Hello! I'm a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) based in Pennsylvania. I received my Masters of Counseling Education degree from Saint Bonaventure University (NY) and went on to do post-graduate classes at Duquesne University (PA). I have been fully trained in EMDR since 2019 and am pursuing my certification which requires ongoing continuing education. I have been practicing professional counseling for 16 years. I help adults struggling with anxiety and depression brought on my life stressors, life transitions, or trauma.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
In our first session together, we'll start with brief introductions. I will highlight important policies and procedures that were covered in the paperwork you submitted before the first session and will answer any questions. Then we will dive into the specific challenges you're facing. I will ask questions about that help me understand the big picture of who you are as a person, what your impacting experiences have been, and how that may connect with what you are seeking therapy for. We will review any assessments you may have completed with the intake paperwork. By the end of the first session, we will have discussed a plan for how to approach these challenges.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
I am a very empathetic and compassionate person. When we meet for our sessions, I am completely dialed into you and your needs. I also have a pretty excellent memory that has really served me well in helping clients sort through and organize information that comes up each session. My 16 years of experience has enabled me to refine my skills for identifying root causes quickly and creating a tailored plan that leads to measurable progress. I believe my experience has also made me skilled in thinking creatively about a problem and attuning to what the heart of an issue is. I have also collected so many resources that I have at the ready to recommend for specific issues or concerns that often aide in the therapeutic process.
About Tara Finau
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VirtualMy treatment methods
EMDR
My main therapeutic approach is Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). I was fully trained in 2019 and have been regularly practicing this ever since because I truly believe (and have witnessed with my clients) how transformative this method can be for overcoming symptoms of PTSD, depression, and anxiety. EMDR also works well with a variety of other approaches that I incorporate based on the needs of the client. I often integrate concepts from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and am continuing to gain more training on parts work (IFS), Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT) and other attachment-based theories. I find these approaches blend well together and resolve underlying issues the best. ACT, IFS, and EFIT teach people how to acknowledge and come to terms with the painful past or present while promoting self-compassion and true, long-lasting healing. In preparation for EMDR sessions or to help clients cope with daily stressors, I will often teach Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills, mindfulness/relaxation exercises, and Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) skills. These skills can form a solid foundation for the deeper work required of EMDR.