Brenna Kantner

Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)

I have extensive experience using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help clients understand the connection between their thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and overall well-being. CBT can be especially helpful for clients experiencing anxiety, depression, self-criticism, overwhelm, and difficulty navigating life transitions. My approach to CBT is collaborative and compassionate. Together, we identify patterns of thinking that may be contributing to distress, explore how those thoughts impact emotions and behaviors, and develop practical strategies to create more balanced and helpful responses. I help clients build awareness of unhelpful beliefs, challenge thoughts that no longer serve them, and develop coping skills they can apply in everyday life. I believe CBT is most effective when it is paired with curiosity and self-compassion. Rather than simply trying to “change negative thoughts,” we explore where those thoughts come from, how they may have developed as protective responses, and how clients can build a more supportive relationship with themselves.

Strength-Based

My approach to strength-based therapy is grounded in the belief that every person has existing strengths, resilience, and the ability to create meaningful change. Many clients come to therapy focused on what feels difficult, what they are struggling with, or areas where they feel they are falling short. I help clients also recognize the skills, values, and strengths they have developed while navigating life’s challenges. In our work together, we will explore your experiences with curiosity and compassion, identify the resources you already have within yourself, and build on what is working. Rather than focusing only on problems or symptoms, I help clients understand their capacity for growth, increase confidence in their own abilities, and make choices that align with the life they want to create. My strength-based approach is especially helpful for clients navigating transitions, anxiety, trauma, motherhood, grief, and identity changes, where it can be easy to lose sight of yourself while managing difficult circumstances. I strive to create a space where clients feel empowered, capable, and supported as they reconnect with their strengths and move toward lasting change.

Solution Focused Brief Treatment

My approach to Solution-Focused Therapy emphasizes identifying what is already working, building on existing strengths, and creating practical steps toward meaningful change. I believe that clients often have valuable insight, resilience, and skills that can be strengthened when they are given the space and support to recognize them. In our work together, we will explore your goals, identify the changes you would like to see, and focus on small, achievable steps that move you toward the life you want. We will look at times when challenges feel more manageable, uncover the strategies and strengths you already use, and develop tools that can be applied in your everyday life. I incorporate solution-focused strategies with a trauma-informed and compassionate approach, recognizing that lasting change requires both understanding where you have been and identifying where you want to go. This approach can be especially helpful for clients navigating anxiety, life transitions, motherhood, identity shifts, and periods of feeling stuck or overwhelmed.

Somatic

My approach to somatic therapy recognizes the important connection between the mind and body, and how our experiences can impact the way we feel, respond, and move through the world. I have experience incorporating somatic-based interventions to help clients increase awareness of their body’s responses, regulate their nervous system, and develop a greater sense of safety and connection within themselves. In our work together, we may explore how emotions, stress, and past experiences show up physically through sensations, tension, energy levels, or patterns of response. Somatic strategies such as grounding, mindfulness, breathwork, body awareness, and nervous system regulation techniques can help clients build skills to manage anxiety, overwhelm, trauma responses, and difficult emotions. I use a gentle, trauma-informed approach that honors each client’s pace and comfort level. My goal is not to force clients to revisit painful experiences, but to help them develop a stronger connection with their body, increase self-awareness, and build tools that support healing, resilience, and emotional regulation.

Eclectic

My approach to therapy is integrative, meaning I draw from multiple evidence-based treatment methods to best support each client’s unique needs, goals, and experiences. I believe therapy is not a one-size-fits-all process, and I tailor my approach based on what will be most helpful for each individual. I incorporate elements of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), strength-based therapy, solution-focused therapy, mindfulness, somatic interventions, trauma-informed approaches, and other evidence-based strategies to support clients in creating meaningful change. Our work may include exploring thought patterns, processing past experiences, building coping skills, increasing self-awareness, strengthening self-compassion, and developing practical tools for navigating life’s challenges. My eclectic approach allows me to consider the whole person—their history, relationships, emotions, body responses, values, and current circumstances. I strive to create a collaborative and supportive environment where clients feel understood while also being empowered to make changes that align with their goals and values.