Stacie Garcia LPC Associate, NCC

I have worked in a behavioral hospital for the past year with children and adolescents with suicidal ideations or attempts. I use trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy and relationship building to help the clients. My focus in college was crisis and trauma as I am also a sibling of a suicide victim.

I have worked three years as a school counselor with children and the past year in the behavioral hospital with children. I use child-centered play therapy with children up to age 10 years. Along with working with the children, I work with parents to help their child so that skills generalize across environments and the parent has some guidance.

I have worked three years as a school counselor in special education department and the past year in the behavioral hospital with adolescents. I have used cognitive-behavioral therapy to help teens identify their emotions, thoughts, and behaviors that affect them along with addressing self-harm, suicidal ideations, aggression, anger, and gaining independence in an appropriate way.

I am currently studying Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with the Children's Center that I work at on some evenings. I have worked in the behavioral hospital with children and adolescents that are or have been through trauma or crisis. This was an area of focus during my college studies.

I use CBT with clients to help them determine during a situation, how their thoughts effect their emotions and behaviors along with identifying the physical sensations that are developed during the event. CBT is used to help clients process and understand how negative or distorted thoughts can change their moods and behavior.

I have worked for 5 years volunteering for Pet Partners and training dogs for therapy. I started using Animal Assisted Interventions within the school district then transitioned to Animal Assisted Therapy while studying at UNT and have been to hospitals, colleges, and immigration sites with my therapy dog team. I enjoy watching how an animal can change the emotions and behaviors of someone and how the animal can sense their need.