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About Me

Emotional Regulation and Communication are Skills. So Let's Learn Them!

Learn&Heal

Getting Started | Free Consultation

Counseling. Courses. Collaboration.

Providing counseling and social-emotional health skills for children, teens and young adults. I also offer a collaborative approach for you to be involved in your child's progress with feedback after each session and online courses so you can learn together. I specialize in treating many behavioral, relational and emotional struggles, such as:

Angry outbursts and tantrums
Anxiety and depression
ADHD and OCD symptoms
Sensory sensitivities and SPD
Self-esteem and insecurities
Career planning
Peer and sibling relations
Attachment concerns
Abuse and neglect
Trauma and complex-PTSD
Divorce and coparenting (I do not have involvement in high-conflict divorce or family court cases)

Hi, I'm Athena

I am a Licensed Associate Counselor with a Masters Degree in Counseling and 10+ years of experience in counseling and coaching. I have 40+ years of life experience :) and am a mother of two teens.

My career in early childhood education began in 2007 operating Creations Childcare and Preschool and working with non-profits such as the Association for Supportive Childcare and First Things First (FTF).

As a counselor, I provide evidence-based therapy, including IFS, EMDR, Sensory, Art and Play Therapy, and Compassion Focused Therapy, along with a skills-building approach for your child's mental, emotional and relational well-being.

Credentials

Collaboration and Courses for Parents

I offer a collaborative approach for you to be involved in your child's behavioral and emotional health with access to courses and videos to learn along with your kids.

Instead of power-struggles, yelling, bribing, reacting, nagging, losing control and shaming, learn to start empowering yourself and your kids with communication and emotional regulation skills. Plus gain knowledge of Wise Mind and self-leadership skills, the Dreaded Drama Triangle, emotional regulation and resiliency, nervous system calming, neurosensory exercises, balanced boundaries, attachment styles, personality types and more.

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Ages 2 to 5

Make learning about emotions fun with play-based methods, the Time-In ToolKit® and other effective discipline methods.

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Ages 6 to 12

Videos and practices teach parents and kids emotional regulation, nervous system calming and interpersonal skills.

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Ages 13 and up

Respond to teen challenges with compassion and boundaries as your child forms their independence and Sense of Self.

EMDR Therapy

Trauma Recovery. Process Painful Emotions.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy facilitates the processing of traumatic memories and other adverse life experience. After successful treatment, distress is relieved, negative beliefs are reformulated, and current day physiological symptoms such as anxiety, panic and other triggered emotions are reduced or completely resolved. I utilize Neurotek tactile bilateral stimulation pulsars for EMDR.

Compassion Focused Therapy

Mindful Self-Compassion

Kids, especially teens, experience major changes—both physically and mentally. These changes can have a major impact on how we perceive ourselves and the world. We also tend to compare ourselves and be our own worst critic resulting in shame, anxiety and low self-worth.

Recent research shows how Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) practices have the power to:

Soften inner-criticism and increase self-worth
Boost 'happy neurochemicals' like oxytocin and serotonin
Reduce anxiety, stress and depression
Motivate healthy lifestyle habits such exercise, self-care and personal goal achievement so you're more able to reach your highest potential and overall well-being.

Credentials and Therapy Methods

Certifications & Awards

Best of Scottsdale Award, Counselor 2019
Certified Relationship Coach / 08101704
Certified Clinical Trauma Professional / IAPT
IFS-Informed Therapist (Parts Work) / IFS Institute
Level 1 Gottman Method Therapist / The Gottman Institute

Therapy Methods

Art Therapy
Attachment-based Therapy
Behavioral and Emotional Skill Training (BEST)
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Compassion Focused (CFT)
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
Eye Movement Desensitizing Reprocessing (EMDR)
Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Parts Work
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)
Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC)
Play Therapy

Licensure and Supervision

License: Arizona / LAC-21511
Supervisor: Stefanny Balestracci / Arizona / LPC-18869

Education

MASTER OF SCIENCE PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING

Grand Canyon University / Phoenix, AZ / 2019

MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (MBA)

Emphasis in Human and Organizational Behavior
Grand Canyon University / Phoenix, AZ / 2012

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

Arizona State University / Tempe, AZ / 2005

Client Experiences

Max M.

"The ability to be emotionally responsive, rather than reactive is something I didn't know existed until now. I love knowing how to be kind and loving while also setting firm limits and consequences."

Becky R.

"As a counselor myself, I know about DBT and Wise Mind but didn't know how to teach my kids. Athena helps with this process. My 5-year-old really gets it. He can even calm his own anger and I've watched his confidence build."

Danielle B.

"I've referred all my friends to Athena because I think every kid and parent benefits from her knowledgeable support and the skills she teaches. We are so grateful. Athena, you are making a difference for so many. Thank you!!!!!!"

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