As your therapist, I can help you uncover your true potential and lead a life that is worth celebrating. While we cannot change difficult situations of the past, we can work together to better understand and resolve challenges in your life. If you are depressed, struggling at times to get out of bed, not finding fun in your everyday life, I can help you live more gratefully and joyfully. This over-connected, technological world can make you anxious, but we'll work together to settle your mind. If you find yourself having a hard time lowering your irritation and controlling your anger, then I'll teach you how to think and not just react. Guilt can weigh you down and keep you trapped, so we will examine together how to forgive yourself. If your relationships are troubling and you find it difficult to talk with others effectively, we can improve your communication skills. Some days can seem a blur of almost constant stress and overwhelm, and I can show you what it's like to relax, be still and find peace.  

What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?

In our first session, I want to start us on the path to forming what has been proven by research to be the most important contributor to success in therapy - the relationship you have with your counselor, or as it is called, the therapeutic relationship. This kind of relationship is different from what you form with family, friends, coworkers or other people in your life in that there is no emotional impact on me. It sounds strange, but that is what you want as I will not carry what you tell me in the same way others do, and this allows you to talk about anything with me with no fear of judgement from me and no fear that your emotions will transfer to affect me in a personal way. Instead, I will be able to guide you to understand yourself, to process your feelings, to explore your thoughts, to take note of your actions…and to make changes where needed. I will not hesitate to pull you to talk about things that may be difficult and may even confront you at times in direct ways, but that is a necessary part of the therapeutic process. Also, in our first session, I want to get to know you as best I can and therefore I will be asking a lot of questions. But, and this is important, I will do so in a way that will make you comfortable in sharing your story. There is a connection formed by communicating well that will enable us together to work on the issues you want or need to address. I am a “word person,” and by that I mean I pay close attention to the words I use in my sessions with you and to the words you use as well, and that will also be part of the secret of our connection as we work together.

Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.

By applying complementary therapy approaches and techniques, we will unearth longstanding behavior patterns or negative perceptions that may be holding you back from experiencing a more fulfilling and meaningful life. I am an interactive and creative therapist who focuses on facilitating and improving communication. My therapeutic approach is to provide support and practical feedback to help clients effectively address personal life challenges. By integrating complementary methodologies and techniques, I am able to offer a highly personalized approach tailored to each client. I pride myself in showing the compassion and understanding necessary to help individuals build on their strengths and attain the personal growth they are committed to accomplishing

Describe the client(s) you are best positioned to serve.

I presently am seeing individuals ages 18 and over in my private practice. I have over 30 years of experience in communications, working successfully in the fields of advertising, magazine journalism, public relations, and marketing before transitioning into counseling. After receiving my Masters of Arts in Counseling from St. Edward's University in Austin, Texas in 2005, I provided individual and group therapy to adults aged 55 and over who were dealing with anxiety, depression, and grief and loss. I then worked as a mental health therapist for pre-school to high school students using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to deal effectively with a variety of emotional, social, and behavioral issues. In my former position with a local mental health agency for almost 10 years, I counseled clients age 6 to senior citizen. In addition to CBT, I use Dialectical Behavior Therapy, a research-supported treatment which combines cognitive-behavioral theory with mindfulness principles. DBT has been proven to be effective with clients who suffer from depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorders as well as with individuals who self-injure or have Borderline Personality Disorder. I graduated with honors from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelors of Journalism degree and I now incorporate writing or journal therapy as well as poetry therapy in my counseling where it is appropriate. I studied with Kathleen Adams of the Center for Journal Therapy and I completed specialized research in writing therapy as part of my graduate studies. I am licensed by the Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors, and I am proud to say that in 2016 I became a National Certified Counselor.

About Barbara Bohman

Appointments