Courtenay B. Collins is a ray of sunshine with a heart of gold and a mind as sharp as a tack. This empathic licensed clinical social worker has spent 20 years empowering individuals to overcome trauma, mental health challenges, and substance use issues through her warm therapeutic approach and evidence-based wizardry. With a toolbox brimming with cognitive-behavioral therapy, solution-focused brief therapy, anger management techniques, and more, Courtenay weaves her magic to create individualized, culturally sensitive treatment plans that consider the whole person. She's also an author and virtual coach extraordinaire, guiding women to break through self-doubt and embrace their inner fire. With her infectious enthusiasm and boundless compassion, Courtenay is the ultimate life coach, therapist, and cheerleader all rolled into one unstoppable force of nature.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
In a first session with me you can expect to get right to it. I like to establish our goals pretty fast so we know where we are headed. It's important to get background and build rapport. By the end of the first session, I want you to have one tool, exercise, or technique you can practice that will help you feel better between sessions.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
One of my strengths as a provider is my authenticity and empowerment. I have a gift that helps me see the best in people and I help them believe the same. I have experienced many difficult things in my life that also make me a better therapist and a better listener.
About Courtenay Collins
Appointments
Free consults, virtual
My treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
TLDR: We work together to change stinky thinking that keeps you stuck in patterns of behavior you don't want anymore.
How does CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) help:
- CBT helps by identifying and changing negative thought patterns (the science says, if you think better you feel better)
- It incorporates behavioral techniques like mindfulness and skill-building
- Homework assignments reinforce skills learned in therapy (no, not like in high school)
- CBT takes a collaborative approach between therapist and client (we are a team)
- By addressing thoughts and behaviors, it promotes more adaptive coping
Who does CBT help:
It helps those with symptoms of
- Depression, anxiety disorders, OCD, PTSD
- Substance abuse, eating disorders, insomnia
- Anger management issues
- Generally well-suited for problems involving negative thoughts, unhelpful behaviors, emotion regulation difficulties
Solution Focused Brief Treatment
TLDR: We work together to overcome roadblocks and hold ups by identifying your goals, previous successes and putting you in action to get things done.
How does SFBT (Solution Focused Brief Treatment) help:
Identifies specific, realistic goals the client wants to achieve
- Explores times when the problem didn't occur to recognize existing strengths
- Uses scaling questions to measure progress and identify next steps
- Highlights the client's strengths, resources, and support systems
- Encourages experimenting with small, actionable steps between sessions
- Focuses on the present and future rather than analyzing the past in-depth
Who does SFBT help:
- Specific, well-defined problems rather than complex issues
- Clients motivated and committed to change
- Short-term therapy needs
- Situational/adjustment challenges or life transitions
- Behavioral/performance issues like improving productivity
- Parenting or family conflicts
- Mild to moderate mental health concerns like stress
Strength-Based
TLDR: You have a lot of strengths you may not see. We work together to help you see them and use them to improve your life and relationships.
How Strengths-Based Treatment Helps:
- Identifies the individual's existing strengths, abilities, resources
- Builds self-efficacy and a sense of empowerment
- Encourages a positive, optimistic mindset
- Sets goals aligned with strengths and values
- Utilizes the individual's support systems and resources
- Allows exploration and experimentation with applying strengths
- Fosters resilience to better cope with future challenges
Who Strength-Based treatment helps:
- Low self-esteem or lack of confidence
- Adjustment/life transition issues
- Behavioral change or personal growth goals
- Recovery from substance abuse/addictions
- Mild to moderate mental health concerns
- Managing chronic health conditions
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
TLDR: If you are tired of feeling the way you do but don't have the option to change it ACT will help you continue life in the best way for you even when you feel bad.
How ACT helps:
Fosters acceptance of uncomfortable thoughts/feelings instead of avoidance
- Teaches cognitive defusion to distance from distressing thoughts
- Clarifies core values to guide committed action
- Encourages present moment awareness and mindfulness
- Develops sense of self as observer of thoughts/experiences
- Uses experiential exercises to embody concepts
Who ACT can help:
- Chronic pain or chronic illness
- Anxiety disorders
- Depression
- Substance abuse and addictions
- Stress and burnout
- Psychosis and schizophrenia
- Chronic perfectionism or self-criticism
- Trauma and PTSD (as complementary treatment)
