Dombrosky Counseling
Counseling Services
Neurodiversity-Affirming Care
Our services celebrate neurodiversity and individuality by recognizing that every mind is unique and valuable. Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, we embrace the natural variations in how people think, feel, communicate, and experience the world. Rooted in a strenghts-based and affirming perspective, we focus on empowering individuals to understand and embrace their identities and not to "fix" or mask their differences. Goals are collaboratively developed based on the client's needs and values, and all forms of communication, expression, and sensory experiences are respected. Rather than viewing neurodivergent traits as deficits, our services honor them as important parts of a person's identity. By fostering self-advocacy, autonomy, and positive self-regard, therapy will be a supportive space where clients can thrive as their authentic selves.
EMDR & Trauma Informed Care
Many individuals may experience symptoms associated with painful and traumatic circumstances. Anxiety, fear, and hopelessness are just a few emotions that may linger after distressing events. EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a form of therapy which guides clients in adaptively reprocessing traumatic events and/or negative schemas. We are proud to offer EMDR both in person as well as virtually.
Therapy Dog
Ziggy is a Cavapoo who is in training to be a therapy dog. Therapy dogs can be a wonderful addition to the therapeutic process as they can increase one's ability to regulate emotional arousal. Research has shown that therapy dogs decrease symptoms of anxiety and depression, reduce stress levels, and increase adaptive cognitions. Additionally, therapy dogs are exceptional social catalysts. They encourage the development of social understanding and heighten awareness of nonverbal social cues.
What to Expect
Your First Appointment
Welcome! We are honored to join you on your journey toward healing and wellness.
In our work together, we’ll explore the stressors, symptoms, and triggers that may be negatively impacting your life.
Your first appointment will focus on completing an Initial Assessment. This structured session helps us get to know you more deeply and better understand how to support you effectively. While it may feel a bit more like an interview than a traditional talk therapy session, this time is essential for setting a strong foundation for future work.
Although it's tempting to dive right into processing, reviewing significant life experiences and background information will allow us to make the most efficient and meaningful use of our time together.
If you have any documents you’d like us to review, such as prior evaluations or relevant records, please feel free to bring them. We’ll be glad to review them before your second session.
Scheduling Your Sessions
Some clients find that weekly appointments provide the consistency they need to build momentum in their healing process. Others prefer a bi-weekly schedule, allowing more time between sessions for reflection and integration. Both approaches are valid and offer unique benefits.
Together, we’ll explore what frequency feels most supportive and sustainable for you based on your goals, needs, and life circumstances.
You’re also welcome to alternate between in-person and online sessions, depending on what best fits your schedule and preferences.
SPACE: Supportive Parenting For Anxious Children
Amy has undergone specialized training from Yale University in order to provide an evidenced-based treatment for children with anxiety, OCD, and related disorders. SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Children) is a parent-based treatment program. Parents will learn skills and tools to help their child overcome anxiety or OCD by making changes to their own behavior and communication styles. Parent's are guided in adaptive more supportive language and reducing family accommodations that have been made in response to their child's symptoms. Children do not need to attend SPACE session.
Hypnosis
While the word hypnosis might bring to mind images of stage tricks or mind control, real hypnosis couldn't be more different. Hypnosis isn't something a person gets "put into". It is not a gimmick or a magic spell. Rather, it is a set of therapeutic tools designed to help people connect more deeply with their own internal resources through the use of trance. Trance is a completely natural human experience, something we all dip in and out of every day. Have you ever arrived somewhere and realized you don't remember part of the drive? Mentally replayed a conversation while sitting in a meeting? Zoned out folding laundry and found yourself planning your grocery list? Then you have been in trance. Trance and Hypnosis are not the same. Trance is a state while hypnosis is the intentional use of clinical skills to guide that state in a helpful direction. Hypnosis in our practice is collaborative with our client's making their own choices and remaining fully engaged throughout the entire session. It is important to note that hypnosis is not a stand alone therapy like EMDR or CBT. Rather, is is a powerful and supportive tool to enhance your ability to reach treatment goals.
Social Understanding Groups
Social Understanding for Neurodiversity (S.U.N.) groups are influenced by the evidenced-based UCLA program PEERS. The primary focus of our program is increasing each teen's self-confidence as well as their understanding of social interactions rather than learning prescribed social skills. This focus promotes autonomy as well as the ability to make intentional choices when socializing rath than complying with social rules and/or masking. Each group incorporates the themese of self-advocacy, self-regulation, perspective-taking, boundaries, and problem-solving skills into the lesson. This group may be appropriate of teens with Autism, ADHD, Anxiety, and /or Depression. Parent participation is required for the 10 week group.
We are Here to Support You
We are passionate about providing a safe, authentic, and caring environment for clients to explore and grow. We believe it is important to meet clients where they are and, at the same time, to assist clients in expanding their comfort zone to achieve their goals. Together, we will work towards increasing your emotional health and resilience by expanding adaptive coping skills, restoring healthy thought patterns, and regulating distressing symptoms.
We love using creative approaches to connect with our clients. Ziggy, our therapy dog-in-training, is always happy to snuggle with in-person visitors. For teens, therapy might include a walk on the greenway, a round of ping pong, or even virtual reality—whatever helps them feel comfortable and engaged in the process.
