"Mindfully Healing embraces a personal growth based model unlike a problem or deficiency based model of traditional mental health... Our clients experience this during their first session."
In The Media
Listen to this radio interview with Mitch on how Mindfully Healing began and his vision for the future of mental health. Listen
About Mindfully Healing
We provide information and resources to help increase life satisfaction and mental health wellness. We believe that everyone can live a full, satisfying life and everyone’s journey is unique. Learn More About Us!
Kasey Pena, MA
Clinical expertise in treating children, adolescents, adults, and families with issues related to the following: anxiety, depression, trauma, adoption, blended families, life transitions, relational conflict, boundaries, self-esteem, and neurodivergence.
Zoe Citrowske Lee, MSW LGSW - Accepting New Virtual Clients
Drawing from evidence-based modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Motivational Interviewing, I tailor my approach to meet the unique needs and goals of each person I work with. Whether you're struggling with depression, anxiety, trauma, or relationship issues, I am here to support you in your journey towards greater well-being and resilience.
Katherine Borud, MA
Clinical expertise working with children, adolescents, individuals, couples and families with issues related to anxiety, life transitions, self-esteem, and family or relational conflict.
Marlee Kruzel, MS LPCC
Clinical expertise in treating adolescents and adults with issues related to depression, anxiety, eating disorders, disabilities, and trauma. Certificate training as a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional level 1 (CCTP-1).
Mitchell Olson, MA LPCC
Clinical expertise in treating individuals and couples with issues related to grief & bereavement, depression, anxiety, and trauma. Certificate training in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Clinical Hypnosis (Hypnotherapy).
Carrie Morgando, MA LPCC - Not Accepting New Clients
Clinical expertise in working with children, adolescents, individuals, couples, and families with issues related to autism, ADHD, anxiety, depression, trauma, and divorce. Certificate training in ADHD - Moving Beyond Medication and Neuroscience for Treating Anxiety, Panic and Worry.
Some of our Specialties
Post Induction Therapy (PIT)
Post Induction Therapy (PIT) is an approach to trauma treatment and recovery that was developed by Pia Mellody, a renowned clinical consultant, lecturer, and author. It is designed to address the impact of childhood trauma, dysfunctional family systems, and the ongoing effects of such experiences.
PIT incorporates a range of therapeutic techniques and interventions, drawing from various therapeutic modalities such as psychoeducation, experiential therapy, and cognitive-behavioral approaches. It aims to help individuals heal from the wounds of early emotional, physical, and sexual abuse, as well as neglect and abandonment.
The therapy process in PIT involves identifying and resolving trauma-related issues, developing healthy coping skills, and promoting personal growth and resilience. It provides a structured framework for individuals to work through their traumatic experiences, understand the underlying dynamics of their past, and heal from the resulting emotional and psychological wounds.
Through PIT, individuals learn to regulate their emotions, address maladaptive coping mechanisms, and rebuild their self-esteem and self-worth. It focuses on helping individuals develop healthier boundaries, improve communication and relational skills, and create a more fulfilling and purposeful life.
PIT is typically facilitated by therapists or clinicians who have received specialized training in the approach. The therapy sessions are tailored to the unique needs and circumstances of each individual, providing a safe and supportive environment for healing and growth.
By addressing the root causes of trauma and dysfunctional patterns, Post Induction Therapy aims to empower individuals to overcome the impact of their early experiences, heal from the wounds of the past, and build a healthier and more fulfilling future.
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy is a psychotherapeutic model that views the human psyche as a complex system composed of distinct inner parts, each with its unique emotions, intentions, and roles. At the core of IFS is the concept of the "Self," representing an individual's calm, compassionate, and integrated center. IFS therapists guide clients in identifying and understanding their inner parts, addressing emotional conflicts, and fostering cooperation among these parts. By doing so, individuals can heal emotional wounds, enhance self-awareness, reduce symptoms of distress, and ultimately achieve self-leadership, promoting personal growth, emotional balance, and well-being.
Grief and Relationships: How Your Relationships Might Change When Facing Grief
Experiencing the death of a loved one is often the biggest challenge a person faces. Grieving can feel overwhelming and consume every facet of your life. It is during this time that you need the comfort of others the most, and yet social connections often feel strained as your relationships and social network seem to […]
Toddlers’ Mental Health: The Drawbacks of a Diagnosis
Recently a pediatrician phoned me with a concern about a three-year-old patient I see in my psychology practice. During a routine visit, the doctor said, “Karson” had bitten him. In fact, the young child had a history of behavior problems. “Do you think there’s a diagnosis?” the doctor asked me. I told her I wasn’t a fan of diagnosing toddlers. “What I can tell you,” I said, “is that he has strong reactions when people approach him too suddenly, loudly, or unexpectedly.” I was describing a phenomenon that I place
This Quality Makes Women More Attractive — But Not Men
It benefits women but surprisingly had a slightly negative effect on men’s attractiveness. Being nice makes women more attractive to men, research finds. Men who think that women are more ‘responsive’ find them more feminine. Femininity is linked to greater sexual arousal and so to increased attraction for most men. However, for men, being nice did not make them more attractive to women. If anything, being nice had a slightly negative effect on the attractiveness of a man to a woman. Professor Gurit Birnbaum, the study’s first author, explained that:
This Lively Pursuit Keeps Your Brain Young
Slows and can even reverse age-related physical and mental decline. Dancing keeps your brain young, new research finds. Compared with exercise like cycling and Nordic walking, dancing has more profound effects. Dr Kathrin Rehfeld, lead author of the study, said: “Exercise has the beneficial effect of slowing down or even counteracting age-related decline in mental and physical capacity. In this study, we show that two different types of physical exercise (dancing and endurance training) both increase the area of the brain that declines with age. In comparison, it was only
Meet Our New Therapist! – Jennie Pogreba
Jennie Pogerba, MSW LGSW Jennie has clinical experience working with individuals and groups with issues related to grief, depression, anxiety, trauma, chronic health concerns, strained relationships and life transitions. Jennie will be practicing out of our Spring Park location. If you are interested in learning more about her, visit Jennie’s profile.
Children of Trauma Can Present Challenging Behaviors
After years of struggling with infertility, Julia and Samuel finally decided to adopt. They were thrilled when a social worker called with news of a pair of brothers who needed a home. It took a few months of paperwork, but then they were elated to welcome home “Matt”, 3 and “Rett”, 2. Their new family life was exciting and tumultuous. Rett, the younger child, made the adjustment easily. But Matt had a more difficulty, waking multiple times each night crying, and struggling to pay attention in preschool. When he was in kindergarten, a teacher noted that he isolated himself from peers, often sitting alone, reading books. And though the adoptive parents showered him with love, Matt wasn’t connecting to them, lashing out in angry fits and often attacking them verbally. Things got worse. When Matt was in second grade, he set a small fire in the family’s basement. A school psychologist diagnosed him with attention deficit disorder, conduct disorder, and difficulties socializing with others. The school offered counseling as well as a behavioral treatment plan to support him at school. The therapist instructed his teachers and parents to provide structure and plenty of positive reinforcement when he acted appropriately, and swift consequences when he didn’t. Over time, though, the support plan proved ineffective, and Matt gained a reputation as a loner who had no friends and spent long hours playing video games. At 13, he threw a kitchen pot at his mother and threatened to kill her. Desperate, his parents alerted police. Where did his challenging behavior come from? When the family came to my psychology practice, the parents told me Matt’s behaviors had concerned them from Day One. They knew that he had been abused and neglected as a toddler, yet hoped that the security and love from them would help him thrive. But nothing they could say or do seemed to get through. Matt’s behaviors — social disengagement, setting fires, threatening his parents — all reflected a brain and body on constant defense. His social Isolation revealed that he lacked a healthy brain/body connection. His aggressive behaviors were an early signal that he detected danger or threat in his environment — even when it was safe. Unfortunately, the supports offered by the school, his doctors, and previous therapists overlooked this foundational challenge. Instead, he was prescribed medication for his behaviors and attention deficits, and an intervention plan focusing on rewarding certain behaviors and punishing others. To make matters worse, the three systems that should have been helping Matt — the education system, the medical system and the mental-health system — were all operating independently of each other when they should have been in concert. The biggest problem was that the adults in Matt’s life tried to change his behaviors without first helping him to understand the trauma he held in his body and brain. They overlooked the hidden reason for why he acted the way he did: automatic responses left over from his earliest years, when he sensed life threat from the very people on whom he depended. Nobody in Matt’s life saw the value of examining what these early behaviors revealed about the effect of trauma. They failed to recognize that Matt’s behaviors were signs of vulnerability in the basic foundation of emotional development. In short, he lacked the ability to make himself feel calm in mind and body. But instead of confronting and overcoming that reality, Matt came to think of himself as a bad person — and others as even worse. He developed a narrative: others are out to get me and must be punished. Subconsciously, his behavior was a preemptive strike coming from a traumatized brain. Unfortunately, many of our treatment strategies for such traumatized, vulnerable children involve punitive measures which only serve to reinforce a child’s sense of isolation and hopelessness. Matt’s struggles vividly illustrate why we need to incorporate the insights of neuroscience to help us understand the true underpinnings of mental health conditions. Instead of blaming these children, we need to help them and their parents understand the roots of their challenges. Until we do, young people like Matt will continue to suffering unnecessarily, harming themselves and others in the process. The post When Trauma Underlies Challenging Behaviors: New Answers for Vulnerable Children appeared first on Mona Delahooke, Ph.D. - Pediatric Psychologist - California.
Counseling for Trauma
Most people will experience trauma in their lifetime whether it’s a car accident, abuse or neglect, the sudden death of a loved one, a violent criminal act, exposure to the violence of war, or a natural disaster. While many people can recover from trauma over time with the love and support of family and friends and bounce back with resiliency, others may discover effects of lasting trauma, which can cause a person to live with deep emotional pain, fear, confusion, or posttraumatic stress far after the event has passed. In these circumstances, the support, guidance and assistance of a therapist is fundamental to healing from trauma.
Police Officer and First Responder Wellness
“Support for first responder safety and wellness is vital to the field and community, as well as the well-being of their colleagues, agencies, and families.”
Counseling for Anxiety
Is anxiety taking over your life? Does it feel like you can’t control it no matter how hard you try? Have you already tried therapy but found it ineffective? If this sounds like you, Mindfully Healing can help. Our practice offers the most effective forms of treatment, to get relief from the anxiety that you deserve. When it comes to treating anxiety disorders, research shows that therapy is usually the most effective option. That’s because anxiety therapy – as opposed to anxiety medication – treats more than just symptoms to the problem.
Family-Based Counseling
Family-Based Therapy (FBT) is a therapeutic approach that focuses on addressing and resolving psychological and emotional issues within the context of the family unit. It is widely used to treat various mental health and behavioral problems, and its effectiveness has made it a popular choice for families seeking help and support.
Finding Purpose
Are you interested in finding more fulfillment in your personal journey or increasing your overall well-being? You have come to the right place! Here you will find a community of professional and individual advocates for mental health and wellness. We want you to live your life to the fullest and we aim to provide resources, groups, and research to support your goals.
Featured Clinician
Carrie Morgando, MA LPCC - Not Accepting New Clients
Psychotherapist
Clinical expertise in working with children, adolescents, individuals, couples, and families with issues related to autism, ADHD, anxiety, depression, trauma, and divorce. Certificate training in ADHD - Moving Beyond Medication and Neuroscience for Treating Anxiety, Panic and Worry.
Interested In Resources for Treating Mental Health Conditions?
Get more information on a variety of strategies to treat specific mental health conditions including trauma, depression, grief and anxiety.
