Dori Best is a bilingual mental health therapist serving students at the La Clinica school-based health center at Kids Unlimited Academy in Medford.
“Helping clients to heal their trauma as well as helping them acquire new tools to cope with daily life stressors and life’s challenges are the main goals of my therapeutic approach,” she said.
A native of Argentina, she moved to southern Oregon to complete her education and holds a master’s degree in mental health counseling from Southern Oregon University in Ashland. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in physical education and worked for 20 years as a swimming instructor, PE teacher, and fitness trainer.
Dori is a certified alcohol and drug counselor, and before coming to La Clinica she served as a mental health and drug and alcohol counselor for Phoenix Counseling Center and the Circle of Trust Healing Center in Ashland.
She lives in Medford and enjoys working out, swimming, hiking and camping, dancing, and singing the tango.
La Clinica’s focus on well-being drew her to the organization.
“In a world that tends to emphasize material gain over humans’ well-being, I love working at La Clinica, an organization committed to assisting diverse communities in need of services,” she said.