Thrive In A New Approach (TIANA), LLC

I am a born and raised Mankato native who originally followed a career path into Social Work after high school graduation. At that time, I didn't even really know what 'Social Work' was until I took my first course in college only to realize, "Hmmm...well this is actually what has been a part of my life all along." I came to realize that my hardships and struggles of growing up as a bi-racial child in a low income, single parent family were also influenced by a presence of community resources, mentors and financial support systems across my childhood development. Even as a young 18-year-old, I realized how significant these supports and systems were in the trajectory of my life up to that point. It became clear to me how critical they were in building my resilience as a child, so that I had the opportunity to overcome barriers and ultimately, develop into the thriving adult I am today. To say it simply, I was once the one who was given to, and now I am passionate about giving back. From one stepping stone to the next, life led me to become a therapist and here I am today. Multiple times throughout my life, I have been on both ends of giving and receiving. I've experienced some adversity during my childhood, and I've also received guidance and support. I've gone through some painful hardships and life lessons, and I've also experienced profound healing through engaging in my own therapy, specifically - Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). Long story short, EMDR was an absolute game changer for me. It revealed to me how aspects of my past were continuing to play out that I was not even aware of, so that I could develop that new awareness to take back control of my own story. Now, I am crazy-passionate about EMDR and bringing it to others to experience it for themselves. In my opinion, EMDR therapy can be beneficial to almost anyone at some point across their lifetime - because we are all human, and a part of being human is to struggle. We all have our own 'stuff'. I love my work and what I do. I love working collaboratively with my clients to create a safe and secure space to open up on a deep level to heal, and also to help folks recognize their authentic, unique, individual strengths along the way. I love cheering people on and seeing positive growth happen right before my eyes. This is the fuel that drives me to strive for excellence in everything I pursue, both personally and professionally. It is my intention to bring EMDR to help benefit as many people as possible - to help folks develop a more clear level of awareness about themselves, to heal past wounds, and ultimately, to grow, expand, and THRIVE in a life that is purposeful, intentional, and meaningful. Let's do this. Let's thrive. My Educational Background/Areas of Advanced Training: I have been practicing therapy in the Mankato area for the past decade. I graduated with a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from Minnesota State University-Mankato after previously earning a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree from the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University, where I majored in Social Work and minored in coaching. I am a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) through the Minnesota Board of Social Work, and continue to practice as a therapist certified in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) through the EMDR International Association (EMDRIA). I continue to engage in advanced trainings in EMDR, as I use this evidenced-based therapy modality exclusively in my practice to help people heal from a wide range of presenting issues and concerns, including but not limited to: anxiety, depression, traumatic experiences, relationship or interpersonal difficulties, phase of life transitions, insecurities/self-esteem issues, grief and loss, and a range of other struggles or hardships people may experience across their lifetime. Why EMDR Therapy? Well, the short answer is - I have done it myself in my own therapy and know it actually works. My 'why' ultimately comes back to my personal story, but additionally, EMDR is one of the most extensively researched and highly effective psychotherapy methods out there. As an adult, I personally got to a point in my healing journey where I found that traditional talk therapy just wasn't 'cutting it' anymore in terms of me really seeing any significant progress or change with my presenting issues that I was still coming to therapy for or in a timely, financially effective manner - That is, until I did EMDR. (Now wait, no hate no shame on talk therapy, because there was a point in time it was helpful as well!) I do believe talk therapy has its time and place, but there are just some issues that are subconscious and more deep rooted, which require a more holistic and integrated approach, like EMDR, to fully resolve. I have experienced firsthand how EMDR facilitated my own brain's process to naturally heal from my own past hang-ups and emotional wounds, and to say the least, the results were profound. This is what ultimately inspired me to become trained, and then certified, in this evidence-based therapy modality as a clinician. Don't just take my word for it, though - look at the research. You can learn more about EMDR therapy here: https://www.emdria.org/about-emdr-therapy/ Because of my personal experience with EMDR, I am eager to bring the opportunity for people who are highly motivated and ready to experience the powerful benefits of EMDR themselves - to effectively bring awareness to the roots of what keeps you 'stuck' in distress or dissatisfaction, so you can resolve it directly and truly move forward in creating the life you truly want to live.