Renae Mendez

I believe therapy is an opportunity to create a new path toward living a meaningful life. Often struggles or hardships we experience push us into following old patterns that may not fit our values or how we want to effectively live our lives. It can also be space to understand how we can be more fulfilled or effective in our work or relationships. My approach is to collaboratively develop a clear plan to reach your goals for treatment while uncovering and building from your strengths. As a clinician practicing for 15 years, one of the things I love to explore with clients is how understanding the connection between how our brain operates, our body responses, our emotions, and thoughts can help us take a fresh perspective on challenges that you may have been struggling with for a while. Practicing in Hawai’i for many years with service members in the military created an opportunity for me to grow as a clinician and holistically incorporate one’s culture as well as nature into treatment in effective ways. I specialize in treating trauma and regardless of whether the event happened a month ago, or 20 years ago, there are effective, evidence-based strategies we can utilize to heal and grow beyond that harm. I also specialize in anxiety, depression, self-esteem, attachment, and relationship issues so I encourage you to come into a session, willing to be curious or courageous, and together we can develop a plan that meets your needs. The types of treatments we may use together include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy (EMDR), Prolonged Exposure (PE), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Experiential therapies, and grief work, among others. ~Aloha~