Thanks for visiting my website!
My practice is currently on hold while I complete my doctoral work.
I plan to return May 2022.
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Danette A. Buchanan, M.S. LPC is a licensed professional counselor in private practice in Beaverton, Oregon. She plans to graduate from Liberty University in May 2022 with a PhD in Counseling Education and Supervision!
Her professional counseling journey began in 2009 when she graduated from Loyola University in Baltimore and started practicing in community service agencies as well as a Christian counseling agency. She went on to start a private practice in 2014 where she serves individuals, couples, adolescents, and families. She sought additional training in the integration of Christian principles by becoming ordained as a Deacon in the Church of the Nazarene in 2017. She brings 23 years of experience as a public-school music teacher to her toolbox of creative approaches. Most recently she took on a leadership role as CSI president to the online Western region. She hopes to get more involved in the Association for Creativity and Counseling and the Oregon Counseling Association.
Her primary research interests include neuroscience, trauma and the role of rhythm and music therapy, EMDR interventions, training and education, secure relationship attachments and human growth and development. She has been happily married for 44 years and has two awesome sons (Wes) age 42 and (Daniel) age 40, two beautiful daughters-in-law, and 6 grandchildren! Jazzy and Ruby, her Labradoodle and poodle, complete the family circle
Danette is an avid learner and investigator. Her top five strengths are: empathy, individualization, input, achiever, and learner.
Style of Counseling
Her style of counseling focuses on solving problems and freeing up emotional and spiritual space to experience life with greater joy. It can allow one to stand up under greater scrutiny and unrelenting pain in the midst of unforeseen circumstances. She helps clients "accept what they cannot change, find courage to change what they can, and seek the wisdom to know the difference." (Alcoholics Anonymous). In short, she help clients regain their energy and enthusiasm for life.
Danette's therapeutic approach is Rational Emotive Therapy. REBT is a form of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy whereby individuals identify, challenge and dispute irrational beliefs. The therapy intervention works by helping the individual adopt and implement new adaptive beliefs.
Danette also uses EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization the Reprocessing) for individuals who have experienced traumatic events. These events may be "big T" events or "little t" events. Here is a video about EMDR:
COVID-19 Mental Health Resources:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/managing-stress-anxiety.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fprepare%2Fmanaging-stress-anxiety.html
Treatment Specializations
- Depression: I use empathy, active listening, strong attending skills and silence to help the client process their feelings. I create an environment where clients can broaden their range of feelings, and help them uncover feelings that have been buried or gone unrecognized. I encourage clients to increase their physical activity if applicable, engage their world again and find the courage to live again.
- Anxiety: I am skilled in helping a client uncover the deeper issues that may be underlying their present anxiety. My approach is to allow the client to process their thoughts and feelings, validate their efforts to cope with difficult stressors and then teach the client how to live in the moment, rather than the future.
- OCD: I help clients process how their obsessions and compulsions have worked for them and how they have been a hindrance. Obsessive thoughts are usually about meeting a need, so I help the client explore the deeper need beneath their obsessive patterns and find more healthy ways to cope with life.
- Couples: Intimate relationships are an important part of life. I help clients explore their role in their relationships, teach them how to communicate effectively and clearly and problem-solve situations that have left them feeling stuck.
- Bipolar Disorder: My focus is on self regulation, stability and relationship satisfaction.
- PTSD: I utilize EMDR as an important tool to lower high levels of distress so that the trauma no longer has the power to paralyze you.
- Academic and Behavioral Problems: I collaborate with academic professionals and psychologists who evaluate cognitive and learning problems.
- Faith and Spirituality: I help clients stabilize their view of themselves, so that their identity is not rooted in their failures or their accomplishments, but in their trusted higher power. I support clients with their faith values, which enable them to transcend the complexities of life. I help them gain a sense of grounded-ness in their lives that will stand the test of time through the good and the bad times of life.
- Career and life Transitions: I offer a listening ear to those who might want to process their thoughts about life's critical transitions. Some examples might be: job changes, new parents, unemployment, chronic illness, adoption issues, academic challenges, etc.
“Photography by Rachel Hadiashar”
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