Courtney Garner (She/her)

I completed 40 hours of EMDR training through the EMDR Institute, Inc. and 10 hours of consultation hours with two certified EMDR consultants. I have been using EMDR in sessions since 2021.

The foundation of my practice is grounded in building insight and a sense of empowerment through self-awareness and mindfulness. Meditation and relaxation techniques are integrated into regular interventions. Identifying and exploring the individual's window of tolerance by staying present in the moment and oneself.

Our society was founded by and built for Straight, White, Christian, Men. Our society is slowly evolving to be more inclusive of women, POC, people with disabilities, the LGBTQ+ community, and other marginalized populations. Empowering women involves deconstructing the toxic patriarchal culture that oppresses those that threaten the beneficiaries. Sessions are structured to identify personal strengths and build assertiveness by confronting social norms and gender roles.

Throughout her undergraduate and graduate career Courtney focused a portion of her studies on Human Sexuality and Education, including a graduate level study aboard of LGBTQ Health Promotion in the Netherlands.

Courtney has been a long time activist for social justice and equity. She continues learning by staying involved in local groups like Showing Up for Social Justice, reading books such as, "White Fragility - Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk about Racism" and "My Grandmother's Hands: Realized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies," and continuing education courses such as, "Counselors Viewing Systematic Oppression as Trauma."

Courtney is pro-women and a strong-willed feminist. Women experience this world in unique ways and honoring those experiences as not only authentic but truly valid, is vital to our success. Cultural oppression may have painted women as weak but this message is fueled by the fear of women's true power. Self-realization and self-love are the tools women need to escape the confinement of projected ideals of women.

Courtney has been a long time activist for social justice and equity. She continues learning by staying involved in local groups like Showing Up for Racial Justice, reading books such as, "White Fragility - Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk about Racism" and "My Grandmother's Hands: Realized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies," and continuing education courses such as, "Counselors Viewing Systematic Oppression as Trauma."