Dr. Paige Blankenship

I genuinely care about the people I work with and believe that a strong therapeutic relationship is one of the most important parts of meaningful change. I strive to create an environment where you feel comfortable being yourself, including the parts of yourself that may be difficult to share. I'm warm, approachable, and authentic, and I value honesty in my relationships with clients.

Regarding my professional background, I am a licensed psychologist with a doctoral degree (PhD) in Counseling Psychology. I have three years of experience as an independently licensed psychologist, and several more years of experience under the supervision of licensed psychologists throughout my doctoral training. I have extensive clinical experience, including in a forensic psychology role, an outpatient community mental health agency, an outpatient hospital clinic specializing in trauma-specific treatment, and university counseling centers.

I have extensive experience with a range of issues and clinical presentations, including most diagnostic categories and presentations and issues such as relational difficulties, trauma-related concerns, grief and loss, life transitions, substance abuse, sexual difficulties, among others.

I believe good therapy is something we build together. I bring my training and expertise as a psychologist, but you are the expert on yourself, your experiences, and what matters most to you. My approach is collaborative and grounded in genuine care, honesty, and respect for each person as an individual.

I place great importance on the therapeutic relationship and strive to be fully present, warm, and authentic with my clients. I incorporate humor when appropriate, and I'm also willing to have difficult conversations and offer challenges when I believe doing so will be helpful. I approach these conversations with compassion, curiosity, and without judgment.

I believe therapy is about more than reducing symptoms or managing distress. It's also about helping you build a meaningful, fulfilling life. My approach is grounded in relational psychotherapy, and I draw from cognitive behavioral, acceptance and commitment, and emotion-focused therapies. I integrate additional approaches and interventions as appropriate, tailoring treatment to your unique needs, experiences, and goals. I am also trained in several evidence-based treatments for trauma.

During our first few sessions, my primary goals will be to get to know you and to provide you with an opportunity to get a sense of my approach as a therapist and for us to begin to develop a positive therapy relationship. We will likely discuss your current circumstances (e.g., living situation, relationships, stressors, mental health symptoms and concerns) and may talk about past experiences if that is relevant and feels comfortable to you. I will work with you to begin exploring your goals for treatment and how those can be addressed in psychotherapy.