Deciding to start therapy and choosing a therapist may feel exciting, vulnerable or daunting, or perhaps a mixture of all three. To help you determine whether I might be a good fit for you, here’s a little about myself and my approaches.
At the core of my practice is safety and the therapeutic relationship. Think of that as the starting point. As you build trust in the therapeutic process and in yourself, you can begin to take bigger risks. This might include facing a painful memory or difficult emotion, learning to stand up for yourself, or allowing yourself to move toward a dream. There are many reasons people come to therapy, but typically they feel stuck in some way, whether it’s in emotional pain, a behavioral pattern, or just in life. It’s normal for humans to seek respite from some of these difficult realities, but often the way we do that only increases our problems or pain. Therapy is a process of unlocking more adaptive ways of being so that you can experience more joy, creativity, connection and fulfillment.
My style is collaborative. We work together to both identify your goals and decide on the right therapeutic approach to help you achieve the goals. I am highly creative and open-minded while also grounded in the latest research and evidenced-based practices. I specialize in trauma and offer EMDR therapy (Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing) – a highly effective form of trauma treatment – as one of several approaches I may suggest. I have trained in IFS (Internal Family Systems) which I frequently weave into all my work. It’s a gentle, effective and very compassionate way to work with parts of ourselves. I often incorporate mindfulness, guiding you into the present moment more deeply to acknowledge and care for what is happening in your experience. I would describe myself as an experiential, depth-oriented and relational therapist.
I strive to create a safe, inclusive and culturally respectful space for any individual seeking growth and healing. Some of the populations I frequently work with are LGBTQIA, young adults, high-pressure working professionals, trauma survivors, those suffering from serious mental illness, and more. Before I became a psychotherapist, I worked for many years in the non-profit sector supporting survivors of domestic violence (now referred to as intimate partner violence) and sexual assault. I have also at times been a musician and a writer. In my free time I enjoy being in nature and exploring new places.
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with a master’s degree in Clinical Social Work from the University of Texas at Austin and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Arizona in Creative Writing.
Courtney Czar Therapy 