Have you ever felt like the world was against you? Maybe you feel like that now. Or have you ever become frustrated with constantly being misunderstood or invalidated? Maybe you feel like a black sheep in a sea of white rabbits. Whatever you may or may not be feeling, just know that you are not alone. Throughout treatment, I will be working with you to identify the nuances of your emotions, core beliefs, and current coping strategies; helping you to understand the normalcy of it all, as well as shifting from unhealthy to healthy coping techniques. Whether or not you are coming in for individual or couple’s counseling, it is my belief that our environment is a large part of a person’s identity. Maybe you feel like an outcast by those closest to you. Maybe you feel suffocated by your loved ones. Whatever the case may be, it is our actions and reactions that can either perpetuate our negative cycles or help break them. If I’ve said it once, I’ll say it a million times more: You can’t change your thoughts. You can’t change your feelings. You CAN change your reactions to your thoughts and feelings. Throughout treatment, we will be working primarily from a dialectic behavioral and/or emotionally focused therapeutic lens. Both models allow me the flexibility to tailor treatment to your specific needs, as well as the needs of the relationship without making each member’s needs feel neglected.
Hannah Shumaker
Hi, there. My name is Hannah Shumaker. I am a Registered Marriage and Family Therapy Intern in the state of Florida. You might be wondering how I became interested in the mental health field and, more specifically, marriage and family therapy. My answer: beats me! To be completely honest, this journey has solely been due to the grace of God. Growing up, I lived in the foothills of the Adirondacks in upstate New York. Small-town life, small-town gal, big aspirations. I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Sociology in 2012, at which point I had sworn off school. then, in 2017, I found myself enrolled in a Master's program for Marriage and Family Therapy. I thoroughly enjoy what I currently do in this field and am incredibly excited about the people I get to help.
While in my Masters's program, my focus track was military couples/trauma. As I continue my journey in this field, I have found that many clients have experienced some form of trauma in their lifetime. For some, it may not have registered that this experience was traumatic; however, in working with my clients, it is often the pinnacle of a negative life change. Not only do I help clients reconnect to their minds and bodies post-trauma, but I also help them to process the residual emotions that keep them stuck in negative patterns of interaction. If you are looking for a “quick fix,” I encourage you to consider undergoing accelerated resolution therapy (ART). At one point or another, I have guided most of my clients through this therapeutic technique, and many can attest to its power. While the treatment itself does not make you forget the past completely, it can help shift your perspective of it. No matter how we tackle the problems bringing you into therapy, I will be there to help you face whatever life throws at you. I will not lead or force you into something uncomfortable because I am not the expert here, you are.