About Giovanna Cafaro

Giovanna Cafaro | BA

GRADUATE STUDENT COUNSELOR

Counseling for Adults (18+)

Giovanna’s therapeutic approach is rooted in warmth, authenticity, and compassion. She believes that therapy is about creating space to better understand yourself, build a more compassionate relationship with who you are, and move toward a life that feels more aligned with your values. And yes, there’s room for humor here, too. Because, in the midst of all the hard stuff, being human can be complicated, and sometimes a little laughter helps us all feel more connected.

She places a strong emphasis on building a relationship rooted in trust, safety, and consent, where you feel supported to move at your own pace. She hopes to create a space for reflection, exploration, and meaning-making, especially around the parts of your experience that may feel difficult to name or understand. Her approach is also informed by Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), particularly its focus on psychological flexibility, which helps you make space for difficult thoughts and feelings while moving toward what matters most to you. Additionally, she integrates Experiential, Somatic, and Creative therapies because sometimes words aren’t enough, or they don’t quite capture what’s going on internally.

Giovanna has a particular interest in working with adults navigating anxiety, depression, burnout, neurodivergence, life transitions, cultural and identity exploration, including those who experience generational trauma or family of origin issues.

Before becoming a therapist, Giovanna worked as a footwear designer in New York City, and she is a first-generation Italian American. These parts of her life continue to shape how she understands identity, creativity, and the experience of navigating multiple worlds and expectations. Living between cultural influences and working in a fast-paced, highly creative industry deepened her awareness of how people make meaning, pursue expression, and sometimes lose connection to themselves in the process.

Giovanna has lived in Portland, Oregon, since 2016, and in her free time, she teaches and practices yoga, bakes, cooks dinner with friends, loves creating art and clothes, and is always open to TV show recommendations. Drawing from her Italian roots, in the spring and summer, you can find her tending to her vegetable garden, and during the fall season, hunting for mushrooms. She also believes the Oregon coastline is magic.

 Education / Certifications:

• Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling from Lewis & Clark College
• Bachelor of Arts from The Fashion Institute of Technology
• 300 Hour Trauma-Informed Yoga Teacher Training (YTT)

Areas of Interest:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Burnout
• Cultural Identity Issues
• Identity Exploration
• Navigating Life Transitions
• Neurodivergent Identifying Adults
• Generational Trauma & Family of Origin Issues
• Mindfulness Cultivation
• Creative and Expressive Interventions