Specialties
General Mental Health Therapy
Underwood Counseling & Consultation, PLLC is committed to the emotional wellness and trauma recovery of children, (ages 8-10); pre-adolescents (ages 11-12); adolescents (ages 13-19); and adults. Our team of highly trained PhD and Master’s level clinicians have over 50 years of combined experience in the treatment of mental health concerns.
Emotional wellness is a journey of growth. Learning to manage life can be a challenge. When complicated by life transitions, performance pressures, chronic health conditions, mental health diagnoses, and a host of other unforeseen obstacles, it is important to seek guidance.
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Life Adjustments
- Grief & Loss
- Infertility & Pregnancy Loss
- Traumatic Birth & Postpartum
- Physical, Sexual, Emotional, & Spiritual Abuse
- Emotional Dysregulation
- Suicidality & Families Affected by Suicide
- Chronic & Terminal Health Issues
- Caregivers
- Career Transitions & Loss
- Athletic Performance & Injury
- Substance Abuse, Early Recovery, & Family Recovery
- LGBTQIA+
We believe that client success is accomplished through a multifaceted approach. Family participation is critical and strongly encouraged. Our team of experts bring the best to clients through treatment collaboration with Registered Dieticians, General Medical Physicians, Psychiatrists, Speech-Language Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, and School Counselors.
Trauma Recovery Therapy
Trauma is defined as an event that has had a lasting negative impact (Shapiro, 1987).
Underwood Counseling & Consultation, PLLC specializes in trauma recovery for individuals, couples, and families who have experienced Post Traumatic Stress; and adverse memories or emotions of an event from which they feel holds them back in various areas of life (e.g., relationships, school, career, athletic performance, recovery from medical illness, etc.). Our clinical team is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR), Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), and Trauma Focused-CBT.
Anyone at any age can experience a trauma response. Left untreated, this response could evolve into PTSD and have significant impairment in an individual’s social and occupational functioning. Underwood Counseling & Consultation, PLLC has special training in working with a variety of individuals and ages who have experienced trauma.
Our team also has experience in working with first responders including Medical Doctors, Nurses, Mental Health Therapists, Police Officers, EMTs, Firefighters, Teachers, Disaster Responders, and Military Veterans.
Trauma recovery therapy has been empirically shown to effectively treat a wide range of challenges such as but not limited to the following:
- Anxiety, panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive thoughts, and phobias
- Chronic Illness and medical issues
- Depression and bipolar disorders
- Dissociative disorders
- Eating disorders
- Grief and loss
- Pain
- Performance anxiety
- Personality disorders
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other trauma and stress-related issues
- Sexual assault
- Sleep disturbance including insomnia
- Substance abuse and addiction
- Violence and abuse
- Combat
- Critical Incidents (e.g., Mass Shootings, Bombings, Suicide, Traumatic Accidents)
Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR) was created by the late Dr. Francine Shapiro as a structured eight-phase approach using standardized procedures to address the past, present, and future aspects of a traumatic memory. The Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) model is the theory that guides the EMDR treatment procedures and offers an explanation for the basis of pathology. This model postulates that humans have an innate information processing system that assimilates new experiences and stores them into existing memory networks in an adaptive state. Pathology arises when new information is inadequately processed and then stored in a maladaptive mode in the memory networks, along with associated distorted thoughts, sensations, and emotions. External stimulation similar to the adverse experience can trigger sensations and images from the traumatic event so that the person re-experiences feelings or bodily sensations. If these memories remain unprocessed, they become the basis of the symptoms of PTSD. EMDR and the AIP theory hypothesizes that when the memories are adequately processed, symptoms can be eliminated and integrated.
Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), created by Lane Rosenzweig, LMFT, focuses directly on how negative images are connected with emotional and physical reactions. The specific and unique way in which the techniques are delivered in ART tend to result in a rapid and complete recovery. Clients find relief from distress by the end of a treatment session.
ART is firmly grounded in techniques used in well-established evidence-based treatments, including exposure through visualization, visualized in-vivo exposure, relaxation/stress inoculation facilitated by eye movements, re-scripting of negative images, Gestalt techniques, and others. ART’s powerful technique of the Voluntary Memory/Voluntary Image Replacement is a form of re-scripting similar to techniques used in some other treatments that are involved with other forms of cognitive therapy. When combined with desensitization through visualization (imaginal exposure), this intervention has a powerful effect on changing the clients’ relationship to their traumatic narrative.
Although clients know that the new image is not the actual image from their memory, changing the images affects the current level of emotional and physical functioning. The narrative will remain, but the narrative will not trigger the problem symptoms.
To learn more about ART visit:
Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART)
International Society of Accelerated Resolution Therapy (IS-ART)
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) is a specific type of cognitive behavioral therapy that has been effective in reducing symptoms of PTSD that have developed after experiencing a variety of traumatic events. CPT was developed in 1988 by Dr. Patricia Resick, as an empirical treatment for survivors of sexual assault and rape. Since its creation, the empirical research has shown successful implantation across trauma types and client populations. CPT is commonly used for treatment of child abuse, combat, sexual assault, and natural disasters.
CPT is generally delivered over 12 sessions that are structured to help patients learn how to challenge and modify unhelpful beliefs related to the trauma. In so doing, the patient creates a new understanding and conceptualization of the traumatic event so that it reduces its ongoing negative effects on current life. After each of the 12 therapy sessions clients are asked to complete specific assignments outside of session. The process of CPT begins with a victim’s impact statement detailing how the traumatic experience effected their value and belief system about self, others, and the world. Subsequent sessions utilize Socratic questioning and other strategies to help the client examine and question their unhelpful thoughts about the trauma (e.g., self-blaming thoughts) in order to modify any maladaptive thinking. As therapy progresses, clients are increasingly aware of their ability to use these adaptive strategies outside of treatment to improve overall functioning and quality of life
Relationships, Couples & Family Therapy
Underwood Counseling & Consultation, PLLC has a team of therapists trained in Gottman Relationship Therapy, IMAGO Therapy, Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to assist individuals and their partners improve and rebuild their relationship.
Couples therapy may consist of pre-marital counseling, marriage therapy, and relationship counseling.
Couples therapy can assist with a wide range of relationship issues. Couples therapy may also be used to enhance the positive characteristics of the partnership and assist the couple to grow the use of their skills in areas such as communication, decision making, parenting, problem solving, and maintaining healthy boundaries.
Underwood Counseling & Consultation, PLLC provides family therapy for children, adolescents, and adults who desire to improve communication and resolve conflicts. Family therapy may include all family members or just those able/willing to participate. The family system will learn skills to deepen family connections, manage stressful situations, and adapt to changes in ways that do not threaten the system.
The goals of family therapy are to provide a safe environment to explore and discuss challenging experiences; to help family members find alignment and closeness while maintaining individualization and autonomy; and to re-establish or create healthy exchange of thoughts and emotions.
- Anxiety, panic attacks
- Obsessive-compulsive thoughts and phobias
- Chronic Illness and medical issues
- Depression and bipolar disorders
- Dissociative disorders
- Eating disorders
- Grief and loss
- Pain
- Performance anxiety
- Personality disorders
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other trauma and stress-related issues
- Sexual assault
- Sleep disturbance including insomnia
- Substance abuse and addiction
- Violence and abuse
There are many benefits to couples therapy. Couples who actively participate in therapy together report reduced relationship stress, increased relationship satisfaction, greater sense of security, more spontaneity, and more playfulness. When individuals feel more secure in their relationship they are more assertive and adventurous in other areas of their lives.
First Responder Care Team
First responders serve in roles with intense physical and mental demands. You take care of others; but who takes care of you. Underwood Counseling & Consultation, PLLC has a team of clinicians who have specific training in working with individuals who hold positions as emergency responders and allied professionals who provide adjunctive first response care.
- Law Enforcement, Firefighters, EMS, Dispatchers, Disaster Response
- Healthcare Workers
- Pastoral Professionals
Underwood Counseling & Consultation, PLLC provides care and training to improve coping with adversity and trauma. Our goal is to support first responders and allied professionals in their healing. Our team focuses on several areas of support.
- Resiliency training
- Tools to guard against burnout
- Management of stress under pressure
- Recovery after traumatic or adverse experiences
Career & Organizational Coaching
Similar to family therapy, career & organizational coaching is ideal when assisting groups of non-familial individuals understand how to successfully work together by improving their skills in the following areas:
- Communication
- Problem solving
- Idea exchange
- Positive and negative feedback
- Professional development
- Performance improvement
Career & Organizational Coaching examines the personality and cognitive strengths of the system members; their knowledge and skills; as well as the members’ learning styles to create a more collaborative and successful team. Career & Organizational Coaching can help an organization increase profitability, efficiency, and productivity by helping to align members with the roles and leadership that are a best fit.
Career & Organizational Coaching is idea for:
- Professional teams
- Executive leaders
- Work groups
- Coaches
- Athletic teams
- Performance groups
Special Education Advocacy Program
Children and adolescents with disabilities and special health care needs have a legal right to public education. Special education services and school accommodations might be necessary to allow students to reach their emotional, cognitive, and/or physical potential and be successful academically.
Underwood Counseling & Consultation, PLLC has developed a Special Education Advocacy Program under the guidance of Margarita Ramirez, MS LPC-Associate. Margarita has worked with families and school administrators to design educational programs that support the individual needs of students diagnosed with neurodivergent diagnoses (e.g. ADHD, Autism Spectrum, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Processing Disorders, Intellectual Disabilities, etc.), psychiatric illness, and medical diagnoses.
Navigating the legal and education system can be intimidating and daunting. Our advocate is highly trained to understand the processes associated with obtaining appropriate special education services. We will walk with you step by step through the process of establishing a diagnosis, communicating with the educational system, and monitoring the delivery of support services within the academic setting. We will be a voice for your child and family.
Our advocacy services include the following:
- Coordination of psychological diagnostic and therapeutic services.
- Attend ARD meetings with parents and children.
- Review, recommend, and interpret Individual Education Program (IEP) plans.
- Identify, design, and monitor implementation of 504 Accommodations.
The Special Education Advocacy Program is not a service covered or reimbursed by insurance. Advocacy services are individually designed for the child or adolescent. Various service packages are available for your needs. Please call for specific rates
Practice Model
Our Practice Model
The Underwood Counseling & Consultation, PLLC team provides individual, family, and couples therapy utilizing evidence based, empirically supported therapies. Team members are expertly trained in general mental health care, trauma treatment, exposure & response prevention, substance abuse recovery, and neurodivergent skills training. We are happy to care for multiple family members in our office.
Team members approach treatment using a variety of approaches including Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Family Systems, Motivational Interviewing (MI), Exposure & Response Prevention Therapy (ERP), Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT), and skills-based therapies such as Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). Dr. Underwood and trauma recovery team are trained in Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR), Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavior Therapy (TF-CBT). Our therapeutic approaches for clients experiencing eating disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorders include EMDR, Accelerated Resolution Therapy, and DBT.
Clients experiencing symptoms of a mood disorder (e.g., depression, anxiety, etc.), eating disorder, or OCD struggle with intuitive eating and overall wellness. Mood can be significantly impacted by nutrition and fitness. Underwood Counseling & Consultation, PLLC collaborates with wellness experts to provides fitness and nutritional coaching to clients.
Many clients seek treatment with Underwood Counseling & Consultation, PLLC in lieu of using medication to manage symptoms. Much improvement in mental health has been found in the use of psychotherapy in conjunction with lifestyle changes. This is undeniable in the research literature. There are times when medication can be a valuable adjunct to psychotherapy. The keys are finding a psychiatrist who understands the client’s symptoms; is willing to collaborate with the psychotherapist; and does not over-prescribe. If a psychiatric consultation is determined to be appropriate, Underwood Counseling & Consultation, PLLC will provide a referral to one of the many psychiatrists with whom they collaborate.