Deanna Villagran (she/her)

Whether you are transitioning college to the stress of your first job, changing roles or exploring identity, or becoming a parent for the first time; having a place to connect with your emotions and learn new ways of coping can be helpful. I will assist you in focusing on mindfulness, strength-based and person-centered ways of coping with new stressors around you.

Through psychoeducation, addressing physical barriers to safety, building positive sense of self and internal resources, and desensitizing and reprocessing disturbing life experiences and memories, EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and TF-CBT (Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) are two evidence-based and potentially short-term means of addressing and healing from unresolved trauma.

Addressing and treating anxiety can involve two parts - building upon here-and-now grounding and coping strategies to manage moments of high anxiety and/or panic, as well as getting to the root of the problem, such as genetic predisposition, life circumstances, or unchecked negative and faulty beliefs. I use mindfulness strategies, CBT, EMDR, and IFS (Internal Family Systems) skills to break the cycle of being lead by fear instead of being lead by wisdom.

IFS is an ego state therapy that I find to be powerful in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing) work. It fosters mindfulness, awareness and self-compassion. I consider myself to be trained secondary in this, as I do not use IFS as a primary resource of treatment or change, but instead in conjunction with other trauma modalities.

Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) focuses on the combination of psychoeducation, family involvement and support, CBT, and trauma narrative writing for children and teens. I was fully trained in 2017 and have found it to be highly effective for young clients.

I completed my training in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing in 2019, including 20 hours of group consultation with an Approved EMDR consultant. I am working towards being certified in EMDR currently, and have seen great positive impacts in my clients lives for doing this important work.

Having safe, accessible, and reliable healthcare for the LGBTQ and especially the trans community is something I value greatly. I have experience with providing documentation for gender affirming surgery (be sure to check with your insurance company on these requirements, I am not doctoral level).

I held certification for Music Therapist from 2006-2021; I continue to bring my creative arts therapy background into my work through the Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music (Level II). I find this work personally profound, as music creates a container to explore our deepest, unconscious selves through imagery. I am happy to talk with you more, as this is a niche field.