New to Grow
Hi, I'm Paula Whidden! Do you feel anxious? Do you find it difficult to sleep? Does your mind race? It is possible to calm your heart and mind while learning new ways of thinking and handling life events. You can find peace. If you have felt stuck and want to discover new ways to process old feelings, you do not have to remain where you are. I am a trauma focused Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor who helps clients to know the hope they can have and provides them with tools and skills to handle life’s difficulties. I specialize in teens and adults of all ages. I provide a warm and supportive environment for personal growth and emotional healing. I use a client-centered approach to guide and empower adolescents, individuals, and couples. I provide a non-judgmental space to work collaboratively with my clients to achieve their unique goals. I have training in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Gottman Marriage Therapy, Prepare/Enrich, and anxiety management and treatment. I have helped depressed, anxious, stressed, and fearful clients of all ages. As we collaborate, I have enabled my clients to face and uncover issues from their past and help them face their future unafraid.
I want you to feel welcomed and at ease when we meet. The first session will be lighter as we are getting to know one another. I aim to help my clients to have a sense of hope from the start. We will discuss what you want to get out of therapy and begin to set some goals.
I enjoy meeting with each client and want my clients to feel valued each time we meet. I seek to be a calming presence in the room. While I am trained in EMDR, CBT, and DBT, I try to be open each session to the direction the client wants to take. I keep myself open to the direction the client wants to take. I am also an ordained pastor which can be comforting and encouraging for those who want to discuss their Christian faith as a part of counseling.
I have helped anxious, stressed, and fearful clients of all ages. Teenagers and adults can feel out of control, stuck, or lost. I am a trauma-informed therapist with training in EMDR and Internal Family Systems. I help people of all ages face and uncover issues from their past and help them look toward their future unafraid. I use various tools to help my clients handle intense feelings and move forward. My clients learn to build the skills needed for relaxation, coping with challenging emotions, and building stronger relationships. Client who like working with me are open to using what we work on each day and building skills for success.
I identify as
EMDR
I have been trained in EMDR and am working toward certification. I have used it with hundreds of clients. I have used EMDR for four years with clients to lessen the impact of past trauma on their present life.
Christian Counseling
As an ordained pastor, it is easy for me to communicate with Christian clients in terms that they can relate to. For those who want this service, I incorporate Biblical values and prayer into our sessions. Many clients enjoy having the freedom to discuss their faith while working on their mental health.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I've actively used CBT with clients to address anxiety and depression. I take an educational approach training clients to use various tools that have been proven helpful. I also encourage clients to examine how their thoughts, beliefs and feelings are interlinked so that changing one can affect the others.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
I find dialectical behavior therapy very helpful with clients who have strong emotions that feel overwhelming. Using DBT, I can help clients to build their life skills to better handle life's difficulties as they arise.
Gottman method
I have been trained in Gottman Therapy and have successfully used it to help couples to build their trust, communication skills and affection. In this way, they build a stronger marriage.