Services
Contact Gina Strong today to begin your healing journey and discover how her compassionate, personalized counseling solutions can help you move forward. Gina offers a free 30-minute consultation to new clients, providing an opportunity to discuss your needs, ask questions, and explore how therapy can support you. With extensive experience in anxiety, grief, trauma, ADHD, and gender or body affirmation issues, Gina is dedicated to working closely with you to develop a customized approach tailored to your unique circumstances. As a counselor who genuinely cares about your well-being, she is here to listen, guide, and ensure you feel supported and understood throughout the therapeutic process. Don’t wait—reach out today and take advantage of the free consultation to start your journey toward a healthier, more fulfilling life.
Anxiety
Trauma
Body Image Dysphoria
Sexual and Gender affirming
Grief
ADHD
As a counselor with specialized training in anxiety and trauma, I offer a safe, supportive space where individuals can work through their experiences and begin to heal. Anxiety and trauma often feel overwhelming, isolating, and difficult to manage, but with the right tools and support, healing is possible.
Anxiety can manifest in various ways—whether it’s constant worry, panic attacks, or intrusive thoughts—and it often feels like it’s controlling your life. Using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), I work with clients to identify the negative thought patterns that contribute to their anxiety and help them challenge these thoughts, replacing them with more balanced, constructive thinking. We also focus on building coping strategies, such as relaxation techniques, mindfulness, and grounding exercises, to manage anxiety in the moment.
With Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), I teach skills like emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness, which are especially helpful for clients who struggle with intense emotional responses. These skills empower you to manage your anxiety more effectively, rather than feeling like you’re at its mercy.
When it comes to trauma, whether it’s from a single event or ongoing experiences, I understand how it can affect every aspect of your life. Trauma can leave you feeling disconnected from yourself and others, and it may show up in flashbacks, nightmares, or a constant state of hypervigilance. In our work together, I aim to create a space where you feel safe to explore and process these experiences without judgment.
I incorporate trauma-informed care, which means I recognize the impact trauma has on your brain and body. We focus on rebuilding a sense of safety, trust, and control in your life. I may use techniques like grounding to help you stay present during difficult memories and exposure therapy or cognitive restructuring to gradually face and reframe traumatic memories in a way that’s less distressing over time.
I also understand how trauma and anxiety can be interwoven with other aspects of life, such as self-esteem, relationships, and identity. My goal is to help you process the trauma in a way that frees you to live more fully in the present, with less fear, more confidence, and a greater sense of control over your emotional world.
Ultimately, I am here to support you in your journey, offering tools, compassion, and a tailored approach that respects your unique experiences. Healing from trauma and managing anxiety takes time, but together, we can work toward reclaiming your sense of peace, safety, and strength.
Supporting Animal Grief
How I Can Help as a Certified Grief Counselor
Losing a beloved pet can be an incredibly painful experience, often comparable to the loss of a close family member. Pets provide unconditional love, companionship, and a sense of joy in our lives, and when they pass, the grief can be overwhelming. However, many people may feel that their grief is not fully understood or supported, which can make the healing process even more challenging.
As a certified grief counselor, I specialize in helping individuals navigate the unique and complex emotions that arise from the loss of a pet. Whether you're struggling with feelings of sadness, guilt, anger, or emptiness, I am here to provide compassionate support during this difficult time.
Understanding Animal Grief
Grief over a pet's death is just as valid as grief for any other significant loss. Pets are often integrated into the very fabric of our daily lives. They offer us love, comfort, and companionship, which creates a deep emotional bond. When that bond is broken, it can leave an undeniable void.
One of the challenges of animal grief is that society doesn’t always fully recognize or validate the depth of this loss. This can make it harder for those grieving to feel that their emotions are justified or taken seriously. This is where the role of a grief counselor comes in.
How I Can Help You Heal
My role as a certified grief counselor is to provide a safe and supportive space for you to express your feelings. Here are some ways I can assist you:
A Compassionate Listening Ear: Sometimes, all we need is someone to listen without judgment. I am here to provide a non-judgmental space for you to talk openly about your loss and share your memories of your pet.
Helping You Process Your Grief: Grief can manifest in many ways. Whether you're feeling numb, overwhelmed, or unable to move forward, I can help you understand and process these emotions. Together, we can work through your grief at your own pace.
Validating Your Feelings: I understand how important your pet was to you, and I am here to validate the depth of your grief. It's essential to acknowledge that it’s okay to feel profound sadness over the loss of a pet.
Coping Strategies: In addition to emotional support, I can provide practical coping techniques to help you navigate the waves of grief. Whether it's finding ways to honor your pet’s memory or managing day-to-day life after the loss, I offer tools to assist you in your healing journey.
Support for Anticipatory Grief: If your pet is terminally ill or nearing the end of their life, I can help you prepare emotionally and cope with the anticipatory grief that comes with knowing a loss is approaching.
Moving Forward with Grace
Healing after the loss of a pet is not about “getting over it,” but rather finding a way to carry your love for them in a way that brings peace. As a certified grief counselor, I am here to walk alongside you on this journey, offering support, compassion, and guidance every step of the way.
If you or someone you know is struggling with the grief of losing a pet, don't hesitate to reach out. Together, we can work through this difficult time and find comfort in honoring the life and love of your cherished companion.
Feel free to contact me to discuss how I can help you heal through this deeply personal loss. You're not alone in your grief, and support is available when you're ready to take that step.
With my experience as a counselor and my passion for working with the LGBTQ+ community, I offer gender and sexual identity-affirming treatment that is rooted in compassion, respect, and a deep understanding of the complexities that come with navigating these aspects of identity. Whether it’s related to body image, gender identity, or sexual orientation, I provide a safe, supportive space where individuals can explore and affirm who they are.
Body Image: Many people, regardless of gender or sexual identity, struggle with body image, especially in a society that often pushes unrealistic standards. Having personally struggled with body image myself, I understand how deeply these issues can impact self-esteem and mental health. I work with clients to challenge negative beliefs about their bodies, helping them move toward self-acceptance. Using techniques from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), we address the critical inner voice and replace harmful thought patterns with more affirming, compassionate views of oneself. We also explore ways to reconnect with the body in positive ways, whether through mindfulness, movement, or self-care practices that feel affirming to you.
Gender-Affirming Care: For those questioning or affirming their gender identity, it’s crucial to have a counselor who provides a space free of judgment. I approach gender identity with an open heart and mind, supporting clients through all stages of their journey—whether they are just starting to explore or are in the process of affirming their identity through social, medical, or legal changes. We’ll work together on understanding and affirming your true self, addressing any distress, and celebrating your identity. If you’re dealing with gender dysphoria, I provide tools to help navigate those difficult feelings, focusing on self-acceptance, emotional regulation, and advocacy skills to cope with societal pressures.
Sexual Orientation: Exploring and affirming sexual identity can be both freeing and challenging, especially when faced with stigma or discrimination. I help clients navigate this process by offering support around coming out, relationship issues, or the internalized homophobia or biphobia that can sometimes arise. Together, we’ll work on building self-confidence, self-love, and resilience in the face of any external challenges.
Using approaches from CBT, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and trauma-informed care, I provide a foundation for healing, self-discovery, and affirmation. I also recognize the intersectionality of body, gender, and sexual identity issues, and I’m sensitive to how these intersect with other factors like race, culture, and neurodivergence.
My approach is always client-centered, meaning I honor your personal narrative and goals. Whether it’s helping you feel more confident in your body, providing support through gender transition, or offering a safe space to discuss sexual orientation, I’m here to ensure you feel heard, valued, and empowered in your journey toward self-affirmation.
Be Comfortable being you
Anxiety/Trauma
In my experience as a grief counselor working with hospice clients and those facing the terminal illness of a loved one, I understand the deep, multifaceted pain that accompanies this journey. Grief, whether anticipatory or after a loss, can feel overwhelming, but healing is possible.
I help by providing a compassionate, non-judgmental space where individuals can express their feelings openly. Through approaches like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), I assist clients in identifying unhelpful thought patterns and work with them to develop healthier coping strategies. These methods encourage resilience while honoring their unique grief experience.
I recognize that grief isn't linear—it’s deeply personal. Whether you're feeling anger, guilt, sadness, or numbness, all emotions are valid. Together, we will explore these feelings and help make sense of them. Humor, when appropriate, is also a powerful tool I use, reminding clients that even in the darkest times, moments of lightness and connection can aid in healing.
For those dealing with anticipatory grief—the emotional process that happens when a loved one is nearing death—I'm here to help you find peace, acceptance, and ways to create meaningful memories. For those grappling with loss after death, I guide you in navigating life without your loved one, rebuilding your identity, and finding new ways to honor them while taking steps toward your own healing journey.
Most importantly, I work to ensure you feel heard, seen, and understood through every stage of this journey. Healing doesn’t mean forgetting; it means finding a way to move forward while carrying the love and memories with you. team of seasoned professionals offers strategic insights and tailored solutions to elevate your business. Trust our expertise to guide your organization towards achieving its goals.
Grief of a loved one
