“Out of your vulnerabilities will come your strength”
Sigmund Freud
A Bit About Therapy
Personalized Attention for All Your Needs
I implement effective integrated psychotherapy methods to instill self-understanding among patients and encourage them to adopt new attitudes and feelings towards life situations. It is essential to keep in mind that therapy is not a magic pill or a quick fix: therapy is a process that requires participation and commitment to make change and reclaim your life. But in the end, making these small changes to self-defeating behavior and coping with feelings of sadness, fear, and pain can bring life-altering results.
Services I Offer
With You Every Step of the Way
Specializing in OCD and Anxiety Disorders, including Hoarding
I have extensive experience working with individuals that have been diagnosed Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), experiencing anxiety, and/or hoarding. Through the use of Exposure and Ritual Prevention (ERP) techniques, which are based in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), combined with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), psychotherapy and mindfulness, successful therapy can be achieved. While this outcome can be enhanced with the implementation of medications, we have found that many people benefit from therapy alone. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) changes the patterns of thinking (cognitions) that prevent an individual from overcoming their fears. The behavioral component aids an individual to come in contact with and begin to conquer their fear or fears. Facing one’s fear is done through Exposure and Ritual Prevention Therapy (ERP) and which systematically desensitizes an individual’s fears. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) encourages making decisions based upon one's values, rather than making fear based decisions. The combination of these treatments is effective and produces success in overcoming fears, therefore, allowing individuals to recognize their distorted thinking. Approaching fears and worries in a systematic hierarchy through techniques acquired during therapy sessions empowers the individual to manage and live comfortably with the stimuli that once made them feel paralyzed.
Hoarding or Decluttering
I have many years of working with people that have difficulty in making decisions on what is reasonable to keep. Many people experiencing hoarding tendencies have had previous trauma. During sessions in your home, I can assist you in deciding if you "love it," "use it," "have multiples of an item," or "have a place for it." Conquering the anxiety associated with possibly making a wrong decision is the main goal of this therapeutic approach.
Co-Parenting Counseling
Many times, divorced or separated parents are in a high conflict situation. The court strives for both parents to be active and present in the lives of their children. Evidence has shown that children with both parents working in a cooperative manner allow the child or children to feel supported and loved, therefore providing more nurturing, stable home environments and better outcomes in school and future relationships.
Parents may utilize Co-Parenting Counseling to learn to better communicate and work cooperatively. These sessions are facilitated with both parents present with an end goal of working as a parenting team, much like working with a co-worker on a project. Past issues may be discussed and trust may be rebuilt. The goal is not to reconcile the parents, but instead have them put the needs of the child first, realizing that only they can change their own behavior and not the behavior of the other parent. Working cooperatively happens through better communication and acceptance of the other parent’s role in the life of the child. As a former educator, it is my goal to support the child to prevent self-harm, suicidal ideation, and the fear of telling parents how they really feel instead of telling them what they "think' parents want to hear.
Private Child Custody Mediation
When parents split up, they need to make important decisions about child custody, visitation and child support. Child custody mediation can help parents negotiate these agreements and avoid the expense and stress of court intervention. As a child custody mediator, I can also work with a parent who needs to modify or enforce an existing agreement.
When parties to a divorce have children, they must work out a parenting plan outlining who has custody or visitation of the children and when. If the parents cannot agree to a custody arrangement, then utilizing a child custody mediator may be a viable alternative. Parents then simply file their agreed upon elements and parenting plan with the court to implement their decisions.
Benefit from my professional experience and wide range of psychological services.
About Me
Philomena “Cookie” Kipp, LMFT #110617, MAED, CAMF
I have completed a Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy with the University of San Francisco and have been licensed since 2018. I also holds a Master’s of Education from the University of Phoenix. I have 30 years of teaching experience and over 20 years of counseling in family services and addictions. I have worked intensively with Anxiety clients, specializing in Hoarding, Generalized Anxiety, OCD, Panic Disorder, and Body Dysmorphic Disorder. I worked with the LGBTQ community with transgender clients during my traineeship. My therapeutic approach focuses mainly on Solution Focused, Cognitive Behavioral, Acceptance Commitment, and Exposure Response Prevention Therapies with an integration of other approaches when a benefit to the client.
I love helping my patients develop the tools they need to cope with all of life’s challenges.
I've recently added Private Custody Mediation to my practice. I have found much satisfaction and success when working with Co-Parenting Counseling clients. My goal is always to make the child/ren feel supported and comfortable with both parents by helping parents work together to provide a united front in the face of their children.
Contact me today to learn more and book a session.
cookiekipplmftgmail.com
916-524-4749