My Background and Experience

Ursina Teuscher, PhD

As a decision coach, I help people think more systematically and creatively about achieving their goals.

While my first career love was career counseling, my life path has given me an unusual opportunity to dive deeper into the research and science of what drives people’s choices and actions:

After my training as a Career Counselor (professional license and MS in Psychology in 2000), I gained my doctoral degree (PhD) in Applied Psychology in 2004 from the University of Freiburg in Switzerland. The research for my thesis focused on decisions and life-transitions. As my applied research project, I developed, administered and evaluated a decision training program for students in Switzerland.

My post-doctoral research projects allowed me to establish exciting international collaborations at UCSD, UNM, the MIND Research Network, PSU, OHSU, WSU, and the University of Palermo, Italy. Thanks to the interdisciplinary nature of decision sciences, these collaborations extended into various research fields, such as cognitive neuroscience and behavioral economics.

I have been teaching decision analysis and decision aiding techniques at high-school and university levels (advanced undergraduate and graduate classes) since 2001. Starting in 2012, I have taught post-graduate training courses for counselors, both in the US and in Switzerland, on how to apply decision support tools in a counseling practice. I currently teach Personal Decision Making at Portland State University (PSU).

Aside from coaching individuals, I also work with organizations. I facilitate decision processes in teams and offer training programs on healthy work habits and personal productivity. Past clients include Unitus, SMART Transit Wilsonville, and (as a subcontractor to Sam Imperati, JD) Oregon Metro. I also work with non-profit organizations, for example through the Community Consulting Project of the Organization Development Network.

My ongoing research and teaching continues to give me insights into disciplines that are fast-changing and rich with new findings about the way people think, feel and behave. Those insights continue to inform my approach and methods. I’m deeply committed to bringing you well-researched, highly relevant techniques and practices.