I provide safe, experienced, compassionate therapy for people experiencing challenges navigating the complexities of our world. Whether these challenges include changing life circumstances, traumas, increasing work, social, or family demands on our time, relationship difficulties, physical ailments, loss, or making sense of the world around us, life can be filled with stress. And I recognize the uniqueness of each person's thoughts, feelings, and experience. Our life experiences shape our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. I utilize a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with a mindfulness approach to help people examine their thinking with curiosity and without judgment to increase self-compassion and understanding. Often times finding the thoughts and feelings that are self-limiting and learning to be more gentle and and compassionate to ourselves can be a healing experience. Your mental wellness impacts your ability to perform at your physical and mental best. Some of these challenges include Stress, Anxiety, Depression, Anger, Grief and Loss, Addictions, Trauma, and difficulties with Self-Esteem, and Relationships.

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

The first session I will gather your personal/family history of therapy, physical and mental health challenges, discuss your goals for therapy (what you're seeking to get out of therapy, etc.), personal strengths/challenges, discuss treatment planning (how I'd like to proceed, how that works for you/if you agree), answer any questions you may have about how therapy works. The goal is for you to become an expert on your own thoughts and feelings so that you can make the changes in your life that are important to you. As you discover what is valuable and enriching to you, you learn to examine and make conscious choices. These choices support your goals, improve relationships with yourself and others, increase your energy and focus, and improve your ability to achieve your goals in life.

What treatment methods and tools do you utilize?

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness Based Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy. I teach all of these and how they influence us, how to think about these and how to examine our own thoughts and feelings more accurately to live with less anxiety and depression, to enhance our daily experiences, and to achieve our goals.

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

My biggest area of strength is to be fully present with each client, my compassion, and my ability to reflect the knowledge I've gained in my 20 years of practice back to them so they can apply it to their own situation.

About Tara McKinney