Tonyia Behrendt

Hi, I’m Tonyia, a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor and National Certified Counselor with a background in both education and mental health. Before becoming a therapist, I worked as a teacher and school counselor, and my clinical experience has included school-based therapy, community mental health, and private practice. This background has given me a unique understanding of the pressures individuals and families face at different stages of life.

I specialize in working with teens and adults experiencing anxiety, ADHD, perfectionism, intrusive thoughts, trauma, grief, and major life transitions. I especially enjoy helping people who feel overwhelmed, stuck in overthinking, or exhausted from trying to keep everything together.

My approach is warm, down-to-earth, and collaborative, while also being practical and goal-focused. I use evidence-based approaches including EMDR, CBT, ACT, DBT-informed strategies, motivational interviewing, and solution-focused therapy. I believe therapy should be a place where you feel genuinely understood while also gaining tools and insight that help you create meaningful change in your everyday life.

My approach to therapy is warm, collaborative, and practical. I believe the relationship between therapist and client is an important part of creating meaningful change, so I work to provide a space where you can feel comfortable being yourself—without judgment or pressure.

I don’t believe therapy should be one-size-fits-all. I take time to understand what you’re experiencing, what may be keeping you stuck, and what you want to be different. Together, we’ll identify patterns, build practical skills, and work toward changes that feel realistic and meaningful in your everyday life.

I specialize in anxiety, ADHD, perfectionism, intrusive thoughts, trauma, grief, and life transitions. Depending on your needs, I incorporate evidence-based approaches such as CBT, EMDR, ACT, DBT-informed strategies, motivational interviewing, and solution-focused therapy.

My style is supportive but also active and engaged. I’ll listen, ask questions, help you make connections, and gently challenge you when it may be helpful. My goal is for you to leave therapy not only feeling heard and understood, but also with greater confidence and practical tools to move forward.

Your first session is really about getting to know each other and helping me understand what brought you to therapy and what you’d like to be different. There’s no pressure to share everything at once. We’ll move at a pace that feels comfortable for you.

I’ll ask questions about what you’ve been experiencing, what’s working well, where you’re feeling stuck, and what you hope to gain from therapy. We’ll also talk about your strengths, relationships, and experiences that may be important to understanding the bigger picture.

By the end of our first few sessions, my goal is for us to have a clear understanding of what you want to work on and a plan for how we’ll get there. You can expect a relaxed, supportive, and judgment-free environment where you feel heard, but also leave with a sense that we’re working toward something together.