Hey, I’m Shanelle, a licensed Professional Counselor Associate and the founder of Waypoint Wellness Counseling. I work with people who are untangling trauma, questioning their sense of authenticity and purpose, or trying to find their way back to themselves after a long stretch of just getting through.
Outside of session, I’m usually with my squad — two dogs, a cat with attitude, two horses that keep me humble, and the people I love. You’ll find me outside whenever I can get there, chasing sunrises, snow, wildlife, or stillness depending on the day. I love things that make me feel something — whether that’s the quiet focus of painting, the jolt of a cold plunge, the smell of home cooking, or the rush of hitting a target dead-on with my bow.
I’ve always felt pulled in a hundred directions — between challenge and softness, action and reflection, deep feelings and dark humor. I don’t always fit neatly into a box, and I’ve stopped trying to. That tug-of-war has taught me how to live in the in-between, how to hold contradictions, and how to meet people in theirs.
I know what it’s like to carry a lot on your shoulders, to hold things in, to lose and rebuild parts of yourself. I’m not interested in pretending to have it all together. I laugh loudly, feel deeply, and keep it honest — in life and in the counseling room. I believe in creating a steady, grounded space where you don’t have to hold it all alone, and where showing up exactly as you are is more than enough.
My Story
🧭Background & Experience
Before becoming a counselor, I served in the U.S. Navy as a Master-at-Arms K9 Handler (Military Police). I worked alongside my K9 to respond to everything from bomb threats and terrorism-related incidents to domestic violence and mental health crises. Together we conducted missions with the Secret Service, TSA, NCIS, and Local Law Enforcement Agencies. Some days were intense, others absurd — and a sense of humor often got you farther than sleep did. But what stayed with me most were the moments of human vulnerability and connection, and learning how to stay steady when things felt anything but.
After the military, I worked in juvenile detention and community justice, supporting youth navigating trauma, instability, and the systems that too often failed them. During that time, I also partnered with the Anti-Trafficking Alliance of Central Oregon, conducting screenings and advocating for youth who’d been exploited. Those years fundamentally changed how I saw pain, resilience, and what it means to show up for people others have written off. It was during that work that I realized I didn’t want to punish pain — I wanted to help people heal through it.
Later, as a Qualified Mental Health Associate at the County Crisis Stabilization Center, I worked with individuals and families in acute distress — coordinating with hospitals, shelters, law enforcement, and community providers. I supported clients experiencing suicidality, psychosis, and complex trauma both in the center and in the community through mobile crisis response. That role taught me how often pain is met with systems instead of support — and why I wanted to be part of the shift toward something more human, relational, and healing.
These experiences shaped how I show up now — grounded, flexible, and unafraid of what’s hard to hold. They deepened my belief that healing doesn’t come from pushing harder — it comes from being seen, supported, and safe enough to explore what’s real. Support systems, like waypoints, help us orient back to what matters.
Waypoints in my career that lead me here🗺️
🎓Education & Credentials
Professional Counselor Associate - Oregon #R11452
Supervised by Centered Therapy Group
Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling - Oregon State University Cascades
Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology - Oregon State University Cascades
Qualified Mental Health Associate (QMHA)
Certified in:
CSE-IT/CSEC Screening & Intervention
CPI (Crisis Prevention Intervention)
CPR & Emergency Response
Core Correctional Practices
Suicide Prevention
🤝 Professional Memberships
I stay connected to the counseling field through ongoing learning, collaboration, and mentorship. I'm a proud member of:
American Counseling Association
Central Oregon Behavioral Health Consortium
Chi Sigma Iota – International Counseling Honor Society
My Worldview
I see people as complex, layered, and shaped by their stories — not defined by them. I believe we’re all walking contradictions at times, made up of the things we’ve survived and the things we hope for. I’ve spent a decade working with people in systems and I’ve learned that every behavior tells a story, and every story holds a perspective worth understanding.
I don’t shy away from the gray areas. I use philosophy, ethics, curiosity, and compassion to explore the deeper why beneath the surface. I believe we grow not by finding the “right” answer, but by asking better questions — about ourselves, our past, and what we truly want our lives to stand for.
I see healing as a dynamic process — layered, non-linear, and often subtle. It’s not always about breakthroughs. Sometimes it’s about learning to sit still. Sometimes it’s applauding yourself for getting out of bed or taking the dog for a walk. Either way, it counts.