Jami Vaughan
I believe healing is built through connection, trust, and feeling understood. My goal is to provide a warm, supportive, and nonjudgmental space where you can speak openly and feel safe throughout the therapeutic process. With over 15 years of experience in behavioral health, I have worked with children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship difficulties, life transitions, grief, and other emotional concerns. I recognize that each person’s experience is unique, so I tailor therapy to your specific needs, strengths, and goals rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach. I see therapy as a collaborative process. Instead of directing you, I work with you to build insight, strengthen coping skills, improve communication, and develop practical strategies for meaningful change. My approach is evidence-based, trauma-informed, and grounded in compassion, honesty, and respect. Whether working individually, with couples, or with families, my focus is to help you better understand yourself and your relationships, navigate challenges more effectively, and build resilience. My goal is for you to leave each session feeling heard, supported, and equipped with tools to support lasting growth and well-being.
First session
Your first session is a chance for us to get to know each other and begin building a supportive, collaborative relationship in a safe and nonjudgmental space. We’ll talk about what brings you to therapy, your current challenges, and your goals. I may ask about your background, relationships, and strengths to better understand your needs and begin shaping a treatment plan that fits you. There’s no pressure to share more than you’re comfortable with—we’ll move at a pace that feels right for you. You don’t need to have everything figured out; we’ll work together to clarify goals and next steps. Whether you’re coming for individual, couples, or family therapy, you can expect a compassionate, evidence-based approach. My hope is that you leave your first session feeling heard, supported, and more hopeful about the path forward.
Strengths
My approach is collaborative, compassionate, and tailored to each individual, couple, or family. I focus on creating a safe, supportive space where clients feel understood and empowered to make meaningful change. I use a trauma-informed, evidence-based approach that integrates CBT, mindfulness, strengths-based work, psychoeducation, and solution-focused strategies. Together, we work to identify unhelpful patterns, improve emotional regulation, strengthen coping skills, and build resilience. For couples and families, I emphasize improving communication, rebuilding trust, resolving conflict, and deepening connection. For individuals, I support clients in processing emotions, healing from past experiences, navigating life transitions, and fostering personal growth. I believe every client has inherent strengths and the capacity for change. My role is to meet you where you are, provide practical tools, and support you in moving toward your goals with greater confidence and clarity.
Ideal clients
My ideal client is someone who is struggling with anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, family conflict, or life transitions and is ready to begin making positive changes in their life. They may feel overwhelmed, stuck, misunderstood, or unsure of how to move forward. They may struggle with setting healthy boundaries, managing emotions, negative thought patterns, self-esteem, or finding healthy coping skills. My ideal client is someone who is open to self-reflection, willing to explore the connection between their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and interested in developing healthier ways to navigate life's challenges. They may not have all the answers or know exactly what they need, but they are willing to show up, be honest, and take small steps toward change. Ultimately, I enjoy working with individuals who want to feel more confident, regain a sense of control, improve their relationships, develop healthier coping strategies, and learn to prioritize their own emotional well-being. I believe meaningful progress starts with meeting clients where they are, creating a safe, nonjudgmental space, and helping them recognize their own strengths and potential for growth.
Ongoing work together
Our ongoing work together will be collaborative, supportive, and focused on helping clients make meaningful, sustainable changes. Sessions will provide a safe, nonjudgmental space to explore challenges, identify patterns, process emotions, and develop practical tools to manage everyday stressors. We will work together to establish realistic goals, challenge unhelpful thought patterns, strengthen healthy boundaries, improve communication, and build effective coping strategies. Progress will look different for everyone, but clients will begin to recognize growth in how they respond to difficult situations, manage their emotions, and navigate relationships. They may notice less anxiety, improved mood, increased confidence, healthier decision-making, and a greater ability to advocate for themselves. We will celebrate both big accomplishments and small steps forward, recognizing that growth is not always linear. Ultimately, clients will know they are making progress when they begin to feel more empowered, trust themselves, recognize their worth, and develop the confidence to handle life's challenges with greater resilience and self-compassion.
Treatment methods
Strength-Based
I use a strength-based approach by helping clients recognize and build upon the strengths, abilities, and resources they already possess, even when they may have difficulty seeing them in themselves. I believe every individual has the capacity for growth and change, regardless of their past experiences or current circumstances. Rather than focusing solely on problems or challenges, I work with clients to identify their resilience, recognize past successes, and build confidence in their ability to overcome obstacles. I encourage clients to recognize small victories, practice self-compassion, and shift their focus from what they feel they cannot do to what they are capable of accomplishing. I also help clients identify existing coping skills, personal values, support systems, and positive qualities that can be used to support their goals. My approach is collaborative and nonjudgmental, meeting clients where they are and empowering them to take an active role in their own growth. Ultimately, I want clients to leave therapy with a stronger sense of self-worth, confidence, and belief in their ability to create positive change in their lives.
Trauma-Focused CBT
I incorporate trauma-focused CBT principles by helping clients understand how past experiences, particularly traumatic or distressing events, can influence their current thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and relationships. I provide a safe, supportive, and nonjudgmental environment where clients can explore these experiences at a pace that feels comfortable for them. I focus on building trust, emotional safety, and healthy coping skills before exploring more difficult experiences. I help clients identify connections between their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, recognize negative beliefs or cognitive distortions, and develop healthier ways of processing and responding to distress. Interventions may include cognitive restructuring, emotional identification, grounding techniques, relaxation and breathing exercises, and developing effective coping strategies. I also emphasize recognizing personal strengths, establishing healthy boundaries, and increasing a sense of control and empowerment. My approach is individualized and client-centered, recognizing that trauma affects everyone differently. The goal is to help clients reduce trauma-related distress, challenge unhelpful beliefs, strengthen emotional regulation, and develop healthier patterns that allow them to move forward with greater confidence and resilience.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help clients understand the connection between their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and how these patterns can influence their overall emotional well-being. I work collaboratively with clients to identify negative thought patterns, cognitive distortions, and unhelpful beliefs that may contribute to anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and difficulties in relationships. Through open discussion, guided questioning, and practical exercises, I help clients challenge irrational or negative thinking and develop healthier, more balanced perspectives. Interventions may include identifying cognitive distortions, cognitive restructuring, journaling, mindfulness, grounding techniques, relaxation exercises, and developing positive coping strategies. I also encourage clients to practice skills outside of sessions so they can begin applying what they learn to everyday situations. My goal is to empower clients to recognize that while they may not always have control over what happens in their lives, they can develop greater awareness and control over how they think, feel, and respond. Ultimately, I use CBT to help clients build confidence, improve emotional regulation, increase resilience, and create lasting positive changes.
Psychodynamic
I incorporate psychodynamic principles by helping clients explore how past experiences, childhood relationships, family dynamics, and unresolved emotional conflicts may influence their current thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and relationships. I encourage self-reflection and help clients recognize patterns that may be repeated in their lives, often without their awareness. Through open-ended questions, supportive discussion, and exploration of emotions, I help clients develop a deeper understanding of themselves and the underlying factors contributing to their current struggles. We may explore relationship patterns, defense mechanisms, unresolved feelings, attachment experiences, and how past experiences shape present-day beliefs and behaviors. My approach is collaborative and paced according to each client's comfort level. I strive to create a safe, supportive environment where clients feel comfortable exploring difficult experiences without judgment. My goal is to increase self-awareness, improve emotional understanding, identify unhealthy patterns, and help clients develop healthier ways of relating to themselves and others.
Motivational Interviewing
I use Motivational Interviewing (MI) to help clients explore their own reasons for change while recognizing and working through feelings of uncertainty, resistance, or ambivalence. I believe clients are more likely to make lasting changes when they feel empowered and are actively involved in identifying their goals rather than feeling pressured or told what they need to do. Through open-ended questions, reflective listening, affirmations, and supportive conversations, I help clients explore the difference between where they are currently and where they would like to be. I encourage clients to identify their personal values, strengths, motivations, and barriers that may be preventing progress. I also help clients recognize their own ability to make choices and take manageable steps toward positive change. I use a nonjudgmental, collaborative approach that meets clients where they are, respects their readiness for change, and allows them to move at their own pace. My goal is to strengthen clients' confidence, increase motivation, resolve ambivalence, and empower them to take ownership of their recovery, personal growth, and overall emotional well-being.