Lena K. Swanson, Psy.D.

My approach to therapy is primarily client-centered and strength-based, although I draw on many types of therapies including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), insight-oriented therapy, emotionally focused therapy (EFT), and feminist therapy, which can help both men and women regain a sense of empowerment in their lives.

I believe that each of us has inherent strengths and a built-in drive toward personal fulfillment and a sense of well-being. However, through things that have happened to us in the past, our fears and expectations, our critical self-talk and conditioning, and the challenges of living in an autonomous mainstream culture, we can become afraid, unhappy, lonely, and unfulfilled, and lose sight of who we truly are and what is important to us.

My role as your therapist is to help guide you and support you on your path to mental health and wellness through collaborative exploration, emotional empathy, presence, and by creating a safe place where you feel seen and heard. This might mean finding ways to help you heal and move on from the pain of the past, change negative relationship patterns or beliefs, accept loss, learn not to fear the future, or discover new ways of experiencing yourself, others, and the world we live in.