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GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — Becoming a professional counselor was a natural offshoot of what Brandi Dressler enjoys doing anyway.
“I’ve always had an interest in listening to people and helping people to the best of my knowledge and ability,” Dressler said.
Working with various agencies since 1986, Dressler has counseled people primarily with drug and alcohol problems.
Three years ago, Dressler started her own private counseling practice — Tesla Center Counseling — and expanded her client base to include those with marriage, relationship and family problems, as well as grief and loss issues.
The Business Incubator Center, a nonprofit organization providing entrepreneurship assistance to new and expanding businesses in Mesa County, provided help to Dressler when she set out to start her own business.
Dressler already had years of experience counseling for other organizations, but she needed to learn skills for running a business when she struck out on her own.
At the Incubator, Dressler learned bookkeeping and business management skills by attending classes offered at the Incubator, 2591 B 3/4 Road. She’s also consulted one-on-one with Incubator business counselors. They helped her refine her business plan.
Dressler started out using “pen and paper” to keep track of business, and quickly learned through the Incubator more efficient ways of doing things.
“That’s how the Incubator has been invaluable to me,” Dressler said. “They are so friendly and down-to-earth there. No question is a stupid question. They are so motivated to help you learn what you need to learn.”
A Gunnison native, Dressler earned her undergraduate degree from Adams State University in 1996, and her master’s degree in counseling from Colorado Christian University in December. She’s held a certification for drug and alcohol counseling since 1986.
About half of Dressler’s clients are substance abusers court-ordered to seek counseling for addictions. The remainder are clients seeking help for various other problems.
“I help people find their own resources for things they want to change,” Dressler said. “I think everybody possesses that inside themselves, and I think everybody runs into times when life may be difficult, or painful or they need help in sorting things out.
“Sometimes people are in trouble with the law. I help with those things.”
Dressler has maintained an ongoing relationship with the Incubator over the past 15 months, working in particular polishing up bookkeeping skills.
Tesla Center Counseling is located at 518 28 Road, Building A, No. 104. Dressler also holds counseling sessions in Parachute and Fruita at the Fruita Civic Center. Dressler can be reached at 270-4108.
“I’m happy to talk to anybody,” Dressler said. “I really work hard to help people get to where they need to be.”
The Business Incubator Center can be reached at 243-5242.
Reach Sharon Sullivan at ssullivan@gjfreepress.com.
“I’ve always had an interest in listening to people and helping people to the best of my knowledge and ability,” Dressler said.
Working with various agencies since 1986, Dressler has counseled people primarily with drug and alcohol problems.
Three years ago, Dressler started her own private counseling practice — Tesla Center Counseling — and expanded her client base to include those with marriage, relationship and family problems, as well as grief and loss issues.
The Business Incubator Center, a nonprofit organization providing entrepreneurship assistance to new and expanding businesses in Mesa County, provided help to Dressler when she set out to start her own business.
Dressler already had years of experience counseling for other organizations, but she needed to learn skills for running a business when she struck out on her own.
At the Incubator, Dressler learned bookkeeping and business management skills by attending classes offered at the Incubator, 2591 B 3/4 Road. She’s also consulted one-on-one with Incubator business counselors. They helped her refine her business plan.
Dressler started out using “pen and paper” to keep track of business, and quickly learned through the Incubator more efficient ways of doing things.
“That’s how the Incubator has been invaluable to me,” Dressler said. “They are so friendly and down-to-earth there. No question is a stupid question. They are so motivated to help you learn what you need to learn.”
A Gunnison native, Dressler earned her undergraduate degree from Adams State University in 1996, and her master’s degree in counseling from Colorado Christian University in December. She’s held a certification for drug and alcohol counseling since 1986.
About half of Dressler’s clients are substance abusers court-ordered to seek counseling for addictions. The remainder are clients seeking help for various other problems.
“I help people find their own resources for things they want to change,” Dressler said. “I think everybody possesses that inside themselves, and I think everybody runs into times when life may be difficult, or painful or they need help in sorting things out.
“Sometimes people are in trouble with the law. I help with those things.”
Dressler has maintained an ongoing relationship with the Incubator over the past 15 months, working in particular polishing up bookkeeping skills.
Tesla Center Counseling is located at 518 28 Road, Building A, No. 104. Dressler also holds counseling sessions in Parachute and Fruita at the Fruita Civic Center. Dressler can be reached at 270-4108.
“I’m happy to talk to anybody,” Dressler said. “I really work hard to help people get to where they need to be.”
The Business Incubator Center can be reached at 243-5242.
Reach Sharon Sullivan at ssullivan@gjfreepress.com.
