Teresa G Dunn-BrookerLPC

The recurring themes I have noticed when treating people who struggle with anxiety is that they are not aware that there's always an underlying reason for it. Often the root of their anxiety, is either the result of their fears or unresolved, unprocessed trauma. Individuals may use healthy and unhealthy various coping mechanisms to manage it, but they are still not dealing with the root of it and in order to do that, the client needs to work together with a professional or a mental health therapist whose skilled in helping clients get to the root of their anxiety or mental health issue.

One of biggest barriers today for people seeking mental health care is the stigma that mental health carries among certain groups of people, cultures or genders, specifically men. The second biggest barrier for people seeking care is that oftentimes, individuals think they don't really need help, they can handle it on their own and/or they are afraid of being transparent and vulnerable to a complete stranger. What will that person think of me? What if they think I'm a horrible or weak person or that I'm crazy or strange. For this reason, it's very important for a therapist to work hard at building rapport with a client by forming deep meaningful connections with them. A good therapist will know how to develop a strong therapeutic bond that makes the client always feel safe and supported, without any judgement. It's the therapist's job to show unconditional positive regard to their client and praise them for the courage it took to reach out and ask for help. Your therapist should be a constant source of encouragement for any growth or progress made by a client during their mental health journey.

In your first session, I will do all I can to make you feel comfortable and safe and acknowledge your courage to reach out to someone for help. Then, I'll ask you some questions to get to know you better and ask you what brought you to therapy. After, you've told me about yourself (within your comfort zone), and explained what brought you to therapy, I'll ask you how can I help or support you. In other words, what goal or goals do you have for therapy or what can I help with and how can I support you as your therapist on your mental health journey. The last part of our session, I will articulate back to you your therapy goals, ask if you have any questions for me, then give you and opportunity to ask and before you leave, we'll discuss a date and time to book your next session. This is what you can expect in your first initial session with me as your therapist.

• Georgia, Licensed Professional Counselor, LPC009324

I have previously worked with children, adolescents and parents as a teacher, school counselor and school-based therapist in various school settings, as a tele-mental health provider for three years on TALKSPACE and recently on other tele-mental health platforms. I started my own life coaching business, Athenea Coaching & Consulting, LLC, in 2018. My areas of expertise include trauma processing, attachment & relationships issues, grief and loss, anxiety, social anxiety, rejection sensitive dysphoria, depression, Adult ADHD, Adult Asperger's Syndrome, learning disabilities, parenting, codependency, and helping individuals transform their lives through whole-life coaching.