Sharon Mainka

With a background in counseling, education, and supporting trauma survivors, I work with children, young adults, adults, and older adults. I strive to create a welcoming, nonjudgmental space where you feel heard, respected, and supported as we work toward goals that matter to you. My approach is collaborative and tailored to your stage of life, honoring your strengths, choices, and readiness to explore difficult experiences at your own pace. I value trust, clear professional boundaries, and open communication, and I welcome your questions and feedback throughout our work together.

My approach to therapy is compassionate, collaborative, and tailored to children, young adults, adults, and older adults. Drawing on my background in counseling, education, and supporting trauma survivors, I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help clients understand connections among thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and practice healthier coping skills. Through trauma-informed CBT, I emphasize safety, choice, and pacing while helping clients explore how difficult experiences affect their lives. I also use Motivational Interviewing to help clients explore mixed feelings about change, identify their own reasons for moving forward, and set meaningful goals. In sessions, we may practice reframing unhelpful thoughts, developing grounding skills, or exploring changes you feel ready to make.

During our first session, we’ll spend time getting to know one another and discussing what brought you to therapy. I’ll ask about your experiences, current concerns, strengths, and hopes for counseling, while giving you space to share at your own pace. We’ll also review confidentiality and its limits, discuss how therapy works, and answer any questions you may have. My goal is for you to leave feeling heard, with a clearer understanding of how we can work together and what our next steps might be.