EMDR Therapists in North Tonawanda, NY

I believe we all want to live a life worth living. If you are struggling in life, feeling stuck, finding it difficult to manage your emotions, paralyzed by fear, or not understanding why you can't let go of the past, I can help. As a Licensed Creative Arts Therapist, I have extensive training and experience integrating evidence based talk therapy interventions with the creative process, which has the potential to be intrinsically healing and therapeutic.

Creatively facilitating a safe and therapeutic environment for youth and adults, with a focus on trauma; using Art Therapy, EMDR and talk therapy, both online and in person. Art Therapy and EMDR are highly effective ways of expression for many who have experienced trauma and have mental health concerns. I believe that building rapport and trust is one of the most important parts of the therapeutic relationship.

I understand that it takes a great deal of courage to be vulnerable to others. Some of our life experiences can leave us with feelings of depression, anxiety, low self-esteem and self-doubt.  Our responses to suffering and how we try to protect ourselves to avoid future pain can leave us feeling stuck. Despite our best efforts to change, obstacles can be difficult to overcome. I am dedicated to helping you heal, replace harsh self-talk with self-compassion, and connect to the internal strength you already have.

Current openings. www.jhigginscounseling.com/contact to request a free telephone consultation. Do you ever feel stuck? Find yourself worrying about the future? Or find yourself dwelling on or re-living events from the past? What about comparing yourself to others, or criticizing yourself or those around you? Maybe creating rules for yourself that feel limiting? You may have tried to solve these problems by getting rid of them, avoiding them, outsmarting them, or overpowering them. While natural, it's often unhelpful with thoughts, feelings, memories, sensations, and urges.

I strive to meet my clients where they are at without judgment or expectation; to offer a guiding light in the storms of life and provide a safe harbor. My approach to therapy is to provide individuals with a person-centered and strengths-based partnership grounded in trauma-informed evidence-based practices.

I believe any healing process involves the whole person. For over 25 years I have been practicing as a Social Worker and Psychotherapist, working with all age groups as individuals, couples, and families, to improve their mental and emotional well-being. I am also passionate about physical health, and have extensive personal experience and knowledge related to the mind-body connection. I take an integrative and holistic perspective that includes, mind, body, spirit, and community, with a consistent focus on balance and universal needs.

Life can often be challenging. You may feel you've gotten "off track" and need some direction. You may be overwhelmed with things and don't know what to do or how to make it better. It may be starting to affect your relationships, and you don't know how to stop it. You may be wondering what's wrong with you and why this keeps happening, or whether you're depressed. Perhaps you're having panic attacks that come out of nowhere. Or maybe you seem to have developed social anxiety. Perhaps you just don't feel like yourself or aren't content with your life. You want things to be different, you just don't know how to make that happen. You might be wondering whether you're always going to feel this way. You've got a lot going for you, you've accomplished quite a bit, but it still feels like there's something missing. You're not sure what else to do. Most of us feel this way at some point in our lives. Especially when trying to handle the stress of life, relationships and the impact of certain events all at once.

When we talk about our feelings, they become less overwhelming, less upsetting, and less scary. - Fred Rogers

I am a trilingual Licensed Mental Health Therapist (English,French, Spanish) with experience working with children, adolescents and adults. I am trained in trauma resolution, CBT, and DBT. I have been practicing for over 14 years in various clinical and school settings, you can be certain that I will be a great source of support for referrals and advocacy needs. I am a solution-focused, person centered, strength-based and goal focused therapist. I use mostly evidence based practice therapy but my approach is holistic. Because I am solely working at my private practice, you can expect flexible individualized treatment.