Our Mission
Courage to Change Counseling is a private practice in Southern Oregon providing empathic, competent, and systemic mental healthcare.
At Courage to Change Counseling, our mission is to offer compassionate and evidence-based services to promote wellness and prevent mental health challenges among families, couples, individuals, and children.
Our philosophy is to provide clients with a safe space to grow and heal by offering person-centered, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive services. We envision a day when all Oregonians will have access to quality mental health services that help them to move positively and boldly into the future of a flourishing life—without fear or stigma.
Our Staff
Marena Hughes, LMFT is passionate about working with families, individuals, and couples to co-create change. As a marriage and family therapist, Marena believes that problems are created and healed in relationships. Therefore, she strives to create a supportive space where connections can be explored and enhanced. Marena values counseling others with acceptance, authenticity, and empathy. Furthermore, she enjoys listening to clients’ stories and helping them take an active role in their own well-being.
Narrative Therapy and Existential Therapy inform Marena’s approach, and she maintains a baseline philosophy that draws heavily from Family Systems Theory and Attachment Theory. Marena’s interests include helping couples and families work through infidelity, grief, medical problems, parenting challenges, and trauma. Marena holds certificates in Integrated Behavioral Healthcare & Medical Family Therapy and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.

Qualifications
-
OBLPCT Approved Supervisor Candidate (2025)
-
AAMFT Approved Supervisor Candidate (2025)
-
Oregon Institute of Technology, Adjunct Instructor in Marriage and Family Therapy (2022 to current)
-
Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy (2022)
-
Member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (2019 to Current)
-
Member of the AMerican Counseling Association (2019 to Current)
