CJ Backer (he/him)

I specialize in working with families and couples, helping them align intention and purpose to guide their shared journey. Peace in relationships isn’t the absence of conflict but feeling truly seen, heard, and understood. By fostering authentic connection grounded in shared values, I support clients in building resilient relationships that provide meaning and stability, no matter the challenges they face.

I work with individuals and families experiencing anxiety, understanding it as the body’s natural response to perceived threats activating fight, flight, or freeze reactions. Anxiety often arises from anticipating danger, even when the threat isn’t immediate. Together, we explore these patterns and develop tools to help clients regulate their nervous system, build resilience, and find calm amidst uncertainty.

I integrate Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to help clients build skills in mindfulness, emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness. DBT supports individuals in managing intense emotions and navigating challenging relationships by balancing acceptance with purposeful change. This evidence-based approach fosters resilience, self-compassion, and clearer communication, empowering clients to create more balanced and fulfilling lives.

I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help clients identify and challenge unhelpful thought patterns that contribute to distress. By developing practical skills to reframe thinking and change behaviors, clients gain greater control over anxiety, depression, and other challenges. CBT fosters self-awareness and empowerment, supporting meaningful, lasting change in how clients relate to themselves and the world around them.

I incorporate the Gottman Method and Family Systems approach in couples counseling to deepen understanding and strengthen connection. By exploring patterns within the relationship and family dynamics, couples learn to communicate more effectively, resolve conflicts, and build shared meaning. This integrated approach helps partners create lasting bonds grounded in respect, empathy, and mutual growth.

I support individuals and families navigating depression, recognizing how feelings of disconnection, isolation, and questioning purpose often intensify it. Together, we create a safe space to explore these experiences and gently uncover old patterns that no longer serve. Through this work, clients cultivate new ways of relating to themselves and others—fostering hope, resilience, and a renewed sense of meaning and connection.