LPC, 13 years of experience
New to Grow
I am Dr. Wendy Whinnery, currently living in Phoenix, Arizona, where I serve as the Program Chair for the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program at the University of Phoenix campus. I relocated from Northern New York one year ago to take on this role, bringing with me over a decade of clinical experience and a deep commitment to counselor education. My academic background includes a Bachelor’s degree in Music Performance (clarinet), a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and a PhD in Counselor Education with a specialization in trauma and crisis. I’ve been a practicing clinician since 2012 and hold licensure as an LPC-S in Arizona and an LMHC-D in New York. I’m also a Nationally Certified Counselor, a Board Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor, a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, and an Approved Clinical Supervisor. Outside of my professional life, I’m married with two adult daughters, their wonderful spouses, and four amazing grandchildren who are the light of my life. Our home is joyfully shared with three spirited Shetland Sheepdogs—Jafar, Iago, and Princess Jazmine.
In our first session, we’ll spend most of our time simply getting to know each other. Therapy is a deeply personal process, and it’s essential to determine whether I’m the right fit for you—and whether this space feels supportive, safe, and aligned with your goals. What This Means: No pressure to dive into everything at once We’ll move at your pace, focusing on what feels most important to you right now. You’re invited to ask questions About my approach, training, or anything that helps you feel more comfortable. We’ll explore what brings you here Not just the challenges, but also your hopes, strengths, and what you’d like to see change. Fit goes both ways I’ll be reflecting on how I can best support you, and you’re encouraged to do the same.
My therapeutic approach is distinguished by its integrative depth, lived empathy, and unwavering commitment to inclusive care. With over 13 years of clinical experience, I blend evidence-based modalities—CBT, Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, and Person-Centered Therapy—into a coherent, values-driven framework that honors each client’s unique story. My work is deeply informed by my identity as a military spouse and former Battalion Family Readiness Coordinator, as well as my doctoral research on secondary traumatic stress in spouses of soldiers with combat-related PTSD. While my passion for veterans and military families remains central, my practice embraces clients from all walks of life, including those within the LGBTQAI+ community, with cultural humility and emotional intelligence. My psychoeducational style is visually engaging and emotionally resonant, reflecting my belief that healing is both a clinical and relational art.
My passion has always been with veterans, as I am a military spouse. I became a therapist as I previously served in the position of Battalion Family Readiness Coordinator. While I did not wear the uniform, I have a deep understanding of soldiers' experiences, as well as those of the military family. My doctoral dissertation was about secondary traumatic stress in spouses of soldiers returning from Iraq or Afghanistan with combat-related PTSD. My practice is not limited to veterans and their families, however. Over the past 13 years, I’ve had the privilege of working with diverse populations across age, identity, and experience.I’ve supported individuals navigating trauma, anxiety, depression, grief, identity development, and relational challenges—always with a lens of cultural humility and emotional safety. My work spans individuals, couples, and families, with a commitment to tailoring interventions to each client’s unique context and goals. I approach LGBTQAI+ care with respect, sensitivity, and advocacy, recognizing the impact of systemic marginalization and the importance of affirming therapeutic spaces. I integrate inclusive language, trauma-informed practice, and identity-affirming frameworks into every aspect of my work—from intake to treatment planning.
I create a space where clients feel deeply accepted, regardless of their struggles or choices. This fosters psychological safety and encourages authentic self-exploration. I listen not just to words, but to emotional undertones, body language, and silences. I reflect back clients’ experiences in ways that help them feel seen and understood. I model transparency and emotional honesty, sharing my reactions when therapeutically appropriate. This builds trust and invites clients to do the same. I use paraphrasing and emotional mirroring to help clients clarify their own thoughts and feelings. I resist the urge to “fix” or interpret. Instead, I trust the client’s inner wisdom and facilitate their self-directed growth. I focus on the here-and-now of the therapeutic relationship, using it as a microcosm for clients’ relational patterns.
I help clients identify how automatic thoughts shape emotional responses and behavioral patterns. This fosters insight and self-regulation. I position clients as co-investigators, using Socratic questioning to examine cognitive distortions and test alternative beliefs. Sessions are focused and intentional, often guided by treatment plans that target specific symptoms or functional impairments.
I guide clients toward envisioning their preferred future rather than dissecting past problems. I help clients identify existing resources, exceptions to the problem, and moments of success—however small I use targeted questions to elicit change talk and amplify what’s already working. I use numeric scales (e.g., 0–10) to assess progress, motivation, and confidence—then explore what nudges the number upward. I help clients notice times when the problem was less intense or absent, and explore what made those moments possible. I validate resilience by asking, “How have you managed to keep going despite this challenge?”