Meet Emiko Goka-Dubose, PhD, LPC

Emiko received her master’s in counseling in Clinical Mental health with specialization working with children and families from Portland State University and her doctorate degree in counseling from Oregon State University. Emiko relocated to Bend, OR to work as a Faculty Research Assistant at OSU-Cascades, focusing on applied research on interventions for individuals working with preschool-aged children and families impacted by trauma. Her current research is focused on the use of culture to strengthen the sense of self and resilience among marginalized populations. Emiko specializes in providing trauma-informed individual and family counseling for children and families experiencing adversity. She uses Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP), and evidence-based attachment therapy which focuses on strengthening the child-caregiver bond for children 0-5, and Attachment, Self-Regulation, and Competency (ARC) for older children and adolescence. She is also certified in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) and Adoptive and Foster Family Therapy. Emiko integrates art, dance, music, and movement by utilizing Expressive Arts Trauma-Informed Therapy (EXAT) within sessions as well. Emiko has over two decades of direct service working with under-served families and children impacted by trauma. Growing up with a sibling with a physical disability, Emiko has personal experience of the challenges of coordinated therapeutic care for all member of families with children with disabilities. Emiko is passionate in working towards reducing barriers and increasing access to behavioral health services. Always a kid at heart, Emiko can be found playing outdoors throughout all the seasons of the year and making messes in experimentation with different expressive arts activities. She also enjoys cooking for friends and family and perennially attempting to master the art of baking bread.