Tobi Brenner

Hi, I'm Tobi Brenner, Licensed Professional Counselor, women's empowerment coach, and founder of EmpowHer Counseling.

Many of my clients are successful, high-achieving women who have spent years being responsible, accommodating, and putting themselves last, personally and professionally. They've mastered the art of holding it all together while quietly feeling stressed, disconnected, resentful, or stuck. Somewhere along the way, they've lost sight of what they want, need, or even who they are outside of the roles they fill for everyone else.

If you're the woman everyone else relies on, but secretly you're exhausted, overwhelmed, anxious, or wondering when exactly your life became all about taking care of everyone else's needs, you're in the right place.

I know this journey personally. Before becoming a therapist, I spent more than 20 years in corporate consulting, business operations, and human resources. I've navigated career pressures, caregiving responsibilities, major life transitions, grief, and the challenge of learning that self-sacrifice is not the same thing as self-worth.

My approach is warm, direct, supportive, and occasionally sprinkled with humor and some salty language. I use evidence-based approaches including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), mindfulness, and strength-based techniques to help clients move beyond anxiety, perfectionism, people-pleasing, and self-doubt.

Together, we'll work on setting boundaries without guilt, quieting the inner critic, managing anxiety, building confidence, and creating a life that feels more aligned with who you are—not who everyone else expects you to be.

I believe prioritizing yourself isn't selfish. It's healthy. And if you've spent years carrying the weight of everyone else's expectations, therapy can be the place where you finally put some of that weight down.

My style is warm, direct, and collaborative. Clients often tell me they appreciate having a space where they can stop pretending they're fine, put down the pressure to have it all together, and talk honestly about what's really going on.

I believe therapy should be tailored to you, not squeezed into a one-size-fits-all formula. I draw from evidence-based approaches including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), mindfulness, strengths-based therapy, trauma-informed care, and relational approaches. In plain English? We'll look at the patterns, beliefs, and behaviors that are keeping you stuck while building practical tools that help you feel more confident, grounded, and in control of your life.

I'll support you, challenge you when needed, and cheer you on as you grow. My goal isn't to help you become a different person—it's to help you reconnect with the person you've been underneath the anxiety, perfectionism, people-pleasing, and endless responsibilities.

Starting therapy can feel intimidating, especially if you're used to being the one who has it all together. The good news? You don't have to have the right words, a perfect explanation, or a clear plan before you walk through the door.

Before our first session, you'll complete intake paperwork so we can spend our time focusing on you, not forms. We'll talk about what's bringing you to therapy, what's feeling overwhelming, and what you'd like to be different in your life. While your past is important, our first session is less about telling your entire life story and more about understanding where you are right now and where you want to go.

You can expect a real conversation, not an interrogation. I'm engaged, collaborative, and genuinely invested in helping you connect the dots, identify what's keeping you stuck, and begin creating meaningful change.

I also offer a free 15-minute consultation call before scheduling. It's a chance for us to connect, answer questions, and make sure we're a good fit—because finding the right therapist matters.