About Me

 

Justin B. Johnson

(he/him)

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BFA Sculpture/Intermedia + Art Education

Post-Bac Behavioral Science + Counselor Education

PTCB CPhT

Mayo Clinic Wellness Coach Training Program

National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC)

National Wellness Institute Certified Wellness Practitioner (CWP)

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Hi, I'm Justin. You can call me Justin, JB, or Coach J.

I live in Portland, Oregon where I do my Best Self Work by walking, hiking, cycling, kayaking, frisbee-throwing, pic-nic-ing, gardening, making art, taking photographs, and going out to experience live music and the many interesting things the Portland community has to offer. I also enjoy reading, writing, researching, meditating, doing yoga and martial arts, traveling, singing karaoke, and most of all spending time with my family and friends.

 

I've been coaching and mentoring in one way or another throughout my life - from being a lifeguard, swimming instructor, and summer camp counselor in my teens, to teaching conversational English in Central Europe as a young adult. I earned a dual bachelor of arts degree in art education and sculpture and have taught various art-making modalities in environments ranging from preschool to high school to senior memory care.

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My education and training in professional coaching is through the renowned Mayo Clinic and the National Wellness Institute, where reflective inquiry & motivational interviewing are taught, modeled, and practiced in-depth.

 

To enhance my competencies and inform my practice, I continue to seek education & training from time-tested and cutting-edge research-based sources such as The Biopsychosocial Model, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, Boundaries and Relationships, Crucial Conversations, Acceptance and Commitment Theory, The Gottman Method, Relational Mindfulness, Compassionate Inquiry, Internal Family Systems, Trauma Recovery, Polyvagal Theory, Somatic Experiencing, and The Rosen Method of Bodywork and Movement.

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My approach to coaching is present-based, meaning we start in-the-now - meeting reality as it unfolds in the present moment. We may look to the past in order to gain some insight on who and where we are now, but we don't spend too much time there. We look to the future and envision possibility without projecting the past onto it. We focus on our inherent knowledge of the existing self, personal strengths, and unique forces & factors of motivation - and how we can best utilize them together as tools to help uncover the authentic self. We can then build frameworks of actionable steps toward desired outcomes in personal development and growth - creating better habits while shifting out of old prohibiting patterns & routines, making positive movements forward toward those things that lead to meeting our goals of getting what we want and being who we're supposed to be.

 

I started Best Self Work as a small, independent coaching practice to work with individuals, couples, groups and organizations - to develop educational curriculum, workshops and programs in health, wellness, personal development, and spiritual growth. I hope to expand to a physical location where I can offer opportunities for more in-person coaching and creative activities of conscious embodiment. Please reach out with any inquiries you may have about coaching and to see if we'd make a good fit for a coaching partnership. I offer a free 30-minute consultation (see below) and I look forward to meeting with you soon.

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