I work to provide a safe, non-judgmental, culturally safe space where you can share, we can identify what isn't working, and implement the best practice interventions that work toward your goals. Curiosity about why we do what we do is helpful when we need to create different habits. Therefore we work on cultivating a sense of curiosity so we can learn how to identify what isn't working in our life anymore. When we are open to new possibilities, we reduce self-imposed limitations to improve our own life experiences. When we strengthen what we are already good at, we reduce the impact of our life challenges. When we integrate newly learned skills with existing skills, we tend to feel more hopeful about our future and increase our self-confidence. These changes can lead to adopting new ways of coping, learning how to view our challenges from new perspectives and using all of this to live your best life.

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

In our first session, we are getting to know each other. I will have questions for you so I can better understand where you have come from and where/how you would like to grow. I encourage you to ask questions about the process of counseling, therapeutic goals, or anything else you are curious about.

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

I believe that therapeutic success is rooted in how the therapist and client relate to each other. Authentic connection develops best in a compassionate safe space, Before we can accept or have compassion for ourselves, we need to practice vulnerability which takes trust. Learning to trust ourselves and listen to our intuition is a critical step to healing. I approach therapy from a curious, solution-focused, systems perspective. I use empirically-based approaches that include cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, solution-focused therapy, narrative therapy, bibliotherapy, family systems therapy, neurofeedback, acceptance and commitment therapy, attachment-based therapies, and existential questions among others.

About Shauna Summers