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Hi! My name is Crystal and I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with more than 20 years of experience in the psychological realm. I feel that, if a person trusts me with painful information, it is a gift of trust. I am person-centered and empathic in my practice and I love to watch growth in a person's mental health, thus their improved quality of life.
My approach
I meet the client where they are and build a strong rapport which is crucial to effectively facilitate techniques from a variety of theoretical approaches that are suited to unique needs and contexts of the client. My most used theoretical approaches include a blend of techniques and aspects of many facets. I emphasize ACT and choose effective techniques to fit each person's unique experience. I typically begin with mindfulness and distress tolerance of DBT and then identify whether the client would benefit primarily from CBT, REBT, or CPT (or a combination thereof).
My focus
With over 20 years of psychological experience, I have worked with almost every mental health population from children to late adulthood. I currently focus on teen to late adult years and their accompanying mental health needs. I am very comfortable with mood, grief, personality, and seriously mentally ill disorders in teens, young adults, and those further into adulthood. I have a specialty in (and quite a strong passion for) working with LGBTQ+ individuals of any age. I also very much enjoy constructing and facilitating therapeutic groups.
My communication style
I set a soothing tone and try to create an inviting environment that induces feelings of safety for open self-expression in every session. I am warm and actively involved address difficult information empathically and create feelings of validation and growth.
My journey to mental healthcare
My dad was a police officer which led me to often wonder what made people do the things they did, and I have since been interested in human thought and behavior. I discovered psychology as in undergrad and knew that was for me! I enjoy this work not only because it is rewarding to watch a person learn, work on themselves, and improve their quality of life, but also to learn from my clients as well. Each person presents their own unique story and, through these individual experiences, there is much still to be learned.
My goals for you
My approach to goal setting involves working together with the client to identify and rank problem symptoms in need of the most attention. I also inform the client of techniques that may be incorporated into the goals.
My first session with you
A genuine smile and non-judgemental attitude guide the process of establishing a connection and building rapport while the client becomes more comfortable and begins to demonstrate a level of openness and self-expression brought about by exploring the client's beliefs and feelings about their current disturbances.
