Cherisse Guerrero (She/her)

I take a harm-risk reduction approach to addiction. This means that my clients do not have to have sobriety as their treatment goal, although they can. We can work together towards mindfulness, and to minimize risks and potential consequences to use or engagement. I have worked with those have addictions in the community, those in the hospital, and those in various legal stages; in a correctional facility or on papers. My style is open and supportive. I have NO interest in harsh judgments.

We all have anxiety, but what if we could work to find how to manage our anxieties and to have a more helpful relationship with our anxiety response? I work with clients to get to know how their anxiety impacts their lives, ways to reduce it, and ways to cope when anxious events occur in life. You can expect that we will practice these techniques both in and out of session. I work with those who have anxiety in a variety of situations including; chronic health issues, first responders, & PTSD.

Ever wonder why you feel like a failure and don't like yourself? The answer may be that you do not have self-compassion, self-efficacy, nor self-esteem. This may be the birthplace of anxieties and depression. You may even be contributing to your own sense of failure and not realize it. What if you were able to see clearly? To see that you have strengths, valuable qualities, and are worthwhile. I want to help guide you on your journey to finding these qualities and building them up.

I employ evidence-based methods to assist me in guiding my client. Motivational Interviewing, CBT, and client-centered approaches are used. I want to get to know you as a person and what your goals are. From there we can work to; understand addiction, the cycle of change, your use, its good\neutral\& negative consequences, how to reduce risk, how to cope with the distress of life, and (if this is a goal) how to become and stay sober. I offer a non-judgmental space, accepting space.

CBT asserts that mental health problems are due in part to learned, unhelpful ways of thinking and behaving. If we have learned unhelpful ways in the past, then we can un-learn those ways and learn helpful skill for today and tomorrow. We do not always need to dig in the past to make progress in the here and now. Lets begin to understand your patterns today and how to make changes to give you more contentment, peace, and joy.

Ever feel treatment consists of others telling you what to do and how to feel? This can hurt the relationship you have with your providers and dampen the motivation you have to seek or continue services. I work to provide a supportive, open, safe space and relationship from which we can engage in therapy. Although I may be a mental health expert, you are the YOU expert. I believe in "nothing for you, without you." meaning we come up with goals and treatment options together.