COUNSELING
ANXIETY | DEPRESSION | OCD | CODEPENDENCY | PTSD | DIVORCE | INSECURITIES | ADHD | REACTIVITY
MORE THAN TALK THERAPY. LEARN. HEAL. CREATE BALANCE.
EMDR and Nervous System Informed, Skills-Building Therapy for Women
Therapy results you can actually feel. Improve your mental, emotional, social and relational health.
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EMOTIONS
Calm Anxiety and Nervous System
With nervous system science, learn vital emotional processing and nervous system regulation skills.
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BELIEFS
Build Self-Worth Tame Inner Critic
With awareness, bring balance to shaming Inner Critic and limiting core beliefs and insecurities.
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BEHAVIORS
Resolve Reactive Maladaptive Coping
With time, gain self-leadership over maladaptive Fight, Flight, Freeze, Fawn patterns.
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RELATIONSHIPS
Learn Secure Relating Skills
Learn and heal your Insecure Attachment Style with Self-Security and Secure Relating Skills.
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Therapy Methods
Emotional Processing Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Nervous System Informed IFS Parts Work Therapy
Somatic Attachment Focused EMDR (S.A.F.E.)
Inner Bonding and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Mindful Self-Compassion Focused Therapy (MSC & CFT)
Secure Attachment Style with Boundaries and Communication
Evidence-based Divorce and Breakup Recovery Therapy
What is Nervous System Informed Therapy?
AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM HEALTH
Impacts All Areas of Life
Our Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) is also our 'Attachment System' so it directly impacts our Sense of Security (versus insecurities), worthiness (Self-Worth), Motivation, Purpose and Relationships.
Your Self
SAFETY
Self-Care, Mental, Emotional, Physical Health, Unconditional Love, Security, Boundaries
Your Village
BELONGING
Family, Friends, Caring,
Giving, Receiving, Vulnerability, Sharing, Memories, Joy
Your Partner
INTIMACY
Secure Connection
Partnership, Trust, Bond, Attraction, Intimacy, Sharing, Memories, Joy
Your Purpose
THRIVING
Values, Interests, Future, Legacy, Goals, Career, Drive, Inspiration, Energy, Motivation
Are you tired of feeling stuck with...
Anxiety and Panic Attacks
People-pleasing
Overthinking, Overwhelm
Out of Control OCD or ADHD
Depression, Feeling Stuck
Body Image Insecurities
Low Confidence
Inner Criticism and Shame
Sabotaging Goals
Self-Berating or Self-Harm
Painful Divorce or Breakup
Codependency
Relationship Distress
Outbursts, Reactivity
It's not your fault. It's your chronic nervous system activation and maladaptive coping patterns.
In fact, neuropsychological research shows us that most emotional and mental health disorders and relational distress patterns are due to chronic nervous system stress and maladaptive Fight, Flight, Freeze or Fawn coping patterns.
Without nervous system regulation and secure relating skills... we are left with...
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Unprocessed emotions and insecurities
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Unprocessed core beliefs about ourselves and others
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Leads to chronic nervous system activation and...
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Maladaptive coping: Four F's for temporary relief
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Only to feel painfully powerless, stuck in the blame-or-shame Trauma Triangle, grappling for a sense of power, only to end up more powerless
Until we get support, with emotional processing and secure relating skills... the cycle continues...
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Flight
ANXIETY
Reacting to feelings by trying to escape or avoid them by over-working, over-drinking, perfecting, hyper-independence, etc. Results in anxiety, OCD, ADHD and addictions.
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Fight
REACT AT
Reacts to emotions as if they're 'threats' they're powerless over. Tries to get power back by boundarylessly expressing words, demands, blame, complaints or actions at.
Fawn
COMPLIANT
Overrides feelings by taking on 200% power with self-blame with people-pleasing, caretaking, minimizing others' letdowns and codependency,
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Freeze
DEPRESSION
Depresses, denies, minimizes or numbs uncomfortable aka 'threateneing' feelings or situations. Results in procrastination, depression, shut-down.
Hi, I'm Athena
Best of Scottsdale, Counselor Awardee
I am a licensed counselor and certified clinical trauma professional (CCTP) with 10+ years experience, 40+ years of life experience and a mom of two 😉😉.
My vibe is warm and kind-hearted yet empowering and educational. I provide a safe space to learn social-emotional health skills, navigate life's ups and downs, and even heal from heartbreak, trauma and developmental complex-PTSD.
Nervous System Nerd
I love being a counselor and am passionate about incorporating nervous system informed, skills-building therapies. Learn emotional regulation, secure relating, communication, boundaries skills and more.
With time, strengthen your ability to regulate and create balance within your nervous system, for more 'feel good' neurochemicals like serotonin and oxytocin.
"I've had dozens of therapists throughout my life but never felt benefits until now. I can feel such a shift. Thank you!"
Client, Age 42
Credentials
Licensure
Licensed Professional Counselor and Clinical Supervisor: Arizona / LPC-23927
Certifications and Awards
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Best of Scottsdale Award, Best Counselor 2019
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Certified Relationship Coach / 08101704
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Certified Clinical Trauma Professional / IAPT
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IFS-Informed Therapist (Parts Work) / IFS Institute
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Level 1 Gottman Method Therapist
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Certified Dialectical Behavior Therapist
Education
MASTER OF SCIENCE COUNSELING
2019, Grand Canyon University / Phoenix, AZ
MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (MBA)
Human and Organizational Behavior
2012, Grand Canyon University / Phoenix, AZ
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE ECONOMICS
2005, Arizona State University / Tempe, AZ
Truly grateful. I've had dozens of therapists throughout my life but never felt benefits until now. I can feel such a shift. Thank you!
— Client Age 50
I just wanted to say thank you. It is wonderful... for the first time in my life, I am seeing and feeling healing!!!!
— Client Age 42
I used to have panic attacks. Now if I feel anxious I trust myself to self-soothe and feel better in a few minutes.
— Client Age 19
The ability to calm my nervous system with regulation is something I didn't even know existed. Learning DBT has improved my entire life.
— Client Age 28
Thank you for your help over the past several weeks. You helped me restore my self-worth and push my confidence to move forward with my life and career.
— Client Age 38
I hope you have a smile knowing how you are really having a healing impact on people! Thank you for helping me heal and learn to love myself.
— Client Age 47
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