Teletherapy for Hartford County, CT

As a marriage and family therapist, I am uniquely trained to identify, track and break patterns between couples & families in conflict. I work toward helping individuals,couples and families take an active role in creating the kind of change they desire. Marriages are not meant to merely SURVIVE, but rather to THRIVE. In couples counseling I help parties develop greater insight into their relationship and maintain a mindfulness toward its growth. Through focusing on action steps, I actively challenge individuals and couples to take accountability for their own thoughts and behavior as opposed to assessing their partner's.

Throughout my career, I have enjoyed and excelled at helping to empower clients to live better more meaningful lives by helping them focus first on inner growth and self-improvement. As a Christian faith-based, bilingual and bicultural, Licensed Professional Counselor and through my private practice, my vision is to continue this movement of empowerment and self-development, by supporting client through their journey of mental, emotional and spiritual healing with the integration of clinical and Christian faith-based services. Always remember, you have the spiritual authority to heal.

Are you finding life hard and stressful, and feeling like you need a supportive person to talk to? Is your anxiety causing you to retreat from social situations and activities you used to enjoy? Is it difficult to connect with your loved ones and maintain healthy relationships? Have you become more irritable and easily annoyed? Perhaps you are simply finding it harder to get out of bed each morning, and not looking forward to any part of your day.

The fact that you are here and searching for a therapist is a sign of health. My promise is to make a safe place for you and really listen, support, and guide you. I am interested in your uniqueness, your hidden resources, strategies proven to work, mindfulness-based stress reduction, developing trust in one's internal guidance system, and practices that deepen a sense of connection and purpose. Our relationships are like a mirror where we can learn and grow and heal all wounds. When we have difficulties, we have rich opportunities. Short cut, pick up one of my books at www.JimHughes.org they reduce the need for psychiatric care.

If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change. That is why my therapeutic goal is to work with you to grow and gain new perspective so you can welcome change and accomplish your short/long term goals. As a therapist, I am warm, encouraging, supportive, and nonjudgmental, while using a sense of humor with a down to earth approach to counseling. I currently practice as a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor and am actively working toward being a Licensed Professional Counselor.

I have been a therapist for 26+ years treating numerous psychological issues & age groups. My clinical focus/expertise includes: eating disorders, anxiety, depression, OCD, PTSD, relationship issues, severe trauma & grief/loss. My primary treatment approach utilizes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (changing your thought response). My job isn't to fix but to assist you with learning positive/realistic coping skills, focusing on your strengths and offering constructive feedback to reduce the level of interference your struggles/beliefs have on you with an emphasis on acceptance, validation and empowerment at every stage of therapy.

I have always gained great satisfaction from helping people feel happier and in learning more effective ways to achieve more fulfilling lives. Those clients who are eager and open to learning more about themselves in order to achieve these goals benefit most from my approach as a therapist. I often focus, therefore, on insight, meaning, and symbols (including dream interpretation)in order to help clients establish a more positive and accepting perspective of themselves and others. In therapy, I work with obstacles against achieving these goals that include anxiety, depression, addictions, anger, and interpersonal and relationship issues.

Are you interested in seeking therapy but you just feel so scared and overwhelmed? Maybe your problems just are not big enough? Or maybe your problems are too big? You don't know where to start. Life is stressful, and we are living in hard times. Sometimes we feel alone and like things are out of control, but I am here to help. It is totally normal to seek support. I have worked in multiple states with children, adolescents, and adults in private practice, community mental health, residential treatment centers, psychiatric hospitals, forensic settings, and schools.

Is your family struggling to connect? Do you feel like the older your children get, the more difficult it is to communicate? Has your family experienced domestic violence or substance abuse? You want a harmonious home with shared experiences that foster close relationships. Maybe you feel lost and unsure of what to do. Family therapy can help your family connect through effective communication, boundary setting, and trauma healing.

Are you a parent seeking support for your child who is suffering from ADHD or autism? Are you trying to navigate the complexities of mental health, perhaps feeling overlooked or uncertain? Are you struggling to find therapeutic help within the African-American community? Navigating mental health struggles with your children can be exhausting. Danika is here to break down barriers, providing a safe space for clients seeking understanding, growth, and resilience. She aims to instill a sense of self-efficacy, ensuring clients feel equipped to manage mental health concerns.

Is substance use casting a shadow over your family dynamic? Are you a parent struggling to navigate the complexities of the court system? Are you finding it difficult to support your adolescent's challenges in life, or do you have a teen heading down a scary path of gang activity? Perhaps you have tried therapy in the past with someone you felt no compassion or connection with or you weren’t seeing positive results. If you're seeking compassionate support and meaningful change for yourself and your family, don’t wait any longer. SMPsychotherapy is here to guide you through the hard challenges and heal for a better, happier life.

Have you had a difficult time finding the right mental health professional in the past? Are you a mother of a young child with behavioral challenges? Or are you a survivor of abuse struggling to heal your trauma? You need a compassionate guide through life's challenges and need help finding that person. At SMPsychotherapy and Counseling Services, we take pride in aiding women in domestic violence situations and single mothers navigating the complexities of raising a child with special needs. We are here for you and ready to help you flourish.

Is anxiety or depression controlling your life? Do you have goals you want to accomplish but find it difficult to get out of bed? Has your life changed suddenly and left you in a state of panic? Are you encountering parenting challenges? Struggling with mental health, family difficulties, and life transitions can keep you from experiencing joy. You want to loosen the grip mental illness and stress has on your life but don’t know where to start.You don’t have to struggle alone. Working with a therapist can help move you toward wellness so you can crush your goals.

Is your family struggling to connect? Do you feel like the older your children get, the more difficult it is to communicate? Has your family experienced domestic violence or substance abuse? You want a harmonious home with shared experiences that foster close relationships. Maybe you feel lost and unsure of what to do. Family therapy can help your family connect through effective communication, boundary setting, and trauma healing.

With an engaging, dynamic & empathetic approach, I can help you more effectively manage anxiety, depression, trauma issues, or relationship/family conflicts that effect daily functioning. Loss, infertility & parenting a child with a learning/physical impairment can be overwhelming and feel endlessly frustrating for many people. Together, we can work toward healing, thriving, and achieving a higher quality of life. Working toward a healthy life balance is challenging, yet rewarding for my clients with an accepting & interactive approach. If you'd like, my certified emotional support dog, Colby, is available to help too!

Like many journeys, therapy begins with where you are now, factors in where you have been, and builds a plan for where you want to go. It is a collaborative process. You are the expert on your life and with the right supports in place, you can discover your strengths and begin the healing process. I have found a diverse therapeutic approach to be most effective in assisting my clients coping with life challenges such as depression, anxiety, relationship issues, trauma, grief, parenting and anger management. This approach utilizes my training in psychodynamic, cognitive, behavioral, solution focused and mindfulness techniques.

I am a licensed clinical social worker, experienced in assisting adults, teens, and families address a variety of issues. Areas of specialty include: anxiety, depression and substance abuse issues. I provide a safe and non-judgmental environment in which you can explore and identify these issues. No two persons are the same. I believe in using an individualized approach grounded in evidence based practice that is tailored to one's specific needs.

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor with extensive experience in working with children, adolescents, and adults in treating depression, anxiety and personality disorders. Aside from my clinical experience, I currently develop and implement behavior support plans/crisis intervention plans to address behaviors impacting social and occupational functioning. I strive for progress in my clients while utilizing my sense of humor and person centered approach. I am bilingual/bicultural and believe in the power of healing.

I have experience working with children, adults, teens, adolescents, and families who have experienced substance use disorder, anxiety, depression, trauma, and other mental health diagnoses. I want to help empower my clients to be the best version of themselves they can be. I offer my clients a safe non-judgmental space to work at their own pace and according to each individual's specific needs. I love to incorporate my clients hobbies into the sessions including but not limited to drawing, playing video games, and crafting.