Brittney Ornelaz

I am a licensed mental health professional dedicated to helping individuals navigate life’s challenges and create meaningful, lasting change. I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from California State University, Channel Islands, followed by a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Throughout my career, I have worked with children, adolescents, and adults across diverse community programs, treatment settings, and clinical environments. These experiences have shaped a flexible, individualized approach to therapy that considers each client’s unique experiences, strengths, needs, values, and goals.

I specialize in addiction and substance use concerns and hold an LCADC credential. My clinical experience also includes individual, couples, family, and group therapy, as well as crisis intervention. I believe therapy is most effective when it is collaborative, individualized, and paced appropriately for each client. I strive to create a compassionate, respectful, and nonjudgmental environment where clients feel heard, understood, and empowered to take an active role in their growth and healing. I view each client as the expert in their own life, while my role is to provide professional guidance, therapeutic insight, and support. Therapy can be challenging, particularly when exploring difficult experiences or longstanding patterns. I believe warmth, authenticity, empathy, and appropriate humor can make the process feel more approachable and human. My goal is to build a trusting therapeutic relationship where clients feel safe being themselves, having difficult conversations, and working toward meaningful change without feeling pressured to move faster than they are ready for. I am committed to honoring each client’s values, experiences, and definition of progress while supporting them throughout their journey.

My approach to therapy is humanistic, holistic, and client-centered, with an emphasis on understanding the whole person rather than focusing solely on a diagnosis or presenting concern. I believe meaningful therapeutic work begins with a strong, trusting relationship where clients feel respected, understood, and supported. I tailor treatment to each individual’s needs, goals, experiences, and readiness for change. I draw from evidence-based approaches including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), trauma-focused interventions, mindfulness, somatic approaches, and Motivational Interviewing. When addressing trauma, I use a trauma-informed approach that prioritizes safety, trust, and readiness, allowing clients to explore difficult experiences at a manageable pace. I incorporate mindfulness and somatic strategies to increase awareness of the connection between emotional and physical experiences and to support healthier responses to stress and difficult emotions. I also utilize Motivational Interviewing to help clients explore their own reasons for change, strengthen motivation, and work through ambivalence without judgment or pressure. Psychoeducation is an important part of my work. I believe understanding why we think, feel, and respond in certain ways can increase insight and empower clients throughout the therapeutic process. Depending on individual needs, I may incorporate emotional regulation skills, cognitive restructuring, mindfulness practices, and other evidence-informed interventions. Above all, I strive to meet clients where they are and recognize that therapy is not one-size-fits-all. I respect each client’s autonomy and encourage active participation in determining their goals and direction. My goal is to provide a compassionate, supportive, and nonjudgmental environment where clients can build awareness, develop effective skills, and work toward meaningful and sustainable change.

Starting therapy can feel a little uncomfortable, and sometimes it can be difficult to know what to expect. My goal is to make the first session feel welcoming, comfortable, and as natural as possible. You do not need to have everything figured out, know exactly what you want to talk about, or have the “right” words to explain what you are going through. We can start wherever you are. During our first session, we will spend time getting to know one another and talking about what brought you to therapy, what you have been experiencing, and what you would like support with. I will also learn more about your background, relationships, strengths, and the areas of your life that may be affecting how you are feeling today. I believe therapy is a collaborative process, so you will have an active role in deciding what we focus on and where we go from there. I will ask questions, listen, and help you begin making sense of the thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and patterns that may be getting in the way of the life you want. When appropriate, we may begin introducing strategies or psychoeducation based on what you need. Most importantly, you can expect to be met with empathy, warmth, and without judgment. I understand that change can be difficult, and I do not expect you to share more than you are ready to share or move faster than what feels right for you. Sometimes the first step is simply having a place where you can be honest and feel heard. You do not have to walk into your first session with a plan. We can figure that out together.