Meet Teresa
Teresa is a Licensed Associate Counselor dedicated to helping children, adolescents, adults, and families navigate difficult seasons with compassion and practical support. She specializes in helping children as young as age 2, along with clients experiencing trauma, anxiety, grief, relationship challenges, and high-conflict family dynamics. Her approach is warm, collaborative, and tailored to the unique needs of each individual and family.
Specialized Experience
Teresa has developed specialized expertise in areas where many families struggle to find experienced care. She works with children beginning at age 2 using developmentally appropriate therapeutic approaches and also provides counseling for trauma recovery, narcissistic abuse, anxiety, grief, major life transitions, and high-conflict family dynamics. Families throughout Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler, Queen Creek, Scottsdale, Apache Junction, and the greater Phoenix metropolitan area seek her support for these specialized services.
Education & Professional Training
Teresa is trained in evidence-based therapeutic approaches, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).
She is also a Certified Narcissistic Abuse Treatment Clinician (NATC), allowing her to provide specialized support for individuals recovering from emotional abuse, manipulation, and unhealthy relationship patterns. Every treatment plan is personalized to each client's goals, strengths, and stage of healing.
What Makes Refuah Counseling Different?
The Meaning Behind "Refuah"
The Meaning Behind "Refuah"
Healing with Purpose
The name Refuah comes from the Hebrew word for healing. It reflects my belief that healing is about more than simply reducing symptoms—it's about restoring hope, rebuilding confidence, strengthening relationships, and helping people move toward a healthier future.
At Refuah Counseling, every client is treated with compassion, dignity, and respect. Healing looks different for every person, and together we work toward meaningful, lasting change.
Early Childhood Expertise
The Meaning Behind "Refuah"
Specialized Care for Children Ages 2+
Many counseling practices begin seeing children around age seven or eight. Teresa has experience working with children as young as two years old using developmentally appropriate therapeutic approaches designed to help young children safely express emotions, process difficult experiences, and build healthy coping skills.
Trauma-Informed Care
High-Conflict Families
Trauma-Informed From the Start
Trauma affects every person differently. Teresa provides trauma-informed counseling that recognizes how difficult life experiences can impact emotions, relationships, and everyday life. Treatment is personalized to each client's experiences, strengths, and goals rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach.
High-Conflict Families
High-Conflict Families
Helping Families Navigate Complex Relationships
Whether families are facing conflict, co-parenting challenges, emotional abuse, or major life transitions, Teresa helps clients develop healthier communication, stronger boundaries, and practical strategies for moving forward with confidence.
Personalized Care
Every Healing Journey Is Unique
No two people have the same story, which is why no two treatment plans should look alike. Teresa takes time to understand each client's experiences, strengths, goals, and challenges before developing an individualized approach to care. Whether working with a young child, teenager, adult, or family, therapy is tailored to meet each person's unique needs while creating a safe, supportive environment where lasting healing can begin.
Healing Is Possible
Healing Is Possible
No matter where your journey begins, healing is possible. Teresa believes every person deserves a safe place to feel heard, understood, and supported while building resilience and discovering hope for the future.
What You Can Expect in Therapy
A Safe Place to Be Heard
Clients deserve a space where they feel heard without judgment. Teresa creates an environment built on trust, compassion, and emotional safety so healing can begin at a comfortable pace.
Therapy Tailored to You
Every treatment plan is grounded in proven therapeutic approaches including CBT, DBT, ACT, EMDR, Narrative Therapy, Sand Tray and Play Therapy, and trauma-informed care, tailored to each client's needs.
Practical Tools That Make a Difference
Therapy isn't just about talking—it is about learning tools that help manage anxiety, strengthen relationships, improve communication, and build resilience long after each session.
Healing Happens One Step at a Time
There is no timeline for healing. Teresa meets clients where they are and walks alongside them as they move toward hope, confidence, and lasting change.
Why Families and Professionals Refer to Teresa
Specialized Experience You Can Trust
Some situations require more than general counseling. Teresa has pursued specialized training and experience that allows her to support children, families, and adults facing complex emotional and relational challenges.
Early Childhood Counseling
Many counselors primarily work with older children or teens. Teresa works with children beginning around age two using developmentally appropriate therapeutic approaches, including play-based interventions that help young children communicate feelings, process difficult experiences, and build healthy emotional skills.
High-Conflict Family Dynamics
Families experiencing divorce, custody concerns, co-parenting conflict, or high-conflict relationships often need specialized support. Teresa helps children and parents navigate difficult family transitions while creating emotional stability and healthier communication.
Trauma & Narcissistic Abuse Recovery
Teresa has advanced training in trauma-informed care and is a Certified Narcissistic Abuse Treatment Clinician (NATC). She helps clients recover from emotional abuse, manipulation, grief, anxiety, and traumatic experiences using evidence-based therapeutic approaches tailored to each individual.
Evidence-Based Professional Training
Teresa incorporates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), EMDR principles, Narrative Therapy, Sand Tray Therapy, Play Therapy, and trauma-informed techniques. Every treatment plan is personalized because no two healing journeys are the same.