Katie Gorney (she/her)

I am competent in working with clients experiencing depressive symptoms whether mild to severe and chronic.

I have experience working with clients who have experienced trauma from abuse, neglect, sexual assault, violence and suicide. Because guilt and shame are common reactions to trauma, many clients come to the work internalizing and feeling something is wrong with them. Trauma work often starts with learning about trauma and common reactions to shift from thinking something is wrong with you to understanding your struggle from the context of what happened to you.

I am competent in letter writing so gender diverse clients can access affirming care. I have experience providing therapy to LGBTQ+ clients and also have expanded mental health programming centering LGBTQ+ experiences.

The science shows that the act of being and staying present in our daily lives is a powerful tool for healing and wellness. This practice is just that, a practice. It can be difficult for many in the beginning to sit with and accept the present moment without judgment, but practice makes progress and over time it gets easier and becomes more natural and organic. Mindfulness techniques can be effective for a variety of challenges and can be incorporated into other approaches.

CBT has efficacy for treating a wide range of symptoms and diagnoses including addictive behaviors, anxiety, depression, self-esteem and relational challenges. Trauma Focused CBT, uses CBT combined with gradual exposure to process and integrate traumatic experiences. The foundation of CBT rests on the concept that our thoughts, feelings and behaviors are connected and influence the other and that tuning in to these three areas can help us achieve change.

Trauma therapy focuses on the ways traumatic experiences have impacted our view of ourselves, others and the world. It increases understanding and awareness of PTSD symptoms and protective factors to promote greater compassion for the parts of ourselves that tried to keep us safe. There is an emphasis on coping with PTSD symptoms first to manage reminders and triggers prior to processing and integrating the experiences. The work is gradual to ensure the client can remain present.