Ventana Garen, M.A.
Associate Professional Clinical Counselor

Do you feel overwhelmed, anxious, or struggling to find a deeper sense of connection to yourself and your emotions? Do you want to step into a more empowered version of yourself? Life can be hard to navigate, whether you are facing a transition, relationship challenges, parenthood, career changes, or emotional disconnection. I am here to walk with you every step of the way, with encouragement, warmth, and authenticity. I create a safe, loving, and non-judgemental environment, where you can be yourself, heal from the past, and uncover new possibilities for growth.

 I support clients experiencing (challenges with) anxiety, depression, personal growth, self-esteem, empowerment, embodiment, sexuality, relationship struggles, parenthood and life transitions. I specialize in supporting clients who are navigating the challenges of young adulthood, as well as supporting mothers in self-reflective and attachment-based approaches to parenting.

My approach is grounded in trauma-informed care, meaning that I prioritize creating a safe, supportive, and non-judgmental environment for my clients to explore and process their experiences. Additionally, I incorporate attachment theory to help clients understand and heal from attachment wounds.  I provide a safe and loving environment for my clients to explore their thoughts and feelings, while finding creative ways to challenge my clients as well as offer a solutions-focused approach to their goals. I value the therapeutic relationship as an essential foundation for the deeper work of therapy to unfold.

Through a combination of therapeutic approaches, including EMDR, Mindfulness, Somatic, Gestalt, CBT, Jungian, IFS -Informed Parts Work and Attachment-based therapies, as well as the Gottman Method of couple’s counseling, I support my clients to access greater levels of confidence and fulfillment while gaining tools to approach life’s inevitable challenges with greater ease. I value a therapeutic approach that includes both challenge and support, as I have found this creates the optimal conditions for sustainable growth. I believe that the body holds so much wisdom and knowledge that we can tap into to understand deeper layers of our experience, and to integrate past events that have left us feeling stuck or insecure 

 It is an honor to be invited into my clients' lives and to work alongside them on their path to greater well-being. Together, we challenge negative thought patterns and create new, empowering experiences based on your aspirations and goals for the future. I am an advocate for women’s empowerment and an ally for BIPOC and the LGBTQ+ community. I actively self-reflect through my own inner work so that I can continue to show up with an inclusive and understanding approach to my client’s experiences.

Outside of my work as a therapist, my greatest joy is dance, and I am trained in teaching an embodiment-based dance practice. When not with clients, you can find me dancing my heart out, being awed by the beauty of nature, spending quality time with friends and loved ones, or being part of communities who celebrate and help each other to rise.