I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Texas with over 5 years of experience working in a diverse clinical background. I understand and honor that every person is unique with different life experiences, so I prioritize understanding each individual's personal experiences and complexities to tailor empathetic, trauma-informed approaches based on their concerns and needs. My therapy style is warm, collaborative, at times humorous, and always trauma-informed and person-centered, as I believe individuals are the experts of their own lives and work through this framework. I typically utilize a combination of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and Mindfulness-Based Interventions, as well as interpersonal and psychoanalytic to explore how at times, the subconscious or unconscious processes influence thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Though I may not strictly adhere to traditional psychoanalytic techniques, I do incorporate its principles into my work, allowing clients to gain insight into unconscious conflicts and develop a deeper understanding of themselves. I aim to empower clients while offering psychoeducation, establishing individualized goals, working to become more self-aware and accepting of self, developing agency, building self-compassion, and cultivating resilience. Together, we can navigate life's many challenges, enhance self-worth, determine what in your life and experiences gives it meaning and purpose, develop a deeper understanding of our internal mind, and explore coping strategies to allow for sustainable change and alleviate distress. In doing so, we can work to foster a more authentic and meaningful life journey.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
Life can be challenging and uncertain already and while therapy may not look the same for any one person, the first session allows for transparency and an exploration into what will be certain and what might be uncertain in the process. With that said, the core of collaboration, empathy, and remaining judgment-free will continue to be certain throughout the process. Our initial meeting serves as an opportunity to get to know one another, review overall treatment expectations and norms, begin to explore the current challenges bringing you to therapy on a deeper level, and begin identifying individualized short and long-term goals tailored to your experiences and circumstances. It will also be an opportunity to review your own questions, concerns, and preferences or expectations of the therapeutic process. As this is a collaborative journey, your input is invaluable and can help determine which approaches resonate and align with you and your needs. By the end of our first session, you will likely leave with a better understanding of what you’re experiencing or struggling with, have some initial strategies to begin to explore and practice, and have an idea of whether you want a more structured approach or are open to exploring new techniques and strategies. Or maybe it’s a blend of both. No matter what is initially decided in the first session, there will always be room for mutual accountability, suggestions, and flexibility with adapting initial goals and approaches as needed to better align with your changing needs at any given moment in your therapeutic journey.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
Having provided over 5 years of therapy to diverse populations of young to older adults with a wide range of concerns or struggles, I've developed an in depth knowledge of varying needs alongside the initial presenting concern(s). In my most recent therapeutic role, working with substance use and addiction issues in both individual and group settings, I have developed a solid understanding of not only meeting the client where they're at, but also, meeting myself where I'm at and actively practicing self-care both in and out of my clinical practice and includes setting and communicating personal and professional boundaries, especially around time and abilities and/or availability. These strengths have allowed me to provide collaborative, individualized care that accounts for the complexities and nuance within every client's experience. Using an integrative and eclectic approach allows me to tailor interventions used to meet their unique needs. Also, by ensuring a safe, compassionate, and empathetic space through active listening, warmth, and validation, I am able to quickly establish rapport and trust to facilitate effective therapy. Regardless of an individual's circumstances, I believe that everyone has an innate capacity to change when given the right space, tools, support and connection, knowledge, and understanding. Finally, I am passionate about knowledge and learning. I am constantly working to engage my education and skills by staying up to date with any trainings and edifications to any therapeutic theory, modality, ethical obligations and challenges, interventions, etc. I strive to ensure that clients receive the most up-to-date, evidence-based practices.
Describe the client(s) you are best positioned to serve.
Welcome! My name is Natalie Branda and I’m a licensed therapist. I want to start by first acknowledging how incredibly amazing it is that you’ve decided to take the first step to prioritizing your mental health and well-being. I can absolutely understand if there might be some apprehension around the therapeutic processes or you may be feeling nervous or scared, confused or maybe excited and empowered, or maybe it’s a combination of all or none of those things. Wherever you're at and whatever you feel is valid and I strive to honor those experiences by creating a warm, non-judgmental, at times humorous, and empathetic space where you can feel safe to express those feelings and begin to understand and embrace yourself as a unique human being with unique and complex experiences who is navigating an uncertain world that doesn’t always account for our individual needs. I focus on helping individuals by accounting for needs that may be or have been unaccounted for previously, exploring how past and present experiences can shape our reality of what we believe about ourselves and the world around us, and providing relevant education including therapeutic tools and knowledge as a means to empower and change any unhelpful thoughts and behaviors sustainably and authentically. Through collaboration, we can learn ways to cope with and effectively manage difficult mental health challenges including depression and anxiety, struggles with addiction, disordered eating patterns and negative body image, interpersonal issues, or life transitions. Together, we can collaborate and define what personal growth and healing mean and look like to you, develop tools and strategies that challenge and positively change unhelpful thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors, as well as skills to aid with emotional distress and begin to identify goals that allow you to reclaim control over your life and your autonomy. If that feels like what you need and you're ready to begin to take your power back, I'm here to support you when you feel ready to share. Warmest regards, Natalie
About Natalie Branda
Natalie Branda offers therapy covered by Parkland Community Health Plan - Medicaid and UnitedHealthcare/Optum - Medicaid in Texas.
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VirtualMy treatment methods
Person-centered (Rogerian)
Throughout my five-plus years as a therapist, a person-centered approach has been one of the foundational theories I’ve based my clinical practice in. Ensuring I provide a warm, empathetic, non-judgmental, and collaborative space has been critical to the success of my clients. I recognize and respect that each person is wholly unique so any therapeutic intervention used should be tailored to their individual needs, experiences, and identity. Ultimately, I strive to create a safe space where clients feel heard and understood, empowered to advocate for themselves, and begin a journey of growth, healing, and authenticity. All of these factors can create the conditions for a more fulfilling and meaningful life.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
For over 5 years, I've extensively utilized and have had great success with CBT in my clinical practice where I guide clients in understanding the relationship between their thoughts, emotions, and actions, as well as how each impacts the other. This typically includes education on cognitive restructuring to challenge and then modify negative thoughts, and the resulting feelings and behaviors, and then assessing the validity of the negative thoughts and identifying unhelpful, recurring patterns and beliefs. I find interactive sessions where clients identify their own negative thoughts and the impact those thoughts have on other aspects of their lives to be incredibly helpful. Through collaboration in realistically challenging beliefs and shifting unhelpful thinking, this process empowers clients to take an active role in their therapy and can enhance their overall well-being and result in a reduction of distress, anxiety, and feelings of powerlessness.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
I've incorporated Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) for the past 3 years and have helped clients in various challenging situations make positive changes and reach their goals by developing skills for emotional regulation, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, and mindfulness. I guide clients through learning and, as with CBT, have sessions involve the active application of these skills and then in their daily lives which has led to greater emotional stability, stronger boundaries, and healthier relationships. Through this intervention, we also begin to explore mindfulness or being fully present in one’s life, which can lead to more fulfillment, acceptance, and balance. Once again, incorporating a collaborative approach of empowering clients to navigate life's challenges with resilience and authenticity and manage distressing emotions effectively, leads to improved overall well-being and a greater sense of autonomy, control, and meaning in their lives.
Eclectic
As an eclectic therapist, my goal is to create a comprehensive and personalized plan for treatment. By integrating and tailoring various therapeutic methods and approaches, I am better able to meet the unique individual needs, symptoms, and preferences of each client. There is no ‘one size fits all’ in therapy and I strive to consistently be aware and take account of this and to always appreciate and respect the diversity of individuals based on many factors including their personal life experiences, successes, and struggles as unique to one’s own identity, values, perspectives, beliefs, and cultures. Through our work together, I value understanding each client in all their complexities with empathy and without judgment. Depending on the client and the presenting concerns, I will use various methods from different theoretical approaches to provide a space for genuine connection and mutual respect to foster learning, development, and application of new skills that align with a client’s personal and cultural values, needs, and perspectives. Through this holistic and personalized approach, clients can experience lasting positive change, cultivate resilience, and heal in a way that feels authentic and sustainable.
Trauma Informed Care
I’ve been utilizing and prioritizing trauma-informed care for over 5 years working with a wide range of individuals from diverse backgrounds and have developed an approach that integrates trauma-informed principles into every aspect of my work. I understand that trauma can affect individuals in different and profound ways, influencing their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and work to approach each client with empathy and sensitivity by creating a safe, transparent, warm, and judgment-free space where clients can trust me as someone they can feel comfortable with exploring their trauma and experiences. As with my other approaches, I think individualized treatment and collaboration are key components, as well as prioritizing safety, validation, support, and understanding of each client. Throughout the process, education and connection are also large components to focus on as I recognize the profound value of support and community in the healing process, as well as the empowerment that can come with knowledge and understanding, especially of oneself. Ultimately, my goal has always been and will continue to be providing a space where individuals feel seen, heard, understood, and supported. In doing so, I hope to help my clients reclaim agency over their lives, build resilience, self-worth, and compassion, and heal from past traumas and painful experiences.