(she/her)
New to Grow
Welcome and Hello! Thank you for taking your time to check out my profile, but I want to stress that the most important person in our relationship is and always will be YOU! My name is Gwen Bodnaruk. I am a Nationally Certified Counselor, a Licensed Professional Counselor, a School Certified Counselor, and a Life Coach. In my prior life I was a financial executive on Wall Street who worked globally but found my work unfulfilling. I learned through the help of undergoing life coaching myself that my true calling is helping people. I left finance, started a life coaching business and obtained my masters in professional counseling. Living abroad for several years learning and communicating in other languages have been instrumental in shaping my worldview and values. My largest treasure in life is my circle of friends comprised of people from all different races, religions and walks of life. For fun I enjoy experiences. I love exploring new places and new people and love listening to live music. I got married later in life and am the mother to two cats and a step daughter.
My goal is help my clients feel better as quickly as possibe. The more a client can share with me about what their goals are in advance of our first sesion the better! My desire is for all of my clients to feel heard, supported, and free to explore their story and reasons for choosing to enter therapy without fear of judgment. I enjoy working with clients to identify root causes and complex patterns. The most gratifying part of my job is when I witness my clients have an "aha" moment and they can shift their perspective towards one that will better serve them and their future goals.
Helping clients to transition from one phase of life to another. Healing past and present hurts. Partnering with my clients to help them live their life to their fullest potential. Meeting people where they are at!
Everyone seeking counseling is unique in their upbringing, beliefs and experiences. I use a variety of counseling techniques that are tailored to each one of my clients. My clients benefit from an eclectic approach of combining solution focused therapy, cognitive behavior therapy as well as psycho-educational therapy to help them gain insight into themselves and to assist them in healing fresh and childhood wounds. My goal is to help people remove barriers that have been erected to help them reach the potential of their best selves. Central to the reason I became a therapist is that I credit several therapists throughout my journey in helping me.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a structured, collaborative, and goal-oriented approach where I work with clients to identify and change unhelpful thinking patterns and behaviors. By focusing on the connection between thoughts, feelings, and actions, I help clients develop practical coping skills to manage emotional difficulties.
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps clients develop psychological flexibility by accepting difficult emotions, detaching from unhelpful thoughts, and taking action aligned with their core values. Instead of eliminating symptoms, I guide clients to change their relationship with pain and act meaningfully despite it
Couples Counseling
Couples counseling is a structured, neutral process aimed at improving relationship dynamics, enhancing communication, and resolving conflicts. It generally involves initial assessment to understand, followed by intervention strategies.
Culturally Sensitive Therapy
Culturally sensitive therapy involves actively integrating a client’s cultural background—race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, and socioeconomic status—into treatment to provide respectful, effective care. It requires therapists to practice self-reflection, avoid stereotypes, and co-create treatment goals that align with the client’s values, rather than assuming a one-size-fits-all approach.
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) is a structured approach used with clients—primarily couples but also individuals—to foster secure attachment by identifying negative interaction patterns and transforming them through emotional vulnerability. Therapists create a safe space to help clients slow down, identify underlying primary emotions (like fear or loneliness) rather than just reactive ones (like anger), and express their attachment needs to create a new, empathetic, and secure bond.