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Therapists answer…

Why did you become a therapist, and what motivates you to continue?

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Terri Burns

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Associate

Why did you become a therapist, and what motivates you to continue?

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Sarah Thiessen

Mental Health Therapist
Online Therapy
Why did you become a therapist, and what motivates you to continue?
In college one of my best friends experienced a traumatic event and I felt helpless as I desperately wanted to be there for her. This was probably the start of me seeking the journey into the healing path. With each person that I watch heal, I am continually honored and motivated to become further skilled at being the guide my client needs to find healing and wholeness. 
Sometimes life's struggles and transitions have led to pain and feelings of being paralyzed and lost. You are not alone even though day after day it might feel like a daily battle. Counseling can be the answer to finding hope and a new beginning to finding answers, self-awareness, and self-compassion for making new choices and having a new outlook. Sarah helps you find connections between your thoughts, feelings and actions to be emotionally healthy and face past hurts that are holding you back. Thoughts aren't facts and you can learn to change that inner voice that criticizes you and shed faulty beliefs that lead you down the wrong path time and again. Sarah is certified in EMDR, a highly researched and supported therapy for trauma and PTSD. EMDR enables people to heal from symptoms and emotional pain and is also used to address multiple mental health issues. Using techniques that align with neuroscience, this therapy uses the body’s ability to heal, often producing relief from many symptoms quickly. For children, Sarah integrates play techniques with EMDR because children heal through play and imagination. The effectiveness of EMDR results in clients who feel empowered rather than paralyzed by life experiences that in the past caused them great pain. EMDR does not require extensive homework or hours of talking about the pain to find relief. Simply said, talk therapy helps clients handle emotional pain, but EMDR removes the emotional pain! This is why EMDR is almost always Sarah's go to choice for most of her clients regardless of therapy issue.
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Teo Matos Santana

MD
Online & In-Person
Why did you become a therapist, and what motivates you to continue?
I became a psychiatrist to help people navigate complex mental health challenges and lead fulfilling lives. Seeing the positive transformations in my patients motivates me every day. I am driven by my commitment to providing compassionate, evidence-based care and my belief in the resilience and potential for growth in every individual.
I am a Yale-trained psychiatrist and addiction specialist with over 12 years of experience, and I take great pride in my dedication to patient care. Known for my compassionate and direct approach, I focus on addressing root causes and providing personalized, comprehensive treatment designed to improve both psychiatric symptoms and overall performance. TREATMENT PHILOSOPHY: I am straightforward and compassionate, committed to collaborating with you on your recovery journey. My focus is on selecting the lowest effective dose of medication and the most suitable therapeutic approach tailored to your needs. I consider other illnesses, genetic predispositions, and your lifestyle to ensure a safe and effective treatment plan, minimizing side effects like over-sedation or weight gain. I am trained in psychodynamic psychotherapy and CBT, specializing in Depression, Panic Disorder, trauma-focused Cognitive Processing Therapy, and integrative CBT approaches like CBASP. I also use Motivational Interviewing to support addictions and behavioral changes.