Welcome.
Welcome! My name is Caitlin Goicoechea Hart, I am a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor for the state of Idaho and a National Certified Counselor. I feel ecstatic to be starting my private practice, Hart Counseling. Over the last 6 years, I have developed myself into the mental health counselor I am currently and eager for the continued growth as I start this journey.
Personally, I find a passion for working to end the stigma of mental health and this platform will allow me to advocate for that through monthly mental health blog topics. I will spend some time now sharing why I think we all can use some counseling and to start with some self-disclosure, I have a mental health counselor too!
Individuals often wonder if counseling is for them. Worried about being judged, feeling weak, and unsure about the process. Even though we have made progress over the years to the stigma around counseling there is still some surrounding it. The truth is mental health counselors often work with individuals dealing with an array of life transitions: divorce, health challenges, career change, self-esteem, school conflicts, family stress/ parenting issues or maintaining current balance. Meaning, individuals who seek counseling are not “crazy”, “weak” or “a failure”, they are just individuals living life. The therapeutic process is a collaborative approach for the client to gain insight and positive growth that they seek. Many therapists utilize a variety of theories, interventions, and techniques to assist in that. As a counselor, I strive to provide a safe, trusting, and open therapeutic environment for my clients. Allowing my clients to be vulnerable during the counseling process is an important component to healing and creating their change. Being mindfully present with my clients is among my core beliefs. I believe that being able to process through emotional difficulties, life adjustments, or mental health struggles can positively impact our daily function in all aspects of life.
I know this is what my counselor does for me. I see her monthly sometimes as a check-in for my balance other times to process a deeper transition of life. The best part of that is the counseling sessions are what I need from the therapeutic relationship, my time as the client.
I hope I caught your attention and helped minimize some uncertainty in mental health counseling because, we are all dealing with life.
Caitlin Goicoechea Hart LCPC NCC