Hey there! I'm a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, licensed in both states of Hawaii and Arizona. I was born and raised in Phoenix, AZ. I served active duty in the US Navy as well as public-service as a city firefighter-paramedic. I earned my Bachelor's in Psychology from Arizona State Univ. and my Masters Degree in Counseling Psychology from Chaminade University of Honolulu. I lived in Hawaii for many years working as a counselor with various populations. Hawaii is where my career in psychology all began. I enjoy helping people make meaningful changes in themselves, in their relationships and to their lives. I can help you feel more present and more authentically connected to yourself and others. Whether you are feeling stuck in life or are navigating a life-altering event, I am here to provide a safe, nonjudgemental space for you to overcome your obstacles and concerns. I know from both personal and professional experiences that each of us has the ability to awaken to Truth and find our light, even in the darkest of times. I can help guide you back to return home to your innate mental health and true nature.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
In our first session together, we'll start with brief introductions in order to begin building rapport for our much needed therapeutic alliance, then we'll dive into the specific challenges you're facing. This will help me create a tailored therapy plan for us to work through in our therapy journey together.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
Many of the strengths of an effective therapist have just always come naturally to me. Empathy is one of those strengths that I just naturally feel very deeply. Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others and is crucial for building trust and rapport. My foundational approach is Client-Centered and empathy is at the center of it. Other strengths of mine are I'm a great active listener. I pay close attention, not just to what is said, but also to how it's said, and understanding the underlying meaning is essential. Another strength of mine is creating a safe and comfortable environment where clients feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and feelings without fear of judgment. This is crucial and vital for our rapport. Speaking of rapport, building rapport and maintaining healthy rapport is another huge strength of mine. Establishing a strong and trusting relationship with the client is fundamental to the success of therapy. Another strength of mine is my own Self-Awareness, which I'm constantly working on increasing. My own self-exploration is ongoing, and I continue to learn and grow as a not only a therapist, but as a human being.
Describe the client(s) you are best positioned to serve.
I enjoy working with young adults that are eager to reach their goals, but feeling overwhelmed and stuck while struggling with finding the right direction and path to go down to get closer to their dreams and aspirations. I enjoy helping the many that struggle with chronic stress, anxiety, depression, loneliness, ADHD, Autism, burnout and OCD. I very much enjoy helping military veterans and first-responders with the stresses of their professions and heal from the past-traumas they experience. I love the challenge of working with couples find their way back to the loving connection that brought them together in the first place.
About Sean Gardner
Specializes in
Serves ages
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Appointments
VirtualMy treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Cognitive Therapy is my most used therapeutic modality, and is what I'm most experienced in. The importance of thoughts, and how they interact with feelings and behaviors, is at the foundation of CBT. You will learn to increase awareness of your negative thought patterns and irrational thoughts as they’re happening, evaluate them, and see thoughts that are irrational. By focusing your attention away from unhelpful negative thought patterns, your feelings will be more positive and you'll be able to think more clearly and rationally. Generally, this leads to healthier behaviors that result in better outcomes during everyday situations.
Mindfulness-Based Therapy
I practice various forms of mindfulness in my own every day life. Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy is a modified form of cognitive therapy that incorporates mindfulness practices that include present moment awareness, meditation, and breathing exercises. This therapy was formulated to address depression. Using exercises and tools, the mindfulness-based therapist teaches a client to be in the here and now as well as break away from negative thought patterns that can cause a decline into a mood-disordered state; this therapy can help a person fight off a difficult frame of mind before it takes hold.
Couples Counseling
I have six years of experience as a Couples Therapist. I focus on helping romantic partners improve their relationship by addressing conflicts, enhancing communication, and strengthening their connection with each other.
Person-centered (Rogerian)
Person-centered is my foundational approach as a therapist. With this approach your own autonomy and inner wisdom will be emphasized. I will provide a supportive and accepting environment where you can explore your experiences and work towards self-actualization.
Trauma Informed Care
I have many years of experience working with individuals with severe past traumas, as well as experienced major traumatic experiences myself. Understanding trauma first hand and being a trauma informed therapist, I recognize the widespread impact of trauma. I seek to create an environment that promotes safety, trust, and healing for individuals who have experienced trauma.