Dore Frances, M.A., Therapeutic Consultant

Dore E. Frances began her therapeutic counseling work as an Advocate in California in 1986. 

In her work as an Advocate, she became familiar with the processes and strategies families develop to find appropriate educational matches for their children.

In the course of her work, she also became aware that these inherent family strategies and processes do not always work the same way for every family.

In order to better understand family dynamics, programs, schools and students, Ms. Frances went to the University of Phoenix, where she received a masters degree in Child and Family Studies. This provided the framework for Ms. Frances's previous experience in advocacy work and independent therapeutic assistance and inspired her to expand her Therapeutic Counseling services with an office in Pacific Grove, California. 

Simultaneously she worked in the grief counseling field assisting children and families through the trauma of loss. She remained in this work at The Hospice of Monterey until 2003, when she moved to Coeur d' Alene, Idaho, maintaining an office there. 

Ms. Frances then moved to Bend, Oregon in 2004 where she is currently a member of the American Bar Association as an Advocate, a CASA volunteer for Deschutes County, a member of Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, a member of the International Coaching Federation as a family and parent coach, and a member of The National Association of Parents with Children in Special Education. 

She previously served as the Executive Director for the non-profit Positive Directions Foundation in California, a whole child and family approach offering workshops to communities and schools focusing on such areas of concern as alcohol and drug addiction in teens, pathways to positive directions for youth, reducing bullying behaviors, teen pregnancy, and teen and family relationships.