Catherine Paneque
I am an empathetic, nonjudgmental, conscientious, and motivated Licensed Mental Health Counselor. I prioritize my client's mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being utilizing holistic interventions, Person-Centered, and CBT techniques.
Therapy is an outlet for whatever you need. Some seek therapy to process a traumatic event, discuss personal relationships, gain self-awareness and reach goals, or simply because we all need someone to listen.
Through these experiences I have developed a deepening commitment to supporting and empowering individuals to improve their overall well-being. I want my clients to feel more grounded and confident in their ability to manage stressors and regulate their emotions consistently and effectively. I began working in mental health as an intern in 2022. I have worked with a variety of diagnosis, ages, and functioning levels in group and individual therapy settings. I love connecting with people and believe the therapeutic relationship is essential to continuous progress in therapy. I personally continue to find more inner peace through traveling, yoga, journaling, reading, relaxing with my cat, and spending time on the beach.
First session
After an initial session, I hope my client leaves feeling more comfortable and confident in their ability to discuss their experiences and work towards their goals. I hope they leave feeling heard and accepted. In any initial session, each participate will take turns sharing what brings them into therapy and what they hope to gain from it. We will discuss logistics including confidentiality and scheduling. In couples and family sessions, ground rules will be established to establish a safe space for all participants.
Strengths
I like to use non-directive and directive interventions within sessions, depending on client's needs. It's so important to celebrate each small win along the way and I often use encouragement when I notice a client's progress. It's also essential to practice sitting in uncomfortable feelings to increase emotional tolerance and regulation skills. I also love using play therapy to gather more information on my clients, bring fun and playfulness into sessions, and build rapport. Therapy is an outlet for whatever my client needs, that may be to process a traumatic event, discuss personal relationships, use worksheets and a more structured approach to reach goals, or simply if you need someone to listen.
Ideal clients
Various previous clients I've worked with have sought therapy to manage stress around a recent life change, process past traumatic events and how they're impacting daily life, or they may simply want to gain more self-awareness so they can better manage their emotions, relationships, and stressors as they come. I hope all clients enter therapy with an open-mind and motivation to apply what is discussed within sessions, in their daily life to truly see the changes they want to see. All ages are welcome.
Origin story
I've always felt like an extremely empathetic person. In student government in high school, I received the superlative "shoulder to lean on". I graduated from undergrad in 2020, at the start of COVID, and when it became more and more evident to me how important prioritizing mental health is. Through my personal therapy I've been able to grow and heal so much as a person. Previous experiences in therapy have allowed me to receive profound insights, increase my self-confidence, and my communication skills with others. I hope to help my clients reach their goals in a similar way. Ultimately, I love to add as much love and positivity into this world as possible.
Ongoing work together
In the first few sessions we will establish goals the client would like to achieve. We will discuss concrete steps you can take towards your goals in each session and set intentions for the remainder of the week before session ends. I love to celebrate progress and sit in that feeling of being proud of my client with them. Any small step of progress is still progress. Assessments may also be used throughout sessions to quantify progress.
Treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
CBT is utilized in sessions to explore the connection between our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and how they all impact each other. It takes mental effort to change our thoughts, but it is necessary when our thoughts can be untrue, hurtful, or counterproductive. It helps clients gain self-awareness and practice positive thinking.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
DBT is used to explore emotion regulation skills including distress tolerance and mindfulness which help individuals process their emotions and use coping skills that actually help them to feel better after a stressful event.
Person-centered (Rogerian)
Person-centered is an approach in which the client takes the lead, which in turn promotes personal growth and empowerment. The client is the expert on their own life. As a therapist my role is as a guide and supporter while the client navigates their emotions and decisions.
Location
Virtual sessions