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About Me

Emotional Regulation and Communication are Skills. So Let's Learn Them!

Learn&Heal

Getting Started | Free Consultation

Counseling. Courses. Collaboration.

Providing counseling and social-emotional health skills for parents and stepparents. I offer a psychoeducational approach utilizing evidence-based methods, such as BEST (Behavioral and Emotional Skill Training), Attachment-based Therapy and SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions) that help cultivate a more secure parent-child relationship and teach tangible skills for parents to successfully address and reduce their child’s anxiety, reactivity and other concerns. I specialize in helping parents navigate many behavioral, relational and emotional struggles, such as:

Angry outbursts and tantrums
Anxiety and depression
ADHD and OCD symptoms
Sensory sensitivities and SPD
Self-esteem and insecurities
Peer and sibling relations
Attachment concerns
Abuse and neglect
Trauma and complex-PTSD
Divorce and coparenting (I do not have involvement in high-conflict divorce or family court cases)

Hi, I'm Athena

I am a Licensed Associate Counselor with a Masters Degree in Counseling and 10+ years of experience in counseling and coaching. I have 40+ years of life experience :) and am a mother of two teens.

My career in early childhood education began in 2007 operating Creations Childcare and Preschool and working with non-profits such as the Association for Supportive Childcare and First Things First (FTF).

As a counselor, I provide evidence-based therapy, including IFS, EMDR, Sensory, Art and Play Therapy, and Compassion Focused Therapy, along with a skills-building approach for your child's mental, emotional and relational well-being.

Credentials

Collaboration and Courses for Parents

I offer a collaborative approach for you to be involved in your child's behavioral and emotional health with access to courses and videos to learn along with your kids.

Instead of power-struggles, yelling, bribing, reacting, nagging, losing control and shaming, learn to start empowering yourself and your kids with communication and emotional regulation skills. Plus gain knowledge of Wise Mind and self-leadership skills, the Dreaded Drama Triangle, emotional regulation and resiliency, nervous system calming, neurosensory exercises, balanced boundaries, attachment styles, personality types and more.

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Ages 2 to 5

Make learning about emotions fun with play-based methods, the Time-In ToolKit® and other effective discipline methods.

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Ages 6 to 12

Videos and practices teach parents and kids emotional regulation, nervous system calming and interpersonal skills.

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Ages 13 and up

Respond to teen challenges with compassion and boundaries as your child forms their independence and Sense of Self.

Compassion Focused Therapy

Mindful Self-Compassion

Kids, especially teens, experience major changes—both physically and mentally. These changes can have a major impact on how we perceive ourselves and the world. We also tend to compare ourselves and be our own worst critic resulting in shame, anxiety and low self-worth.

Recent research shows how Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) practices have the power to:

Soften inner-criticism and increase self-worth
Boost 'happy neurochemicals' like oxytocin and serotonin
Reduce anxiety, stress and depression
Motivate healthy lifestyle habits such exercise, self-care and personal goal achievement so you're more able to reach your highest potential and overall well-being.

Credentials and Therapy Methods

Certifications & Awards

Best of Scottsdale Award, Counselor 2019
Certified Relationship Coach / 08101704
Certified Clinical Trauma Professional / IAPT
IFS-Informed Therapist (Parts Work) / IFS Institute
Level 1 Gottman Method Therapist / The Gottman Institute

Therapy Methods

Art Therapy
Attachment-based Therapy
Behavioral and Emotional Skill Training (BEST)
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Compassion Focused (CFT)
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
Eye Movement Desensitizing Reprocessing (EMDR)
Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Parts Work
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)
Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC)
Play Therapy

Licensure and Supervision

License: Arizona / LAC-21511
Supervisor: Stefanny Balestracci / Arizona / LPC-18869

Education

MASTER OF SCIENCE PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING

Grand Canyon University / Phoenix, AZ / 2019

MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (MBA)

Emphasis in Human and Organizational Behavior
Grand Canyon University / Phoenix, AZ / 2012

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

Arizona State University / Tempe, AZ / 2005

Client Experiences

Max M.

"The ability to be emotionally responsive, rather than reactive is something I didn't know existed until now. I love knowing how to be kind and loving while also setting firm limits and consequences."

Becky R.

"As a counselor myself, I know about DBT and Wise Mind but didn't know how to teach my kids. Athena helps with this process. My 5-year-old really gets it. He can even calm his own anger and I've watched his confidence build."

Danielle B.

"I've referred all my friends to Athena because I think every kid and parent benefits from her knowledgeable support and the skills she teaches. We are so grateful. Athena, you are making a difference for so many. Thank you!!!!!!"

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