Tara Metcalf-Gonzales

I am an empathetic creative arts mental health counselor, with experience in high need areas, particularly in working with children/adolescents and the important adults in their lives. I utilize a trauma-informed flexible model in individual, dyadic, and family sessions. Although I am completely comfortable with a "talk only" approach to therapy, I also value and gently offer options from exercises in theatre, dance/movement, mindfulness practices, and diverse ability-informed exercises. My primary experience has been working with youth and their families with anxiety, depression, and challenges related to life transitions. However, across the spectrum of clinical work, my focus has always been on post-traumatic growth and healing. Trauma, particularly in our early lives, is a deeply shifting experience and continues to impact our lives in many complex ways. Through an attachment lens, I want to support clients in co-regulating the ways these experiences might still live in the body and present current-day challenges, acknowledging their own resilience, and finding personal growth after these events. For the last few years, I have worked primarily with families who have experienced extremely challenging life events. I believe it is incredibly difficult to raise humans in even the most ideal circumstances and am passionate about supporting caregivers in the process. I provide counseling to all types of families.