Cardinal Counseling
HELPING PEOPLE GET UNSTUCK
Existing Clients
Prospective Clients
About Cardinal
Cardinal Counseling Services, PLLC, is a mental health counseling clinic providing therapy services with a special focus on integrating client feedback in the areas of depression, anxiety, grief, trauma recovery and relationship issues.
Meet Our Team
Cardinal clinicians are highly educated, trained in evidence-based practices by industry experts, and committed to integrating client feedback in every session to make sure we stay on track towards your goals. We offer outpatient psychotherapy and medication management services.
Tara V. DeJohn, Counselor
Hello! In over three decades of being a social worker, I have become great at providing a gentle, judgment-free listening space to travel with clients as they work through “the big stuff.” Anxiety, grief, trauma recovery. Chronic illness and end of life issues. Navigating medical and legal systems so that we can all be empowered. I also have empathy and a huge soft spot in my heart for those navigating intersectional identities.
James Evans-Hammond, Counselor
Hello! I work with all adults who are seeking change or just a lighter stress load to be able to achieve their version of the “good life.” I provide accepting and affirming counsel to my clients. I believe that all of us have the ability to make our lives better, but sometimes we need to be able to talk with someone who will listen and encourage without judgment. I have a diverse background and I have worked with people from all walks-of-life. We are all on our own unique journey and that we have our own unique needs when it comes to receiving therapy. You, as my client, will receive your own individual plan to achieve your desired outcomes.
Brooke Gomez Fixler, Counselor
Hello! I specialize in helping adults and teens who are coping with trauma/PTSD, depression, anxiety, self-injury, postpartum mood disorders, relationship issues, identity exploration, and navigating the transition into adulthood. I provide individual therapy and is trained in Person-Centered Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. While equipped with a variety of techniques, I tailor my approach to fit the unique needs of each person she works with.
Farida Hamza, Intern
Hello! I have joined Cardinal as a graduate intern completing my master’s degree at UCA. If you need therapy, but you know you can’t afford someone’s full rate, meeting with an intern may be a good choice. I have already accrued experience working with college students and adults on anxiety, depression and social issues. I am also supervised by the other wonderful Cardinal counselors!
Crystal Hart, Counselor
Hi! I work with kids, teens, adults, and couples. Life isn’t easy, and nobody is perfect. But you deserve to accept “you as you,” and not some facsimile of what today’s societal norms tell you to be. I would be honored to hold space as you get reacquainted with your inner voice and your true direction in life.
Marissa Marlin, Counselor
Hi! I work with teens and adults in individual therapy. I truly believe that you know yourself best, and that deserves to be honored. If you are walking a difficult path, or feeling stuck at a crossroads, you don’t have to navigate this alone. Get comfortable, take off your shoes, and let’s work together to find your most authentic self!
Nancy Mitchell, APRN
Hello! After a long career as a teacher and nurse, I completed my nursing education to become a psychiatric nurse practitioner. It has been exciting to add medication management services to the supportive psychotherapy I’ve been doing all along. I view myself as a partner and collaborator on your quest for wholeness, and I believe all people deserve skilled care regardless of who they are.
Luanne Nelson, Counselor
Hello! I work with adults and I can assist you in uncovering the ways you have gotten distracted from your most authentic values. After we do this, we will build and execute a plan for committed action in the right direction. You are worthy of a life filled with joy and meaning!
Rachel Pinto, Owner
As the owner and leader of Cardinal Counseling, I keep us focused on our central values: to journey with people in the change they seek, and to keep their voice central to all we do. We are honored that this focus enables us to empower those who have been hurt and overlooked in our society. We are here for you.
Beth Simpson, Intern
Hey there! I’m an artist and art therapist who’s passionate about what I do! I work with kids, teens, and adults in individual or family therapy. I’ve joined the Cardinal team as an intern as I finish my master’s degree in art psychotherapy. Art therapy is perfect for those hard-to-talk-about topics, it’s for great for all ages, and no, you don’t have to consider yourself an artist to experience the amazing healing benefits of art therapy.
Kirsten Sowell, Counselor
Hey! I work with kids, teens, and adults in individual and family therapy. I am a natural-born helper who sees the good in everyone I meet, and I can offer perceptive yet gentle partnership as you heal and adjust course. I also really love rainbows. No, like. Really, really. They’re all over my office.
Susan Warren, Counselor
Hi! I work with people of all ages who can feel overwhelmed by things that other people seem to handle easily. I believe that we need to take a holistic view of your struggles, looking at personal responsibility as well as the ways the systems in your life have marred your true self. Let’s partner for change, power and healing!
Where Are You Going?
Where are you going, and how can we get you there on purpose? Is it the direction you really want to take, or is that unsettled feeling in your gut saying it was chosen by someone other than you? It is your life, and you are the one who has to live it…so you get to decide what you want. From our own journeys, Cardinal counselors know that this process isn’t always easy or comfortable. But it’s always worth it.
The LGBTQ+ Community…
Modern society is built on efficiency and same-ness, and as such, has been hurtful towards members of the LGBTQ+ community. At Cardinal, we offer a safe and accepting space among your own, where you can heal and learn to love your unique self.
POC Communities…
Healing is built on truth. One painful truth of US history is that people of color were and continue to be exploited and mistreated. If you seek a fellow traveler at Cardinal, you will be met by someone who is committed to making a contribution towards the societal change that is long overdue.
Kids and Teens…
Every adult remembers what it was like to be a kid. But the only people who know what it’s like to be a kid today are, well, kids today! Cardinal counselors who work with kids and teens embrace this truth and will collaborate with clients and families to bring healing and helpful change.
Women…
…Or ‘womyn,’ or ‘womxn.’ Language changes in response to culture, and the fact that we weren’t sure which spelling to use here reminds us that the role and identity of women is changing so much right now. Nevertheless, all women – including transwomen – are accepted by a gentle and powerful cohort at Cardinal.
Couples and Families…
Roles and rules are always changing for families, and you need a guide who can help you find what is right for you – and not just a template of something that works for others. We are trained on how healthy relationships function, and we use this training within the context of your unique values and priorities.
Therapy works.
At Cardinal, we know therapy works, because everything we do is backed by research and feedback. Here are the top three contributors to success in therapy, and how we approach each one.
1.
WE BELIEVE IN YOU
The number one contributor to client success in talk therapy is the therapeutic alliance, or how well the client and clinician engage with each other. It is important that you, the client, feel like your counselor understands you, feels positive towards you, and resonates with your life experiences. Cardinal counselors are some of the best in the business at forging therapeutic alliance, and we gather feedback in deliberate and focused ways to ensure we are successful with as many clients as possible.
2.
WE BELIEVE IN OUR PRACTICES
The second best contributor to client success in talk therapy is the clinician’s belief in their therapeutic model. We definitely have that covered here at Cardinal Counseling! We have sought training in models that are backed by the most rigorous and up-to-date research methods, and we are so excited to help in these very effective ways.
3.
WE BELIEVE IN WORKING TOGETHER
The third highest contributor to client success in talk therapy is the agreement on the structure and focus of therapy. Cardinal counselors are trained in simple and research-backed methods for ensuring that you (and your loved ones, if they are in counseling with you) and your counselor can find and agree upon the true focus of therapy.
Our Services
Cardinal counselors are trained in a variety of therapy approaches that are validated by clinical research, ongoing professional development, and tailored to the individual client’s needs. You are in charge of your journey and your Cardinal counselor will seek to collaborate with you on what therapeutic methods and theories are most supportive of your journey.
COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY (CBT)
CBT is one of the most widely used and effective types of therapy in which the clinician helps the client identify and change distorted thoughts, increase emotional stability, and find more helpful ways to cope with stress.
ACCEPTANCE AND COMMITMENT THERAPY (ACT)
A contemporary form of CBT, ACT teaches us how to discover and honor our personal values through mindful awareness of our own thoughts and feelings, the flexibility to hold our experiences lightly, and committed action toward what matters most.
DIALECTICAL BEHAVIOR THERAPY (DBT)
DBT is similar to CBT but adds a special focus on relationship skills and the practice of mindfulness. Developed originally for the treatment of borderline personality disorder, DBT has been shown to be helpful with many mental health issues.
EYE MOVEMENT DESENSITIZATION AND REPROCESSING (EMDR)
EMDR helps to alleviate the problems associated with traumatic memories. EMDR has helped countless people with PTSD or related symptoms find relief and an ability to find their “new normal.”
EMOTIONALLY-FOCUSED THERAPY (EFT)
EFT is a cutting-edge and research-based form of couple therapy. Cardinal counselors use EFT to “roll up their sleeves” and help couples and families actually experience new ways to relate to each other in session.
EGO STATE THERAPY
Ego State Therapy is based on the theory that one’s personality can be viewed, experienced and interacted with in parts rather than just as a whole. It works to locate and interact with the parts of the person that can most effectively enact and benefit from change.
PARTNERS FOR CHANGE OUTCOME MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (PCOMS)
PCOMS is a part of every single session at Cardinal Counseling. We use the above therapy approaches and others as our understanding guides us. However, the most important information about therapy comes from the client. Cardinal counselors understand how people work, but no one understands how you work better than you!
What people are saying
“Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would make it past two days in therapy. I’ve tried a few times in the past and have failed at committing. I came to a point in my life where I was stuck, lost, not knowing where to turn. I thought I would open my mind and give it another go. I am so glad that I did. “
“Rachel helped me change my life. She’s thoughtful, pragmatic, always up to date on the newest research, and knows how to help you make life-changing connections.”
Getting Unstuck Starts Here
Flexible appointments and telehealth options available.
The most rewarding part of my job is when a client or colleague finally believes the awesome thing about themselves. When they can say, “It wasn’t my fault,” or “I have other choices now,” or “I am enough,” then I know their life is really about to change. – Rachel Pinto