As Horizon has grown, so has our vision. Today, our organization is built on collaboration, innovation, and a commitment to providing exceptional behavioral health services while fostering an environment where clinicians continue to learn, grow, and support one another.
At the heart of Horizon Counseling Center is the belief that when we invest in people—both those seeking care and those providing it—we create stronger clinicians, stronger families, and stronger communities.
Whether you're a fellow mental health professional, community partner, or someone passionate about advancing behavioral health, we'd love to connect.
If you have a story to share, a therapist or team member you'd like to celebrate, an innovative idea to explore, or an issue affecting our profession that you'd like to discuss, I welcome the conversation. Some of the greatest opportunities for growth begin by listening to one another, and I believe that together we can continue strengthening our profession and the communities we serve.
Welcome! I'm Jalena Rusaw, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist licensed in California and Nevada, and the Founder and Clinical Director of Horizon Counseling Center.
Horizon Counseling Center was born from a vision to make quality mental health care more accessible while investing in the future of the counseling profession. Throughout my career, I witnessed an increasing need for compassionate, well-trained therapists and recognized that expanding access to care required more than simply growing a practice—it meant creating a place where clinicians could learn, thrive, and develop into exceptional mental health professionals.
As a CAMFT Certified Clinical Supervisor, one of my greatest passions is mentoring the next generation of therapists. Through Horizon Counseling Center, I have had the privilege of providing clinical supervision, hands-on training, and professional development to students, associate therapists, and licensed clinicians. Watching clinicians gain confidence, discover their unique therapeutic style, and grow into ethical, skilled professionals is one of the most rewarding parts of my work. I believe that by investing in therapists, we ultimately strengthen the quality of care available to the communities we serve.
My commitment to healing extends beyond the traditional therapy office. I am Eagala Certified, utilizing the internationally recognized Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (Eagala) model of equine-assisted psychotherapy. Equine-assisted psychotherapy reflects my belief that healing often happens through experience, connection, and relationships. As we continue developing our equine-assisted mental health program, our goal is to create meaningful opportunities for individuals, families, veterans, foster youth, and others seeking a different pathway toward healing and personal growth.
Whether you’re navigating challenging life events, mental health needs, or seeking personal growth, I am committed to walking alongside you on your path to wellness. I believe healing occurs within the context of safe relationships. I strive to create a collaborative therapeutic environment built upon trust, from which you will be empowered to process emotions, increase insight, develop coping strategies, cultivate resilience, and foster meaningful connections within yourself and others. The ultimate goal is to provide you the tools needed to live your life to the fullest.
I work with adolescents, adults, individuals and couples. I have extensive experience from a variety of mental health settings with children, teens, young adults, and families from diverse backgrounds. I enjoy helping others work through trauma, anxiety, depression, self-esteem issues, anger management, sexual boundaries, behavioral challenges, difficulties in relationships and/or parenting, or life dissatisfaction.
My approach to therapy is person-centered, trauma-informed, and grounded in evidence-based practices. Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) are my primary treatment modalities. However, therapy is deeply personal and dynamic, so I adapt my approach and draw from a variety of practices to meet your unique needs. As your therapist, I want to be of support to you and seek to motivate, coach, and help you be accountable toward achieving your desired outcomes and foster the growth and betterment in your life and relationships.
I am so thrilled to be serving as a Clinical Supervisor at Horizon Counseling. I have had the great pleasure of doing clinical supervision for the past 8 years and have cheered on countless therapists as they navigate the process of completing grad school with a one year practicum as an intern/trainee, completing 3,000 hours as an associate and finally testing for their license as an LMFT or LPCC. Seeing their success is a great joy! Serving as their mentor and guide, I bring my own experience, education and skill set to their work with our clients. We have an outstanding group of therapists who bring their own personal journey and life experience to their clinical skill set.
I approach therapy from a humanistic and eclectic approach. I believe that we all have the answers for what we need in life deep within ourselves. Our therapist serves as a conduit helping us to look within and to discover out personal path. Life is full of so many challenges and struggles where we can benefit from an independent person who deeply cares about our life situation and what we are facing. A caring therapist can help us to process our personal needs and desires while teaching us skills to better navigate our life.
I graduated with my Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy after a 28 year career in medical administration and human resources. I found helping people in some of their darkest moments to be very rewarding and something I was innately good at. Therapy was a natural off shoot where I was able to provide empathetic care in a safe environment. Dealing with anxiety disorders and, in particular, OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) quickly became a specialty as did working with struggling couples and families. I have specialized training in EFT for couples, Gottman therapy for couples, ERP for OCD treatment, Brain Spotting and EMDR.
Welcome to Horizon Counseling! I hope this will be a place of healing and comfort for you.
Ashley Barnes-Brown is a licensed Marriage and Family therapist with a deep commitment to helping individuals and families navigate their mental health challenges. With a strong educational foundation and extensive experience, Ashley is dedicated to providing effective and compassionate therapy services.
Education and Background: Ashley's journey in the field of mental health began in 2012 when she graduated with a bachelor's degree in criminology, Law, and Society with a minor in Psychology. Her passion for helping others led her to work with adolescents in a residential program, where she gained valuable insights into the complexities of young minds. In 2017, Ashley earned her master's degree from Sacramento State, further solidifying her knowledge and skills.
Extensive Expertise: Ashley's career has been marked by a diverse range of experiences. She has worked with individuals facing various mental health challenges, including eating disorders, trauma in adolescents, conduct disorders, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, personality disorders, anxiety, depression, PTSD, and chronic pain. Her multifaceted approach to therapy allows her to address a wide spectrum of mental health needs.
Specialized Training: Ashley has invested in specialized training to enhance her therapeutic abilities. She is well-versed in Multisystemic Therapy and Brain-spotting, offering her clients innovative and effective treatment options. Her commitment to staying current with the latest advancements in the field is a testament to her dedication to her clients' well-being.
Therapeutic Approaches: Ashley utilizes a range of therapeutic approaches to tailor her treatments to the unique needs of each individual. She is well-versed in Dialectical Behavior Therapy and frequently incorporates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy into her practice. This versatility ensures that clients receive the most effective