Stress Therapists in Brandon, VT

Hello. I am a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor who owns Rutland Equine Assisted Connections for Healing PLLC (aka REACH). I am dedicated to helping our clients in the areas of depression, anxiety, trauma, fear, anger, ADHD, ASD, and/relationship stressors using our therapy horses as mediums for connections to explore options for change.

Hello, I am Joanna and I am so glad that you found this page and are contemplating reaching out for support. Whether you are struggling with depression, anxiety, intense emotions, addiction, lack of satisfaction in your relationships or need support navigating life stressors and transitions, therapy can be a useful tool.

I work with teens and young adults to help navigate life's challenges. I work with clients to break struggles down into manageable pieces and build skills to help with coping. I use a short- term, relational, client centered approach to ensure we are working on what is important to you. Clients can expect to be challenged in supportive ways, guided through exploration and to be given skills to build new pathways through life.

On the outside, it looks like you’ve got it all figured out, but beneath the surface, it's getting harder and harder to keep things together. You have dreams of the life that could be, but worry, stress, and self-criticism hold you back. You do so much for your career and your relationships, but always wonder if it’s enough. You wonder if YOU are enough. You’ve probably said to yourself, “I don’t NEED therapy, but…”, or “I should be able to deal with this on my own.” Let me assure you that whatever you’re going through, not only is it okay to ask for help, but it just may be the best step you can take toward living your best life!

Life can be incredibly challenging, confusing, and overwhelming. I believe that everyone deserves a safe space to reflect and explore their internal experience. My therapeutic approach is relational and collaborative. Therapy is a tool to gain insight, provide tools to cope with and navigate challenges, and improve overall quality of life.

My approach is engaged, empathic, curious, and deeply human. I strive to create a space that is warm, collaborative, and open. In this space we can explore your challenges, strengths, goals, and lived experience. The therapeutic relationship can help us understand harmful patterns then use new found insights and skills to heal. By navigating these patterns in a supportive space you can feel capable of making positive change.

I currently have a waitlist, but please inquire if you would like to be added to it. I hold an LICSW in VT with about ten years of experience supporting people across the lifespan. I have worked with children, teens, families and adults navigating challenges with life stress, depression, anxiety, addiction, trauma, abuse, as well as people grappling with thoughts of suicide and/or homicide. Whatever the reason you are seeking support at this time, I can help you gain meaning and understanding with compassion and empathy.

Life’s challenges sometimes can feel like mountains which we are never going to get over or storms that we may never be able to see another sunset or sunrise. This is when we need a little helping hand that I can provide to allow you to move within the world in a healthier and more fulfilling way. I work with adults, adolescences, preadolescences, children, and families to help get through their challenges. I enjoy age diversity. I have over 20 years of experience with children and teens either as a teacher, athletic coach, or a counselor.

My counseling approach is based on the belief that everyone can benefit from support and listening. I strive to provide a warm and comfortable environment, making use of humor, silence, and empathy. Research shows that the best indicator of counseling success is the strength of the counseling relationship, and to that end, we will begin our work by building the relationship foundation together.

My goal as an integrative counselor is to help you reduce suffering and increase your capacity for joy, resiliency and life fulfillment. I am interested in understanding your unique experience of stress, how you hold these memories and what patterns of response have formed. I enjoy helping people free their whole being (mind, body and spirit) to greater ease and personalize my approach based on your needs. I draw from both talk and somatic therapies, including narrative, systems and yoga therapy principles. Specialties include: anxiety/depression, PTSD, feeling "stuck", chronic conditions, stress management and life transitions.

My goal is to create a safe, positive environment where you can explore the sources of stress and distress in your life. More than this, my goal is to work collaboratively with you to identify solutions and bring about positive change, whether in unwanted behaviors, challenging relationships, or new anxieties brought on by our ever-changing world.

I am a VT, MA and TX licensed clinical psychologist specializing in the treatment of anxiety and depression along with stress stemming from relationship problems and chronic illness. I believe in utilizing evidence based treatments while recognizing the need to tailor my work to meet individual needs and goals. One of my particular strengths is making patients feel safe and judgement-free during treatment. Together, we make a therapy plan that maximizes gains while ensuring the process is as comfortable and soothing as possible. I am available for in-person treatment in VT and remote virtual therapy for those in MA or TX.

Thank you for visiting my Psychology Today profile & please reach out to me if you would like to begin therapy. I am currently accepting new clients and provide individual and family therapy sessions in person OR via telehealth. I have a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) and recently earned my Master of Social Work (MSW). I have also earned an academic concentration in mental health and trauma for my MSW. I have experience working at a wonderful community mental health agency for 5.5 years in addition to experience working with children in public schools helping them with learning and emotional/behavioral challenges.

I have treated people with all forms of mental health issues including depression, anxiety, mood disorders, PTSD, and ADHD. I’m an EAP therapist and help employees with work stress and coping with difficult situations at work . I’m also trained in relief from narcissistic abuse and understanding “gaslighting” and “deflection” skills . I believe that people can feel better emotionally. I moved to VT in 2002 from CT where I worked for 14 years as a therapist in state facilities for the Department of Children and Families, the Department of Mental Health and the Department of Corrections.

I coach high-functioning college students and adults who are struggling to meet academic, professional, or emotional demands in their lives. Are you stressed by ADHD-like symptoms? Do you crave practical, strengths-based and non-pathologizing approaches to address "under-performing"? Let's talk! Together we'll de-shame executive function challenges, situate EF in larger social contexts, build on your specific strengths, and develop a holistic personal toolkit of creative, pleasure-centered productivity habits. Do what matters most - by your own definition.