LCMHC, 11 years of experience
New to Grow
Hi, my names is Britney Hill, I am a therapist who integrates Person‑Centered and Cognitive therapy. My aim is to create a safe, respectful, and empowering space where you are the expert of your own life, and we work together to understand your thinking, feelings, and experiences. I believe in helping you grow with acceptance and empathy, while also providing tools from cognitive therapy to help you make meaning of your thoughts, challenge unhelpful patterns, and build more helpful ways of thinking.
What to Expect in Your First Therapy Session With Me 1. A warm, welcoming start I want you to feel safe, heard, and respected. The first session is very much like a “get to know you” meeting. My goal is to help you settle in, feel comfortable, and trust that this space is yours. I’ll explain a bit about how I work—what Person‑Centered means (empathy, genuineness, you leading the pace) and what cognitive tools we may use. I’ll also go over basic logistics: how long sessions will likely be, how often, and what confidentiality means in our work together. 2. Gathering background & your story I’ll ask open questions about what brought you here—what concerns or struggles you’re experiencing now, maybe what’s been going on historically. This can include your thoughts, feelings, relationships, what’s working / not working for you. We may cover things like your daily life, what gives you meaning, your history (family, work/education, health, etc.). You’ll be free to share as much or as little as feels right in this moment. 3. Exploring what you want from therapy / setting goals We’ll talk about what you hope to get out of therapy. These goals can be big or small, concrete or more general. Maybe it’s reducing anxiety, understanding negative self‑talk, improving relationships, finding more fulfillment, etc. I’ll help you clarify those goals as much as you want, and together we’ll sketch out possible directions our work might take. 4. Understanding thoughts, beliefs & patterns Part of what I’ll be listening for are the kinds of thinking patterns or beliefs that might be contributing to your distress (or limiting you). This isn’t about judging, but about understanding how your thoughts, feelings, and experiences connect. If it feels right, I might introduce some cognitive tools or questions—to help you see how some thoughts may be unhelpful, or how you might re‑frame or test them. But always at your pace, never pushing you beyond what feels safe. 5. Collaboration: you in the driver’s seat I believe therapy works best when we collaborate. So in the first session, I’ll invite your input: what feels comfortable, what doesn’t; what pace you prefer; how you like me to give feedback or challenge things when needed; what you want more of. I’ll check in with you: is there anything you want from me right now in the way of support, or anything you want me to know about how you learn, how you process, etc.? 6. Confidentiality, boundaries, logistics I’ll explain what confidence, boundaries, and logistics look like.
Deep Empathy & Non‑Judgmental Presence I create a safe, accepting space where clients feel heard, seen, and validated. You can trust that you won’t be judges so you are able to open up more fully and engage more honestly. This builds the foundation for healing and change. Genuineness / Congruence I show up as you am. I don’t hide behind therapist‑roles or jargon. When you’re authentic, clients often feel more comfortable being authentic themselves. This tends to increase engagement and trust. Balancing Openness & Structure Because I use both Person‑Centered and Cognitive methods, I offer flexibility (letting the client lead) and structure (helping with thinking, reframing, behavioral tools) when it’s helpful. I can adapt the level of structure to the client's needs. Collaborative & Client‑Led I work with clients—letting them set pace, goals, what feels important. This tends to foster autonomy, self‑confidence, and a sense that the therapy is their space and process, not imposed. Skill in Identifying & Working with Thought Patterns I’m good at noticing cognitive distortions, beliefs, unhelpful automatic thoughts, and helping clients explore, test, and reframe them. This often leads to relief from symptoms, more flexible thinking, less reactivity. Focus on Growth, Self‑Awareness & Self‑Acceptance I help people grow in more than just symptom reduction. I help them see their own strengths, work through shame/guilt, understand themselves more deeply, increase self‑esteem, and cultivate self‑compassion. Strong Therapeutic Alliance Because of my warmth, attunement, respect, and empathy, I tend to establish strong therapeutic relationships. This is often one of the best predictors of therapy success. Flexibility & Adaptability I’m willing to meet clients where they are: different styles, different cultures, different needs. I adjust as needed—whether someone needs more direction occasionally, or more space for processing, or a different pace.
I find I can offer the most benefit to people who want a safe, non‑judgmental space, who have recurring unhelpful thought patterns, who are motivated to do both soul‑work and skill‑work, who value collaboration and autonomy, who are going through life transitions or developmental challenges, who struggling with low self‑esteem, self‑worth, or relational challenges, or who want relief from symptoms of anxiety, depression, stress.
I provide Psychoeducation to teach clients about the CBT model I help clients to identify unhelpful automatic thoughts, cognitive distortions, and core beliefs I facilitate behavioral experiments, exposure, behavioral activation, and skills training I assign homework assignments to practice outside sessions I work with clients by monitoring progress and adjusting strategies as needed
I am Basic Level II EMDR‑trained, specializing in helping clients who have experienced trauma and are managing PTSD. I work first to develop strong coping skills to ensure emotional safety and prevent retraumatization. Once prepared, I guide clients through EMDR sessions using bilateral stimulation to desensitize traumatic memories. The goal is to enable clients to better manage their triggers, reduce distress, integrate new, positive beliefs, and increase emotional regulation outside of therapy.
I practice Person‑Centered (Rogerian) therapy by creating a warm, authentic, non‑judgmental space in which clients lead the exploration of their feelings, self‑concept, and goals. I attend with empathy, unconditional positive regard, and genuineness, trusting their internal resources and capacity for self‑growth. Rather than directing, I support clients to discover their own insights, build self‑acceptance, and increase self‑awareness—helping them heal, resolve incongruence, and align more fully with their true selves.
I use Motivational Interviewing to collaborate with clients in exploring ambivalence and strengthening intrinsic motivation for change. By expressing empathy, developing discrepancy between clients’ current behaviors and goals, and supporting self‑efficacy, I guide them to discover their own reasons for change. Using techniques like open questions, reflective listening, affirmations, and summaries, I empower clients to commit to realistic, self‑directed steps forward.