John Rogers, MA, LPC, LPCC

My path to becoming a therapist began after my dad died of cancer. At the time, I was nearly a decade into a corporate career. Grief gave way to crushing anxiety and depression, finding the right therapist changed the course of my life. Through our work, I came to understand that depression and anxiety were symptoms of a life and career no longer fit.

So, a little over a year after my dad passed, I left my job, sold my house, and spent a summer in Alaska before relocating to Ireland. There, I worked with people from 27 European countries affected by cancer and HIV. That experience revealed a deep pull toward helping people through difficult seasons of life, while teaching me about resilience, connection, and the many ways people make meaning in the face of hardship.

Inspired by my time in Ireland, I returned to Minnesota to earn a master’s degree in psychology. Along the way, I worked with people with autism, coached with Special Olympics, and served as a therapist at the Center for Grief in St. Paul. These experiences deepened my understanding of complex trauma and grief, as well as the power of being met with care.

After earning my degree, I became Program Director at The Painted Turtle in California, where I led a staff and worked with people facing serious illness. One highlight was managing a high-ropes challenge course, where we adapted the course so that everyone—including people with mobility challenges—could participate.

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I later returned to Minnesota to work as a therapist at The Emily Program, providing individual, group, and family therapy. And in 2015, I established Rogers Counseling. I currently see clients in person in Bend, Oregon, and via telehealth in Colorado, Minnesota, and Oregon.