Briana Phillips

I became a counselor because I’ve always been genuinely interested in people—their stories, their experiences, and what shapes the way they see themselves and the world around them. I believe there are times in life when we all need someone who can listen without judgment, help us make sense of what we’re experiencing, and support us as we figure out what comes next.

I work best with clients who may feel overwhelmed, stuck, or simply tired of carrying everything on their own. You may be dealing with anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, life transitions, difficulty setting boundaries, or finding yourself repeating patterns that you know aren’t working but aren’t quite sure how to change. I especially enjoy working with clients who want therapy to feel like a real conversation. You don’t have to come in knowing exactly what you need or having the “right” words to explain how you feel. We can figure that out together. I’ll support you, challenge you when needed, and help you develop practical tools that you can actually use outside of our sessions. My goal is not to tell you how to live your life, but to help you better understand yourself and feel more confident making choices that work for you.

Therapy doesn’t have to feel cold or clinical. I want my clients to feel like they can show up as themselves, talk about the hard things, laugh when appropriate, and know that we’re working together toward meaningful change.

The first session is really about getting to know you and beginning to build a relationship where you feel comfortable being yourself. We’ll talk about what brought you to therapy, what’s currently happening in your life, and what you would like to be different. We’ll also begin identifying goals for treatment so that our work together has direction and focuses on what matters most to you. I’ll ask questions about your history, current supports, and any concerns that may be affecting your emotional well-being. We’ll also talk about safety and develop a safety plan if needed. In the early stages of therapy, I don’t expect you to have everything figured out or share everything at once. Building trust takes time. We’ll continue getting to know each other while creating goals and identifying areas you’d like to work on, at a pace that feels comfortable and productive.

My own life experiences have definitely shaped who I am as a therapist. I know what it’s like to balance multiple roles and responsibilities. Being a mother, a wife, a student, and a working professional while continuing to pursue my own personal and career goals. There have been seasons when I’ve had to figure out how to keep moving forward while also adjusting to changes I didn’t necessarily anticipate. Those experiences have taught me the importance of resilience, selfawareness, grace, and continuing to grow even when life doesn’t go exactly as planned. They’ve also helped me understand that you can be accomplished and capable and still have moments when you’re trying to figure things out. I bring those values and that perspective with me into my work. I believe growth is ongoing, life can be complicated, and none of us has to have everything figured out all the time.

I don’t believe therapy should look the same for everyone. Each person comes into therapy with different experiences, strengths, challenges, and goals, so I take the time to understand what you need and what feels most helpful to you. My approach is collaborative and flexible. I may incorporate techniques from CBT, DBT and motivational interviewing, but I don’t want therapy to feel like a textbook. Some clients benefit from practical tools and specific strategies, while others need more space to process, identify patterns, and better understand themselves. Often, we’ll use a combination of both. As we work together, we’ll continue to check in on what’s working, what isn’t, and what may need to change. Therapy is your space, and I want the work we do together to feel relevant to your real life.