'm licensed in Oregon and Washington, so clients (in person or via video) need to be located in Oregon or Washington during sessions.
Is career counseling different from therapy?
Yes. I'm a therapist by training, but career counseling is focused work on a specific question: what's next professionally, and how do I get there. Therapy is broader and longer-term. The boundary is real but not rigid — if something psychological is clearly in the way of career movement, we'll address it. Some clients eventually transition from career counseling to ongoing therapy with me; most don't.
Do you take insurance for career counseling?
No — career counseling typically isn't covered by insurance because it isn't a mental-health diagnosis-driven service. The fee is $180 per 45-minute session, paid by credit card. If you have an HSA or FSA, those funds may be eligible to use for career counseling — check with your plan administrator.
What kinds of career questions do you work with?
A wide range — clients come in for help with career changes (mid-career or later), figuring out a first career after college or graduate school, deciding whether to leave a current job, navigating layoffs, managing burnout that's making them question their field, returning to work after a break, and planning for retirement transitions. I work with people across industries, with particular comfort serving healthcare professionals, educators, and other helping-profession workers.
What does the first career counseling session look like?
The first session is largely about understanding where you are and what you're hoping to figure out. I'll ask about your work history, what's been working and what hasn't, what you've already tried, and what success would look like for you. There's no formal assessment or homework in the first session — just conversation.