Experiential Therapy in Penfield, NY

Take a full, deep breath...by reading this, you have already taken a step in seeking support. It only takes that first courageous step away from the pain, confusion or fear toward the path of freedom and the life you desire. When you are ready for that step, I am here to support you on a healing journey. Therapy will uncover any self-destructive beliefs or habits (addictions/ patterns) that prevent a fuller expression of who you know you can be. Our work and my hope for you would be to experience feeling more fully alive with a sense of joy, purpose and freedom.

A cancer diagnosis is life-changing. It disrupts so many things about our everyday lives. And the stress can be overwhelming for even the most resilient among us. People coping with cancer often experience heightened levels of fear, worry, pain and uncertainty. As the founder of River Birch Therapy, I help children, teens, adults and families coping with cancer to build a life and thrive beyond cancer. During sessions, I work from a whole-person, strengths-based, relational and embodied approach to health.

Hello, and thank you for taking time to learn about my practice. My name is Courtney and I have been practicing psychotherapy and Creative Arts Therapy for almost 20 years. I view the therapy relationship as a collaboration, with my primary role as a guide in creating a safe container for healing, achieving balance & empowerment and developing insight & conscious awareness for a more positive and fulfilling life. My style is that of curiosity, non-judgement and compassion for your experience, while together we cocreate a therapeutic path forward to heal old wounds and evolve into new healthy behaviors and coping abilities.

I’m a licensed mental health counselor with 25 years of Critical Care nursing experience, mostly cardiac, nursing leadership, and nursing wellness experience. Through my work with critically ill patients and their families, I have met many people during their worst, hardest days. Through helping my patients’ progress and, listening to their stories, I have realized that in many cases the individual’s mind set and emotional intelligence played the most important role in their recovery. Seeing people’s resilience across difficult situations made me believe in the “mind over matter” concept.

Harvest House is a dream that was born out of a passion for promoting healthy relationships in families, marriages, and individuals as they work toward hope and healing. You don’t have to be going through a difficult personal time, suffering from anxiety, or grieving in order to take advantage of all we have to offer. Therapy is designed to help you find insight, support, and new strategies for life's struggles. With the potentiality to gain benefits such as personal responsibility, self-awareness, objectivity, healthy communication skills, and healthy boundaries, there is little reason to wait any longer.

I help you recover from complex trauma (which is the cause of a lot of anxiety and depression) and also I shine in helping people recover from harmful relationships. I am the published author of the book, Toxic Relationship Recovery so I find it very important for people to be able to heal from harmful dynamics in their lives. Come in your PJs or a full suit. Let's get you started on your healing journey. I can't wait to meet you.

Therapy can feel broad and overwhelming. To simplify our approach, we'll seek acceptance and control of adversities that seem to dictate your life. Whatever stressors weigh on you, we'll troubleshoot what hasn't been working and process new tools to put in place. It is my responsibility to adapt to your preferences and ways of learning. I'll provide a space for you that can range from open discussion and exploration, to structured activities and weekly goals. Additionally, these steps are flexible and can be done in a matter of time that fits what you hope to achieve. All possible with individual, couples, and/or family therapy.

Have you lost touch with what used to matter to you? Perhaps your former goals have lost their luster or the attainment of these has proven disappointing. Can you find your way back to an enjoyable life—toward one worth living? I hope to help you to address these questions and worries with curiosity, compassion, humor and reflection.

Therapy is a process of healing the mind, body and spirit. It produces best results when both the therapist and the client are ready to engage in thoughtful discussions leading toward change. As such, clients who have seen the best results in my care have been motivated, curious and willing to address hard topics in pursuit of health. Issues related to relationships, emotional regulation, exploring past unmet emotional needs, building self-advocacy and addressing internal conflict are well suited to my therapeutic strengths. You come with the raw materials, I come with helpful questions, and together we will build a healthier life.