Colleen O’Connell, LSCSW
Mental Health First Aid Trainer
How I help:
My counseling approach starts first and foremost with my clients of all ages. I am solution- focused and enjoy assisting my clients in examining where they are today and where they would like to be tomorrow. I emphasize self-awareness because insight produces peace, reduces shame, and promotes change. I am a non-judgmental empathic listener who will collaborate with you to develop a plan that will lead to personal healing and the ability to better cope with life’s challenges.
My specialties:
Trauma
I am EMDR-trained to assist individuals with both single incident and complex trauma. Although it happened in the past, you experience triggers and emotional memories in the present that affect your daily life. After establishing a foundation of emotional calm, we will begin to process the traumatic events and memories in ways that will reduce their overwhelming impact in your life.
Anxiety/Depression
Life is increasingly more stressful. Just when we think we have a grip on things, the unexpected occurs and we find ourselves unprepared to deal with what lies before us. We can work together to discover the causes of the distress and gently work toward healing.
Parenting
“The key to successful parenting... is based on your deepest feelings of love and affection for your child, and is demonstrated simply through empathy and understanding. Good parenting begins in your heart, and then continues on a moment-to-moment basis by engaging your children when feelings run high, when they are sad, angry or scared. The heart of parenting is being there in a particular way when it really counts.” John Gottman, Ph.D. I currently offer quarterly basic parenting classes based on the National Extension Parent Education Model of Critical Parenting Practices. This model emphasizes six critical areas including self-care, understand, guide, nurture, motivate, and advocate.
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How I help:
My counseling approach starts first and foremost with my clients of all ages. I am solution- focused and enjoy assisting my clients in examining where they are today and where they would like to be tomorrow. I emphasize self-awareness because insight produces peace, reduces shame, and promotes change. I am a non-judgmental empathic listener who will collaborate with you to develop a plan that will lead to personal healing and the ability to better cope with life’s challenges.
My specialties:
Trauma
I am EMDR-trained to assist individuals with both single incident and complex trauma. Although it happened in the past, you experience triggers and emotional memories in the present that affect your daily life. After establishing a foundation of emotional calm, we will begin to process the traumatic events and memories in ways that will reduce their overwhelming impact in your life.
Anxiety/Depression
Life is increasingly more stressful. Just when we think we have a grip on things, the unexpected occurs and we find ourselves unprepared to deal with what lies before us. We can work together to discover the causes of the distress and gently work toward healing.
Parenting
“The key to successful parenting... is based on your deepest feelings of love and affection for your child, and is demonstrated simply through empathy and understanding. Good parenting begins in your heart, and then continues on a moment-to-moment basis by engaging your children when feelings run high, when they are sad, angry or scared. The heart of parenting is being there in a particular way when it really counts.” John Gottman, Ph.D. I currently offer quarterly basic parenting classes based on the National Extension Parent Education Model of Critical Parenting Practices. This model emphasizes six critical areas including self-care, understand, guide, nurture, motivate, and advocate.
<< Go Back