Therapists in Holyoke, MA

I am a holistic therapist, meaning that I focus on the whole person. I help adults in a warm, supportive way - starting from where you are and basing therapy on your specific needs. Some of the skills I can offer therapeutically are meditation, mindfulness, art-making, EFT(Emotional Freedom Technique), Inner-Bonding®, re-evaluation counseling, spirituality, empathy, humor, deep listening and body awareness. I create a safe space to feel, express, and work on personal growth. My goal is to create a calm, thoughtful, creative environment to help guide you in working through life's challenges.

For young children, behavior is a way to communicate needs. When complex emotions arise through challenging behaviors, parents may be left feeling unsure how to respond. Does your child seem overly anxious? Are they highly distressed when separated from you or more withdrawn than you'd expect? Maybe they've experienced a traumatic or scary event, a significant loss, or you’d like to prepare them for a family life change. Are you an adoptive or foster family wanting help with bonding and building secure attachment? Do you hope to gain clearer insight into your child’s needs and support them through a stressful time?

Life can present difficult feelings and experiences that become overwhelming. Therapy can be a way to manage these complicated feelings of sadness, anger, anxiety or just a general feeling of “stuckness”. I believe that everyone has the ability to unlock their potential and move forward.

I am a licensed clinician in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, and I am a Registered Dance/Movement Therapist. I have a person-centered and holistic approach. I enjoy blending traditional talk therapy, expressive arts, and movement therapy in my counseling sessions. Typically I begin therapy with traditional talk therapy and then at that point I am open to using any particular style depending on your preferred way of processing. Typically my clients are people who feel overwhelmed, have recent loss, need help improving self-esteem, need help improving relationships, and want realistic coping skills in their life.

Please allow me to introduce myself. I have been working with young adults and adults for over ten years. I have worked with veterans, first responders, those with disabilities. My specialties include but not limited to Sexual Trauma, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Traumatic Brain Injury, Depression and Anxiety. I have been certified through the VA/Springfield Vet Center for specialized training, in Military Sexual Trauma (MST). In the past, I interned at the Springfield Vet Center offering readjustment counseling to combat vet’s and their families.

Are you looking for healing from trauma or desire to better connect in your marriage and family relationships? Do you need help to reach your goals and want a Christian therapist or coach? If you feel like evidence-based counseling with a Biblical foundation and the potential for therapeutic/expressive arts speaks to you, then you have come to the right place. At Living Well, we provide clinical counseling for those dealing with anxiety, depression, trauma, and family and marital challenges. We also offer coaching, trainings, and creative art experiences that align with your Christian values. We're here to support your journey.

Acknowledging diagnoses is only one way to identify the symptoms with which clients are suffering, she does work with a variety of disorders including Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, depression, anxiety, panic, dissociative disorders, adjustment disorders, and eating disorders. She specializes in viewing these disorders and struggles from the lens of how our brain and body process information, store experiences, and often trap the extreme beliefs, emotions and sensations associated with distressing experiences.

I am a neuro-affirming therapist, who specializes in working with children and teens with Autism, ADHD, anxiety, depression, and trauma. I have experience working with children and youth in clinical and educational settings including as an outpatient therapist, school-based therapist, early childhood mental health consultant, school counselor, and as a therapeutic mentor. I also work closely with parents and caregivers as they learn more about the unique ways their child interacts with their world, which can also include advising or advocating for school services if your child is currently struggling in school.

My approach is warm, playful, and relational. I work with children and teens whose stories are in the making; stories that are stored in their bodies and minds; stories that are played out through behaviors and actions. I help interpret behaviors as we work towards change and healing. I engage with children, adolescents and families when something feels “off”, when something bad, sad, or scary happens. Together we work on regulating feelings, thoughts, and experiences in our body. You learn to become more attuned to each other and connect.

Looking for a therapist can be challenging. For those looking for the first time, I'd like to offer some thoughts on finding one who's right for you. While credentials and experience have their place, at the end of the day the most important thing is fit. I encourage you to "go with your gut." Do a phone consult. Did they give you space to talk? Did you feel heard? Sometimes what we need is feeling supported by someone who "gets" us. Other times we grow from someone who is able to challenge us in just the right way.

Psychotherapy offers the opportunity to gain insight into ourselves, and to move forward in our lives. My approach combines talk therapy with expressive arts and a body/mind focus as it suits the needs of the client. First we focus on conversations to clarify what your needs are and how we would best work together. Active listening and being present and responsive to you is the foundation for the therapeutic relationship. In my work with children 4 to 12 years old I combine play therapy with expressive arts, as they naturally express themselves this way.

Imagine sharing your most private thoughts and feelings, safely, and without risk, so that you get to know yourself more deeply. Neuroscience teaches us how emotions affect our behavior, how they are stored in the body, and how negative emotions can be healed. In my work, I utilize techniques that focus on the relationship and the feedback mechanisms between the mind and the body in order to promote deeper and more complete healing. I also help couples and families recognize patterns of behavior that contribute to misunderstanding, tension and conflict. My intention is to create a safe space that is non-judgmental, welcoming and warm.

**Practice currently full** I offer individual and family therapy, working with children, adolescents, and adults. My approach is relational, attachment-focused, and trauma-informed. I believe that each person is the expert of their own experience; I work collaboratively with clients to tailor treatment to best meet their needs and to identify strategies to improve their daily lives. I strive to remain attentive to social identities, dynamics in family systems, and the larger cultural landscape that impact a person's sense of self and shape their experiences.

Westfield Counseling Services is a collection of independently operating counselors who strive to help children, adolescents, adults, and families feel better about their lives. Please visit us at our shared website www.WestfieldCounselingServices.com and read our profiles. When you call the number listed you will get David Marks (familylifehealing.com), who is fielding our calls. David is one of the independent counselors seeing clients at the Westfield office. Every counselor at this office understands that the counselor/client relationship is foundational to healing. Please speak to as many of us as you need to find a good fit.

Hi. I'm Jennifer Clark-Harris. I am a Masters Level Marriage and Family Therapist/ Mental Health Clinician. In other words I am someone who has tools to help people create the changes they seek in their lives and their relationships. You don't have to walk the journey of life alone.