Areas of Focus
Heal Anxiety, Depression, PTSD
Learn vital emotional processing skills to heal and calm your nervous system.
Self-Worth, Tame Inner Critic
Evidence-based methods to balance insecurities and boost self-care and self-trust.
Social Skills and Relationship Health
No more power-struggles. Learn Secure Relational Skills for more trust, love and respect.
Resolve Maladaptive Coping
Gain self-leadership over choices instead of reacting to painful feelings.
Align with Your Values and Purpose
Tap into your values, purpose, genuine wants and goals for your personal and professional life.
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Why focus on learning and skills-building?
We now know that most emotional and mental health conditions are due to a lack of social-emotional health skills and maladaptive coping, 'getting' and 'protecting' behaviors that cause havoc on our lives and relationships — people-pleasing, sabotaging, obsessing, blaming, binging, etc. only to feel depleted, exhausted, stressed and disconnected.
UNDERSTANDING WHY AND HOW TO FEEL BETTER
Why emotional nervous system health skills?
Lack of processing skills results in unprocessed emotions results in what neuropsychologists refer to as 'emotional constipation' — a chronic stress state with cortisol, adrenalin and other stress chemicals stuck in our cells. This results in anxiety disorder, OCD, depression and other mental health conditions, along with dysfunctional immune system, sluggish metabolism, and severe depletion of 'feel good' oxytocin and serotonin. This lack of oxytocin, known as the 'love hormone' disables our ability to feel calm and secure with ourselves and loved-ones.
PRACTICING SKILLS AND ACTUALLY FEELING BETTER
Leads to inner critic and depressing helplessness
To make matters worse we berate ourselves or blame others, thinking we should just be able to 'snap out of it' and 'feel better' even though we don't know how to deactivate our nervous system. Our inner critic rails against us only making matters worse by increase more stress chemicals, falling victim to the cycle of feeling powerless or anxious about our emotions and symptoms, grappling with shame, anxiety and helplessness.
PRACTICING SKILLS TO RELATE TO YOURSELF BETTER
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What is an insecure vs secure attachment style?
Our attachment style — stemming from childhood, directly correlates to the quality and duration of our relationships with family, partner, friends and career. It is foundational to our self-worth, self-trust, purpose and naturally provides us with the strength, awareness and capacity to stay out of the Codependency Trauma Triangle (conflict triangle, drama triangle, abuse cycle) where we lose ourselves and suffer.
PRACTICING SKILLS TO RELATE WITH OTHERS BETTER
LEARN MORE ABOUT YOURSELF
Track Your Sleeping Habits
LEARN MORE ABOUT YOURSELF
Track Your Sleeping Habits
TAKE A DEEP BREATH
Get a Guided Mindfulness Break
Learn
Heal
Your Balance
Anxiety and panic disorders
Obsessing, ruminating, OCD, AD(H)D
People-pleasing, sacrificing
Relationship distress, codependency
Divorce or breakup recovery
Sabotaging goals, binging, procrastinating
Insecurities, self-criticism, shame
Reactivity and outbursts
Struggling with clear boundaries
Depression or stuck in regrets
Complex-PTSD and emotional flashback
Lacking purpose, lost on your way forward
Your Self
Learn imperative Self-Awareness, Emotional Self-
Your Partner
Learn imperative Self-Awareness, Emotional Self-
Your Village
Learn imperative Self-Awareness, Emotional Self-
Your Purpose
Learn imperative Self-Awareness, Emotional Self-
Learn. Heal. Balance.
At its core, effective regulation means choosing responses that align with our goals and values—whether calming down before a big meeting, resolving a limiting core belief, or ensuring boundaries with a family member instead of oversharing with an angry outburst.
Emotional and nervous system balance doesn’t eliminate painful feelings—it teaches us to respond intelligently rather than react impulsively, which can make the difference between spiraling into destructive cycles and finding constructive, value-driven paths forward.
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FOUR CORE SKILLS FOR SECURE SELF AND SECURE RELATING
Core Therapies and Skills
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Break free from painful emotions, unrelenting anxiety and panic
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Identify and resolve limiting core beliefs about yourself and others
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Heal your insecure attachment style: anxious, avoidant or disorganized types
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Heal trauma and even complex-PTSD
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Tame your inner critic and insecurities
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Navigate life with confidence and purpose
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Access your genuine wants, needs and needed limits in all areas of life
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Achieve your goals and live a fulfilling life
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Learn. Heal. Balance.
Providing a compassionate space to be, feel and vent about all the things big and small, and a place to learn as you build a foundation to heal with self-compassion and self-trust. Discover self-awareness and self-leadership over your emotions, triggers and reactions, while creating your balance personally and in your relationships.
Learn
SELF-AWARENESS EVIDENCE-BASED SKILLS
Learn 'why' you feel the way you do. Practice neuroscience-informed skills to process emotions, calm your nervous system, tame your inner critic, detox shame and negative core beliefs. Connect with your actual Self — your actual feelings, wants and values.
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Heal
SELF-COMPASSION
AND THERAPY
Heal from anxiety, insecurities, heartbreak, depression, even abuse and trauma. Resolve maladaptive protective patterns such as people-pleasing, reacting, oversharing and sabotaging. I utilize trauma-informed therapy such as DBT, CBT, CFT, IFS and EMDR.
Balance
SELF-LEADERSHIP
BALANCED EMOTIONS
SECURE RELATING SKILLS
With time, build self-trust and adaptive self-protective responses to stress and hurt feelings. Reclaim your responsibility (power) for defining and creating your sense of worth (self-worth), communicate effectively and ensure balanced, secure relationships.
Homeschool Hacks
The latest neuropsychological research shows that most emotional and mental health conditions are due to a lack of social
GET THE HACKS
Homeschool Hacks
The latest neuropsychological research shows that most emotional and mental health conditions are due to a lack of social
ACTUALLY FEEL RESULTS
LEARN. HEAL. BALANCE.
Trapped in anxiety, self-doubt, people-pleasing, bad habits, relational conflict or codependency? Break free by uncovering and reprogramming the subconscious patterns. Learn to process emotions, set boundaries, trust yourself, and create healthier relationships. Unlike surface-level advice, my approach is rooted in subconscious work, and skills that guide you toward real, lasting transformation.
More than Talk Therapy
BE. FEEL. LEARN. HEAL. BALANCE.
This isn't passive listening, nod therapy. It's a space to be, feel and vent about all the things big and small. It's a place to learn 'why' you feel the way you do how 'how' to feel better. Learn to tame your inner critic, detox shame, resolve core beliefs of 'not enoughness' process emotions and calm your nervous system. This provides a foundation to heal and recover from anxiety, insecurities, heartbreak, loss, depression, even abuse and trauma. Build your self-trust, secure attachment style and your capacity to create secure, enjoyable relationships.
Learn
Use Instagram &
Facebook to increase conversions
Heal
Improve your brand awareness using analytics
Balance
Design marketing materials that drive sales
Hi,
I'm Athena
ATHENA MCKEE, LPC, C-DBT
I provide a collaborative, engaging, educational, empowering, skills-building approach. I have 10+ years experience in clinical counseling and certified coaching, 40+ years of life experience :) and am a mom of two teens.
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Licensed Counselor
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Certified DBT Therapist
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Certified Clinical Trauma Professional
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Masters in Counseling
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MBA in Human and Organizational Behavior,
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Best of Scottsdale Counselor Awardee
I just wanted to say thank you. It is wonderful... for the first time in my life, I am seeing and feeling healing!!!!
CLIENT EXPERIENCE
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Our Treatments
Tailored Care
Get unstuck from anxiety, insecurities and maladaptive stress reactions. Learn to calm your nervous system, process emotions, tame your inner critic, and heal shame-based core beliefs of "I am not enough." Practice secure relating skills to experience more self-trust, confidence and balanced relationships.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy
Dialectical Behavior Therapy
Cupping therapy involves placing cups on the skin to create suction, promoting blood flow, reducing inflammation, and aiding in relaxation. It is known to alleviate muscle tension and improve overall circulation.
Somatic Attachment Focused EMDR (S.A.F.E.)
Natural Remedies
Herbal medicine uses plant extracts and natural substances to treat a wide range of ailments, focusing on restoring the body's balance and addressing underlying causes of health issues.
Emotional Nervous System Health Skills
Dialectical Behavior Therapy
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Process emotions
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Neurosensory skills
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Calm Anxiety, OCD, ADHD
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Balance Nervous System
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IFS and Compassion Focused Therapy
Heat Therapy
Cupping therapy involves placing cups on the skin to create suction, promoting blood flow, reducing inflammation, and aiding in relaxation. It is known to alleviate muscle tension and improve overall circulation.
FAQs
Common Questions
What age groups do you cater to?
Our programs are designed for families with children of all ages, from toddlers to teenagers. We offer tailored services to meet the unique needs of each family member.
Why focus on learning and skills-building?
The latest neuropsychological research shows that most emotional and mental health conditions are due to a lack of social-emotional health skills and maladaptive coping behaviors — like people-pleasing, sabotaging, obsessing, depressing, avoiding, blaming and binging. This is why understanding the 'why' and 'how' to feel better is imperative part of the therapy process
Why is 'feeling' my feelings part of the therapy process?
Unprocessed feelings — known as 'emotional constipation to neuropsychologists — is due to not having emotional health skills, which leads to self-berating and a sense of powerlessness over our own emotional nervous system state of being. When really it is the lack of awareness and skills that's to blame. We fall victim to the unawareness and powerlessness we have over our own emotions, thoughts and behaviors, grappling with shame, guilt, regret, anxiety, relational distress.
Impacts All Areas of Our Lives
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LEARN. HEAL. BALANCE.
MORE THAN TALK THERAPY
Rather than passive listening talk therapy, I provide a collaborative, empowering, skills-building therapy approach. Learn neuroscience informed skills to process emotions, calm your nervous system, boost 'feel good' neurochemicals, oxytocin and serotonin, realize boundaries, trust yourself, embrace your self-worth and create secure, balanced relationships with your Self and others.
Client Experiences
Feel Calmer, Think Clearer, Connect Better, Live Healthier
I just wanted to say thank you. It is wonderful... for the first time in my life, I am seeing and feeling healing!!!!
The ability to calm my nervous system with regulation is something I didn't even know existed. Learning DBT has improved my entire life.
Truly grateful for all you have done for me. I can feel such a shift. I've had dozens of therapists throughout my life, but have never felt benefits until now. Thank you!
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.
I used to have panic attacks. Now if I feel anxious I trust myself to self-soothe and feel better in a few minutes.
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.
Property Management
Professional Management
Our property management services cover a wide range of tasks including property maintenance, rent collection, tenant relations, and property inspections. With our professional management team, property owners can rest assured that their investments are in good hands.
Leasing Services
Tenant Placement
We offer tenant placement services to help property owners find reliable and responsible tenants. Our screening process ensures that the tenants match the property requirements, providing a smooth and hassle-free leasing experience.
MALADAPTIVE STRESS REACTIONS
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Emotional Health
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Nervous System Health
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Mental Health
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Personal Health
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Relational Health
Property Marketing
Effective Marketing Strategies
Effective marketing is essential for attracting potential tenants. Our property marketing services use innovative strategies to showcase properties, reach a wider audience, and ensure high occupancy rates for our clients.
Financial Reporting
Transparent Financial Insights
We provide detailed financial reports to property owners, offering transparent insights into their property's financial performance. Our reports help clients make informed decisions and optimize their investment returns.
Innovation
Heal
Experience healing you can actually feel with proven practices mindful self-compassion practices and trauma-informed therapy such as DBT, IFS and EMDR.
Balance
Financial Excellence
Reclaim your responsibility (power) to realize your wants, needs and values, while defining and creating your balance and worthiness (self-worth).
More than Traditional Talk Therapy
Compassionate. Educational. Engaging. Empowering.
This isn't passive listening, traditional nod therapy. It's a space to be, feel and vent about all the things big and small. It's a place to learn 'why' you feel the way you do, how to tame your inner critic, process emotions and calm your nervous system.
This provides a foundation to heal and recover from anxiety, insecurities, heartbreak, loss, depression, even abuse and trauma. Build your self-trust, secure attachment style and your capacity to create secure, enjoyable relationships.
Benefits
Discover the benefits of choosing W. Kim for your wellness journey. From personalized care to holistic treatments, we prioritize your health and well-being.
Personalized Care
Tailored Treatments
Our focus is on providing individualized care that addresses your specific health concerns, ensuring a comprehensive approach to healing and well-being.
Holistic Approach
Mind-Body Balance
We believe in treating the whole person, integrating traditional Chinese medicine with modern practices to promote harmony between the mind, body, and spirit.
Experienced Practitioners
Skilled Experts
Our team of experienced practitioners combines expertise with compassion, guiding you towards optimal health and vitality through our specialized treatments.
Innovation
Heal
Experience healing you can actually feel with proven practices mindful self-compassion practices and trauma-informed therapy such as DBT, IFS and EMDR.
Balance
Financial Excellence
Reclaim your responsibility (power) to realize your wants, needs and values, while defining and creating your balance and worthiness (self-worth).
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Mission
Our Vision Statement
Our mission at M. Thompson is to foster well-being and harmony within families through holistic health programs. We aim to create a nurturing environment where families can thrive by offering parenting workshops, stress management for children, and family yoga sessions. Join us in our journey to promote balance, health, and happiness in every family.
"When we resist tough emotions, they don't go away. Instead, they own us, they define us…the more we try to avoid our emotions, the more control they have over our thoughts and behavior."
Brene Brown, PhD
DBT Core Skills
To be most effective, DBT is designed to learn one lesson a week, with individual guidance from a licensed therapist or DBT trained instructor, and DBT Skills group (optional) for six months. It takes time to use the skills and have them work. When they do, you will have "lightbulb moments" and actually experience results you can feel.
Mindfulness is the foundational element and starting point in therapy, providing essential groundwork for the other three skill modules.
Distress tolerance skills help you get through intense emotional pain without making the situation worse. Builds neuroplasticity 'tolerance muscles.'
Emotional regulation involves understanding and processing your emotions, and choosing how to express and respond.
Interpersonal effectiveness help you be more effective at listening and communicating your wants and needs to ensure you feel respected, supported and cared for.
"Emotional pain changes relative to how you react to it. When you move toward it in an adaptive way, pain shrinks. When you move away from it, pain grows. If you flee from it, pain pursues you like a monster in a dream."
Tony Fahkry
Four Stress Reaction Types
Get Unstuck from Fight, Flight, Freeze and Fawn
Understanding your stress types, associated symptoms and maladaptive coping methods (maladaptive 'protecting' reactions and 'getting' behaviors) is the first step. Our Attachment Style, childhood and adulthood experiences, adaptations, personality, birth order, trauma, and genetic predispositions impact how we develop stress types.
Flight Type
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Anxiety, Panic
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OCD, Hypervigilant
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Impulsivity, Binging
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Busyaholic
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Perfectionism
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Achievement Addict
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Fawn Type
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People-pleasing
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Compliant
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Inner Critic
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Sacrificing / Resentful
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Anxious Attachment
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Hero/Helper Addict
Freeze Type
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Depression
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ADD, Dissociation
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Substance Use
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Fatigue
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Avoidant Attachment
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Achievement Underminer
Fight Type
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Outbursts
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Controlling
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Outer Critic
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Shaming / Blaming
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Abusive (Unintentional)
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Personality Disorders
A current event can have only the vaguest resemblance to a past situation and this can be enough to trigger the psyche’s hard-wiring for a fight, flight, fawn or freeze response.
Pete Walker, MA
Complex-PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving
Heal Your Insecure Attachment Style
The latest research shows 50% of adults in our society have an Insecure Attachment Style. This also results in chronic nervous system activation.
When you understand Insecure Attachment Styles (Anxious, Avoidant, Fearful-Avoidant) everything suddenly clicks. Stemming from childhood and influenced in adulthood, our attachment style effects:
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How we feel about ourselves and others
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Thoughts, emotions and behaviors
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Nervous system and neurochemicals in each moment
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Mental, emotional and physical health
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Responses to stress and vulnerability, both adaptive and maladaptive
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Foundation of self-worth and sense of lovability
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Self-care consistency to align with personal values, wants, needs, safety, connection
Fortunately, our attachment style isn't set in stone. It can change, evolve and is treatable. Through learning, we can develop more secure patterns and secure sense of self.
Impacts All Areas of Our Lives
Attachment Style also predicts the quality and duration of relationships and directly correlates to how we interact with others - family, friends, coworkers, community, and even how we view the world at large. Attachment style also correlates to our sense of purpose, career, values and ability to align with our genuine values and accomplish personal goals.
Sense of Self
Health
Self-Trust
Neurochemicals
Partner
Intimacy
Trust
Love
Helps Save Time & Money
Family
Friends
Parenting
Safety
Helps Save Time & Money
Career
Financial Health
Goals
Purpose
Four Attachment Styles
Secure and Insecure Types: Anxious, Avoidant and Fearful-Avoidant
Even though we all tend to have some traits and tendencies of each style at some point in our lives, we tend to default to one more than the other, along with associated triggers, assumptions, core beliefs and maladaptive reactions that cause can havoc on our lives.
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Secure Self-Worth and Resolving Inner Critic
Inner Criticism without Self Leadership Leads to Chronic Stress and Associated Mental, Emotional and Physical Health Conditions
This is complex and transformational work. With IFS Parts Work, DBT and Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) gain awareness and learn to balance and mentor your inner critical thoughts with Wise Mind.
We all have an Inner Critic influenced by our childhood, adulthood, attachment style, core beliefs and expectations from culture, family and friends, and fueled by social survival needs (connection needs, sense of belonging, purpose, value, etc). Inner Critic uses shame, guilt, and self-berating. It results in a slew of maladaptive protective stress reactions trying to 'get' connection or 'protect' from punishment or rejection.
Our Inner Critics are unique, however there are seven common types
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Perfectionist berates you with impossible standards
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Taskmaster drives you to work and achieve at all costs
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Inner Controller controls and shames like a dictator
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Guilt Tripper unrelenting regret and shame, refusing self-forgiveness
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Inner Destroyer attacks your self-worth (worthiness to even exist)
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Underminer minimizes your accomplishments and strengths
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Molder / Conformist people-pleasing, self-shaming, self-rejecting
My Credentials
Licensure
Licensed Professional Counselor: 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 PROFESSIONAL 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 IN BUSINESS
ECONOMICS
2005
Arizona State University / Tempe, AZ
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