Cathy Angi Brownell

My name is Cathy Angi Brownell, I am a licensed marriage & family therapist with over 25 years of practice. I work with adult clients to clarify their diagnosis, their treatment goals, what they are seeking to gain, and what they would like to reduce or eliminate in their day-to-day lives. I am practical and supportive and I teach skills that clients can easily begin using. They can halt panic, facilitate peacefulness, build self-esteem, and balanced healthy living. They can learn and practice effective communication, brief problem-solving, and boundary-setting while reducing anxiety or intrusive negative thinking.

My approach

I use a number of theoretical approaches depending on each situation. They might include, cognitive behavioral (CBT), person-centered, family systems, mindfulness-based, solution-focused, trauma-focused, supportive, experiential, or expressive art.

My focus

I am accustomed to working with people who experience anxiety, depression, panic, co-dependency, low self-worth, trauma, or post-traumatic stress.

My communication style

My age, my calming voice and my non-judgmental demeanor allow clients to speak from their guts, and feel supported, validated and encouraged.

My journey to mental healthcare

I grew up in a large, poor, dysfunctional alcoholic home where I basically had to figure life out by myself. I had reading disabilities and low self-worth, but I loved art, the animals on our small farm, and spending time with my neighbors. Graduation from high school catapulted me into the drug scene as I had little hope for affording college. Spirituality assisted me with getting clean, getting married (co-dependently), and becoming a mom. After a divorce I needed work, and a friend told me about an advocate job where I could a living helping others with just an AA degree. That opened the door to much learning, self-development, and a desire for more. Even during college, I started working in a group home, then for a local youth and family organization. I eventually added experience at inpatient and outpatient alcohol and drug treatment facilities, then county mental/behavioral health agencies. This was serious business working with people's lives and I just had, and still have a curiosity for new research treatment. I added yoga teacher and yoga therapy training along with multiple units of studio arts. At some point, I started working in private practice, then part-time as a contract therapist. I really enjoy meeting people, supporting them, and teaching them simple ways they can change their lives. I live an enjoyable balanced life, so it keeps my work fresh.

My goals for you

After gathering information concerning a client's reason for seeking therapy, exploring symptoms, history, and current living situation, I ask each client, "What would you like to get from therapy? I may also ask if they would like to work on other issues that came up during the questions.

My first session with you

During the first session, I listen to their reason for choosing therapy. I ask clients about basic health, current symptoms, and history or medication. Some questions are from the intake form, others arise for the clarification of a diagnosis, possible interventions or helpful referrals, and for treatment planning.