Hello and welcome to the beginning of your healing journey! My name is Neko and I joined this field because I believe that life is a journey where invitations to heal, grow and prosper are constantly received.

I am a Licensed Psychologist and hold a masters and doctoral degree in Counseling Psychology from the University of St. Thomas. My experience is diverse and includes psychotherapy and psychological assessment with adults, adolescents and couples.

I seek to understand and empower you and your family members with the healing and tools to maintain lasting change that makes life worth living. I will partner with you to embrace, rather than avoid or fight, your difficulties so you can live life more fully and authentically.

My passion is working with children, adolescents, and families through life’s difficulties. It is of great importance to me that I honor the client and his/her cultural traditions, beliefs and practices. My focus is on finding the developmentally and culturally appropriate tools to help the healing process. I am trained in experiential child-centered play therapy, but also employ a variety of additional techniques, such as CBT, EFT and Mindfulness with adolescents, families and adults. I am bilingual in English/Spanish and welcome clients to speak in the language in which they feel most comfortable.

**I am currently not taking new clients.** Life and the circumstances that happen to us can be stressful and often we feel frustrated, confused, fearful, and sad. It's hard to know why we feel such big things and what to do with them. Maya Angelou said, “I've learned people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Being seen, heard, and feeling loved can foster courage and hope - two things needed as you walk through difficult seasons. My hope is that I can provide space for you to process, make meaning, wrestle through new ways of being, and feel empowered.

My professional experiences have taught me that my passion is working with children and families. I have a wealth of knowledge in infant and child mental health. Also, I work with children who have trauma histories and the families that care for them. I have experience assisting with adoption issues, family work, anxiety, depression, PTSD, coping with life change, and child and adolescent mental health issues. Working collaboratively with parents is also an essential part of my therapy practice.

I offer therapy adapted to the needs of the client. If brief, problem-focused work is needed, I offer it. For clients seeking a fuller understanding of themselves and their personality styles, I provide open-ended, insight-based therapy. Because I recognize each person as a whole, complex individual, I try to see each person and each set of difficulties in context. Proper resolution of problems often requires attention to the complexity--the emotional, physical, cognitive, spiritual, and interpersonal dimensions --of the client's experience. Prevention of future difficulties also ranks high in the priorites of my therapeutic work.

I am passionate about self-empowerment and believe that relationships with self, significant other, family, and friends are important and interconnected. I approach therapy with a focus on mind-body wellness and work collaboratively with my clients. I provide a safe and compassionate environment where clients from all cultures and communities feel heard and understood.

Making the decision to seek help can be scary and difficult, yet so rewarding. As a therapist, I strive for each person to feel safe, empowered, and motivated to make the changes they wish to see in their life. I also encourage exploration and awareness of how experiences can effect and impact the way a person views the world and themselves. I approach therapy in a gentle, and direct way to support clients in healing and growth. This is done through person-centered and systemic, evidence-based practices. I am currently in my second (intermediate) year of trauma training in Somatic Experiencing. I also provide tele-therapy sessions.

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and have been working in the field of psychology for 20+ years. I enjoy providing therapy for children, adolescents, and adults. I utilize Experiential Play Therapy to help children recover from trauma and abuse as well as for children experiencing life stressors such as divorce and difficulties at school. I also practice Filial Therapy to strengthen parent-child relationships and reduce difficult behavior such as tantrums and defiance. I am trained in Somatic Experiencing to address symptoms of trauma such as flashbacks, avoidance, anxiety, depression, self-harm, etc.

Are you feeling stressed out? On the surface it may look like you have it all: a wonderful partner, nice family, or a great career but underneath, you are overwhelmed. Others may think you are put together, sometimes, even coming to you for support. They don't realize you are experiencing increased worry, anxiousness, and exhaustion. You feel stressed out, distracted, and even panicked. You just can't keep up. When you stop to think about it, you are not living the life you expected. You are tired and don't know where to turn.

Genuine Therapy Center is about having real conversations with real people. We use a practical approach to assist our clients in making change in a way that is meaningful to them. We believe that the client is the expert in his/her own life. We help our clients to identify how their expertise can be applied to make lasting change. Our therapists will work side by side with you to draw out that knowledge, find empowerment, and build hope for change that lasts.

Sometimes things happen in life that we can't seem to get over -- deep hurts, betrayals, losses, or sometimes a sense that something doesn't feel right inside that we can't quite put our finger on. We act in ways we don't like -- for ourselves or our relationships. I help people work through and heal from these feelings and make positive changes to their lives. I also help women process through and heal from divorce and embrace their future, focusing on their most important relationship: the relationship with themselves.

I have a passion for working with individuals, children and families. I strive to provide a supportive and safe environment for you to explore your thoughts, feelings and behaviors and to look at ways to facilitate change to improve your life.

Compassionate and Caring. Over 30 years experience with individual, marriage and family therapy. Certified Family Trauma Professional.

Licensed School Counselor, Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, and Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor working from an Adlerian framework to offer safe, supportive, challenging of emotional and chemical health concerns for children, teens, and adults in a comfortable, accepting environment.

Are you experiencing unwanted tension and challenges in your important relationships? Does your family life feel chaotic and you don't know what to do or where to turn? Are you experiencing a personal life crisis? Asking for help is hard. I can help individuals, couples and families work through unique personal situations. Whether you are a parent looking for ways to connect with your child in a healthier way or an adult experiencing specific obstacles in life, I believe we could work together to find relief.

Because therapy can be intimidating, I make it a point to be sure all of my clients feel comfortable, welcomed and understood. I specialize in the treatment of: trauma, depression, anxiety, & addiction. I treat people through the use of attachment theory and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). Attachment theory can help individuals examine the experiences of their relationships and process them in a healthier manner. I use EMDR in the treatment of trauma and other mental health needs, such as: anxiety, addiction and depression.

Welcome. I have been providing therapy services for 18+ years in many settings including: inpatient hospital units, outpatient hospital clinics, emergency departments and outpatient mental health clinics. I work with adolescents, adults of all ages and couples. I also have a specialty in eating disorders and OCD. I believe balance is key to a successful, healthy life. In visiting this website, you are taking the first step in improving your quality of life. I look forward to meeting you.

It is my honor and privilege as a therapist to assist clients in their journey to optimal living. I believe it's my duty to walk along side as you, the client, discover and examine issues and complexities in your life or relationship. We will work together to resolve these issues and implement positive change. I do not believe in a one size fits all therapy approach. I believe the therapeutic relationship is one of the most important factors in a successful treatment.