Building Hope Counseling Services

I don’t particularly care what your diagnosis is. And no, I can’t tell you what type of therapy I’m going to use in session.

CBT, CPT, ACT, EMDR, IFS, DBT, TF-CBT, WET… Ugh.

I get confused sometimes when potential clients call for a free consultation and ask what therapy I’m going to use. Honestly, the question kind of stresses me out. I never know how to explain this in a quick response that gets the point across without getting into a whole philosophical discussion about mental health diagnoses and treatment options.  

In sessions, I go where the feeling takes me.

I don’t refer to myself as an EMDR therapist, even though I’m trained in EMDR. I don’t call myself an ACT therapist, even though I use ACT in almost every session. Sometimes I use expressive arts – I don’t consider myself an expressive arts therapist. (I do know I’m not a CBT therapist, but maybe that’s a discussion for another day).

So why not just say I practice this one thing and be done with the conversation?

Because you are more than a list of symptoms to me. I want to sit in the room with you and get to know you. Certain treatment modalities have specific questions for different issues, and I want to use the question I want to use at whatever moment calls for it, instead of following a prescription or protocol for your treatment.

“What does that say about you that you get so angry?” (EMDR)

“Where do you feel anger in your body?” (Somatic)

“Where did you learn that how to express your anger?” (Psychodynamic)

“What is your anger trying to tell you right now?” (IFS).

“What would it be like to accept that you’re angry about this?” (ACT)

I love them all, don’t make me choose!

You’re not disordered. There’s nothing wrong with you. Your body is having a very normal reaction to stressful, chaotic, abnormal situations.

So, here’s the deal: therapy isn’t about fitting into a box or ticking off a checklist. It’s about understanding, growth, and transformation. It’s about learning about yourself in a way that feels authentic without pressure to perform in a certain way.

I am here to walk with you through this journey by blending techniques, asking the right questions, and embracing every emotion that comes our way. Together, we can make your life look the way you want it to.

Let’s break free from labels and protocols and embark on a path that celebrates your individuality and strength. Because you deserve nothing less than a therapeutic experience that is as dynamic, multifaceted, and extraordinary as you are.

Mikaela’s Playlist: For letting yourself be free to be yourself

• Whatever We Feel – Sammy Rae & The Friends
• Our Way – Mark Ambor
• It Is What It Is – Jenna Raine
• Brand New Morning – Sun Heat
• Nomads – BYRNE