• My name is Brooke, I am a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor in the state of North Carolina (#11537).
• I received my Master’s degree at Walden University.
• I have been practicing therapeutic services for the last 13 years in an out-patient-therapy session in an office setting as well as telehealth as well as enhanced services in Medicaid on a state & county level. I have experience with all ages and client developmental and life stages. I primary assist with issues of depression, anxiety, trauma, life-transitions, family dynamic transitions, grief, complex illness, and end-of-life issues.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
The first session is all about you, & all the sessions are about you, BUT the first session is about you finding your feet in a new environment and us getting to know each other. NOW, yes, there will be some things and dynamics and safety questions that we will have to cover, but that is only because of documentation and insurance purposes. No worries, deep breath, your session is your time. The therapeutic environment is your space, your place. This is all about YOU.
First session is about you and where you are right now. We can also talk about the past and or the future when you are ready. Your sessions are like having coffee or eating a meal, take the time for your, slow down, be mindful, be in the experience, be in the moment. There is no rush.
You are the pilot of this airplane; I am your co-pilot. We can talk about anything and everything. While we also do not have to talk at all. We can talk, play therapeutic games, be creative, take a walk, or even engage with the therapeutic support animals.
Sessions are about supporting you, where you are. I will help you find your feet, find you heart, and encourage you to listen not only to your body. Your GUT is your biggest ALLY!
You are far stronger, smarter, and capable than you realize. You have got this! Let me just help you find that sweet spot for you to learn, empower yourself, feel safe & confident to grow. It will be uncomfortable at times, but don’t worry these discomforts and storms will pass, they always do.
In session, we will create plans, goals, objectives. I will support you, not with advice, but with evidence-based options, opportunities, resources, skills, and strategies. Think of your goals, dreams, wishes, & desires. We will plan, do, measure, assess, replan, rinse, and repeat. Tell me what type of environment and dynamics your need and desire and we will navigate and collaborate from there.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
I am dynamic, passionate, open, honest, willing, competitive, and empathetic. I am dedicated, hard-working, strategic, and kind of smart (here-and-there). I have gifts and skills at communication, networking, researching, and team building. I am willing to listen but also have boundaries. I like learning, I am a forever student and I am willing to learn. Growing helps me feel alive. I get out of my comfort zone. I am just as comfortable in an indoor therapeutic setting as I am in the field doing field work, on my long board on the waves, in the canals and waterways on my paddle board, as I am mountain climbing in the gym or better yet off the cliffs in the mountains. I am nervous about heights sometimes but I love a good view, and it is so worth the effort and the nerves. I reach out to my professional support systems and actively engage in peer consultation and supervision, even though it is not required. I am constantly looking for good Continued Education (CEU) opportunities, beyond what I am requied. My skills and talents need to continue to grow and be honed, and I try to keep them sharp, diverse, and honed. I listen, I am willing to learn. I ask questions. I think in dimension and dynamically. I try, with great passion. I feel all types of emotions and I am fluent in multiple styles of verbal and non-verbal expressionism. I am will to apologize, accept natural consequences, and taking responsibility for my limitations, faults, and failures. Give me a minute to check myself and get my head and heart right, but I am willing and capable to do so.
About Brooke Trimble
Appointments
Virtual
My treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
• Main Ideas
o Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is form of short-term, problem-focused therapy.
o Here the practitioner assists the with clients identifying and changing their thinking and behavior patterns that are problematic and cause distress.
o CBT emphasizes elements such as empowering and support you becoming your own problem solver and support person. At the end of the case, you go into your world away from the therapeutic environment and ideally you would become your own therapist and support person.
o CBT – I describe it almost like a formula sometime to my clients.
o CBT illustrates and illuminates how situations, thoughts, feelings and behaviors connect and influence each other. In session and through homework we can even break these elements and factors down into pieces, draw and map it out, challenge/plan/practice tools and strategies to helps you change your experience and natural outcomes.
o 3 CBT fundamental principles – core beliefs, dysfunctional assumptions, and automatic negative thoughts
o In session, the practitioner will show you steps and lessons to help you change your thinking, choices, actions, and behavior which will influence and change the natural outcomes and consequences (positive and negative) of your experiences and quality of life.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
• Main Ideas
o Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) is a type, “genre”, and model of talking therapy
o DBT is significantly skill building heavy
o In DBT you will challenge your thoughts, feelings, ideas, values, perspective, beliefs, and rules that in your head (consciously and subconsciously).
o DBT helps in times when your experience intense thoughts and feelings. It helps with emotional and cognitive “tsunamis”, “tornadoes”, “forest-fires”, “earthquakes”, and “hurricanes”.
o The aim of DBT is to assist and support you with understanding and accepting your difficult thoughts and feelings for every reason and season of life.
o DBT helps the client challenge their organic and synthetically conditioned strategies, goals, roles, tools, and perspectives
o I will help you get out of your comfort zone and empower you to challenge yourself (which is okay to do and don’t be worried and intimidated about and also it is okay to have those feelings and concerns too).
o So dialectical literally means working with opposites – we need opposites, which is imperative for our growth, develop, and evolution. This of course does come with growing pains, but don’t worry it will be so worth it on the other side.
o We will work with using strategies, tools, and perspectives of both change and acceptance in harmony – at first it will seem like chaotic harmony, but give it time it’s like learning a new skill or hobby.
o The main elements/factions in DBT are: Mindfulness, Distress Tolerance, Emotional Regulation, Dialectal Thinking (or even dimensional thinking), Interpersonal Skills and Effectiveness, and Wise-mind
o DBT Core Belief – All things are interconnected
o DBT Core Belief – Change is constant and inevitable.
o DBT Core Belief – You can change
o DBT Core Belief – How you interact and relate to yourself and your ecosystem can change when you are ready
Family Therapy
• Main Ideas
o We will look at your experiences, barriers, discomforts, and challenges within the scopes and context of your nuclear family and extended psycho-social systems, fellowships, institutions, and communities.
o Main focus is on “family” (bio, nuclear, and/or family of choice – including your inner circles/rings), however external ecosystems and eco factors are important too and should be considered as well.
o In Family/Systems Therapy (F/ST) is the idea that human behavior which defines and impacts the “family” unit is just as complex as the social system itself – cliff notes version – each member of the “Family” influences each other’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Think like the components of an old grandfather clock.
o Key concept in F/ST – A person does not live on an island onto themselves – We do not live in vacuums
o Key concept in F/ST – Each member of the system is a part of the larger system(s) and inclusive of the larger context of how the system “team” functions, operates, and has challenges/difficulties.
o We will focus not only the pieces and players in the system, but mostly on the dynamics.
o So… hate the game, not the player
o F/ST key point – the “family” system is organized as a whole and entire unit; however, each element/person are interdependent within the “team” “family” and unit.
o F/ST key Points – Patterns in a “family” are circular and are spherical not linear – this is 2 and 3 dimensional, not like an early renaissance painting. Nothing is flat nor linear.
o F/ST key point – “Family”/Domestic systems maintain stability or [perceived] homeostasis in their patterns of interactions – think we are trying to maintain balance… but, honestly, are we always balanced? Or even “healthy” balanced?
o F/ST key point – “Family”/domestic systems do change over time and evolve whether synthetically or organically.
o F/ST key Point – Members of the “family” system are also simultaneously members of OTHER subsystems and subcultures and sub fellowships – we can tease this idea out… but think, each person in your family has “memberships” to other social and institutional systems in our larger ecosystem/community as well.
o F/ST key points – Boundaries reflect rules that govern the “family” system and subsystems in all interactions, communications, and expected roles.
o F/ST idea – Consider the whole “Family” or domestic team as a unit of influence – that unit also has parts and pieces like a grandfather clock
o Overarching Goal in F/ST – (DEEP BREATH and Keep an Open Mind – This is not as bad and scary as you might assume) – Achieving Healthy Differentiation – A “family” member and members who have healthy differentiation from their team can interact with the “Family” without emotional reactivity (ideally).
o Important To Dos in F/ST – Recognize the importance of communication and relationships within the “family”
o 3 Components in F/ST – Leadership/Caregiver/Parental Relationships, Parent-Child Relationships, and Overarching Family System Dynamics/Functions/Operations
o Benefits of F/ST – 1) teaches and enhances healthy communication skills, 2)promotes empathy and understanding, 3) assists with establishing and maintaining healthy boundaries, 4) addresses codependence, 5) strengthens fellowship and support systems internally and externally.
o Important Concepts of F/ST – Patterns, Roles, Functions, Boundaries, Equilibrium, and Bi-Direction
Play Therapy
• Main Ideas
o Art Therapy used visual art and expressionism to:
explore emotions,
learn to express thoughts/feelings/memories/ideas safely,
manage thoughts and unhealthy ideas,
develop social skills,
develop problem solving skills,
explore difficult and/or painful experience
and build self-concept/esteem/confidence.
o Play and art therapeutic models can be used at any age and any developmental level and any life stage of the client and the client’s systems.
o Use of play and art resources as a vehicle or medium can help with exploration and convey thoughts and feelings when there are barriers with words, expression, and vocalization
o Play and art therapeutic models & lesson – what to expect:
We use metaphors and symbolism in channeling feelings, thoughts, and emotions from our conscious and sub-conscious
There are ideas, opinions, beliefs, and values we have that, we don’t even realize and know that we have and expect.
o Therapeutic games whether corporative or competitive are used to both challenge us (individually or/and as a team) in a safe and controlled manner
o Play therapy also help us build skills and think dynamically
o Therapeutic games and play therapy help us act things out and are like safe “simulations”/”practices. Think in terms of sports and the preforming arts… Tn sports and the preforming arts we practice plays, ideas, concepts, skills, and talents whether planned or improv… to learn and grow individually and as a team. The practices are vital for the big game and real-world situations outside of the therapeutic setting.
o Therapeutic games can be safe even when there are frustrating and uncomfortable
o Play therapy and therapeutic games can help:
you challenge yourself,
you build resources,
you develop and hone skills for your tool box,
increases your fellowship and support systems.
o Games… not like SAW or Are Your Afraid of The Dark or Goosebumps (abort those thoughts; -86 horror story considerations) … think the Queen’s Gambit (2020), War Games (with Mathew Broderick; 1983), Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023), Jumanji (with Robin Williams, Kirsten Dunst & Bonnie Hunt;1995), Clue (with Tim Curry, Michael McKean & Christopher Llyod; 1985), Free Guy (2021), Game Night (2018), Tron (1892), Tron Legacy ( with Olivia Wilde & Jeff Bridges; 2010), and [special mention] Inside Out (2015).
o Goals with Art & Play therapy – to improve and restore client’s functioning and personal well-being.
o Benefits – 1) self-discovery, 2) skill building, 3) resources & support systems development, 4) growing self Esteem & self Confidence, 5) processing thoughts and feeling that are difficulty to express, and 6) challenging ideas, values, beliefs, traditions, and rules that are in your head.
o The big thing that we are trying to challenge – Blame! You did this, I did this. And you versus me
o Key Idea – We win and lose as a team. We succeed and fail and struggle and grow as a time.
Trauma-Focused CBT
• Main Ideas
o Within Trauma-Focused (TF) Therapy, the practitioner will assist the patient/client in processing traumatic experiences.
These experiences can Little (t) Traumas as well as Big (T) Traumas.
o There are multiple techniques and strategies in TF therapy to assist in providing relief, addressing/exploring traumas, and building skills.
Some of these include:
• visualizing,
• talking or thinking about memories and experiences,
• while also changing unhealthy and unhelpful beliefs.
o In TF therapy, we specifically focus on assisting the client in coping with their emotional response that is caused or correlated with a traumatic event.
o Key aim: is to reduce and/or eliminate traumatization if possible.
o The main design of this module is to focus primarily in addressing trauma related issues, experiences, and difficulties specifically versus other modules that have a macro focus in the client/patient’s life experiences.
