BreAnna Boyd

Biography

Qualifications & Experience

I hold a BA in Psychology and an MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, both from Northwest University. I am also an EAGALA-certified equine specialist.

My Call to Christian Counseling

I chose a career in counseling because I feel a deep passion to join my professional pursuits with ministry. Mental health and psychology are universal parts of being human. Walking through the healing process is a deeply vulnerable and unique experience for each individual. I am always impressed with the courage clients display when they engage in this process, and am honored when you choose to walk with me for part of that journey.

More About Me / On a Personal Note

I enjoy spending time with friends and meeting new people. I love taking care of animals and I have discovered simply being in their presence is therapeutic for me. I love the outdoors and travel; my husband and I try to prioritize spending time in fresh air. I also enjoy art, including painting and photography. I ride horses as often as I can, and enjoy gardening, cooking, and baking in my home. My goal is to always continue learning new things, whether serious study or fun facts. I love to take walks and have deep conversations with people about faith, dreams, doubts, and daily life – I know, cliche for a counselor!

Services and Specialities

Areas of Expertise / Specialties

• Abandonment and Neglect
• ADHD
• Aging and Geriatric Issues
• Anger Management
• Anxiety
• Bipolar Disorder
• Coaching
• Codependency
• Depression
• Eating Disorders
• Grief and Loss
• Individual Counseling
• OCD
• Online Counseling
• Personal Development
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Professional Development
• Relationship Issues
• Sexual Abuse
• Spiritual Development
• Trauma
• Weight Loss
• Women’s Issues

Anxiety and Depression

In a world that is currently overstimulated, uncertain, and demanding, anxiety and depression have increased significantly in this generation. When working with your anxiety, we will learn how to slow down, focus on the cues your body is giving you, and develop coping tools and lifestyle changes that fit your unique needs and circumstances.

In my practice I draw from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), an evidenced-based practice that examines thoughts and how they impact feelings and behavior. Through this exploration, combined with somatic-based therapies to increase awareness of your bodily experience, we can begin to piece together the story anxiety and depression may have written for you. We will then take the pen back to develop a new identity outside of your experience of anxiety and write a new future for yourself.

There are a variety of things that can impact our feelings of anxiety and depression – normal, human experiences that can become exacerbated by trauma, loss, stress, or physical imbalances. Through connecting all these pieces together and being good detectives, we can then feel empowered to generate a plan that will make space for hope, the changing of persistent thought patterns, and development of lifestyle changes to nurture your body and mind.

Spiritual Development

In working on spiritual development, we will first develop an understanding of your goals, so I can know how best to serve you. We can work on spiritual principles such as prayer and finding stillness with God (something that is very challenging in our task-driven culture). We can also work on deeper, personal goals, such as exploring existential and spiritual questions or setting specific goals for growth, including finding tools to cultivate working on forgiveness, letting go of anger, increasing trust and faith, and more.

Trauma and PTSD

In this life, we will all experience pain and distressing experiences. However, if these experiences have been severe, chronic, or intensely frightening, they can cross over into trauma when our brains do not know how to let go of the memories and feel safe anymore. If memories of a previous negative experience are constantly plaguing your mind, if you are finding it difficult to trust again after someone or multiple people have shattered your confidence, or if you feel a traumatic event is significantly influencing your life, we can unpack these experiences slowly, and with understanding and grace.

The first step in overcoming trauma is to build safety in your mind and body. This will look like building rapport and safety in our counseling relationship, exploring coping skills that work for you to reduce feelings of distress, anger, and anxiety, and reminding your brain that you are in the present moment and safe from the danger of the past.

I will use psychoeducation to normalize experiences that can make us feel alienated and aid in better understanding the brain’s reactions that are causing the current distress. We will explore triggers and learn to face them with courage and compassion, rather than fear and avoidance. We will also piece together the story within the broader context of your life and create meaning out of the ashes that trauma can cause. My goal in helping you heal from trauma is to help you feel safe again, grieve the event(s) that has caused your current pain, and ultimately find meaning that can allow freedom from the burdensome chains of trauma.

Trauma is a deeply impactful experience in one’s life, but hope can be found in the recognition that we have the capacity to heal from and grow through devastating circumstances, with God’s help.

Abandonment and Neglect

Abandonment and neglect is a unique form of trauma. Oftentimes, when we experience trauma, something is happening to us or being taken away from us. When we go through abandonment or neglect, someone is choosing to ignore our fundamental human needs and desert us. In these moments, we may question why this has happened to us, if we are valuable, or if God loves us.

Working together through the painful memories and scars that abandonment and neglect can leave with us is challenging but rewarding. I will walk with you with compassion and a listening ear as you process the unique grief that is caused by the actions of another, and the devastating impact neglect can have on our self-esteem. We will unpack the questions, hurt, fear, and anger that accompany such a foundationally damaging experience. I will walk with you as you build hope and find empowerment in taking your story out of the hands of your abuser and learning to write a new story and new identity for yourself.

My goal is to help you come through the grief you experienced in the rejection of your humanity by another, and find that you truly are valuable, even if you have been told otherwise for many years. I will come alongside you and offer support as you find new meaning and cultivate hope in moving forward into a new tomorrow, away from the ashes of the past.

Women’s Issues

In our culture, it seems the topic of gender and femininity is everywhere. There are mixed messages filling the streets about what it means to be a woman in secular culture and what it means to be a woman in the church. The roles and values that accompany being a woman have been debated for a very long time. The presence of all of these conflicting messages can be confusing and painful.

I will help you sift through the confusion to discover the beauty of the female side of humanity. We may walk through God’s good design of women and unpack damaging, sometimes subtle experiences that may be contributing to the confusion.

I am available to support women in grief, loss, victimization, single parenting, identity development, confusion, marriage and the strength behind being a godly wife, pregnancy, postpartum, menopause, and a number of other challenges that are unique to the female experience. I am here to help women understand their unique giftings from a spiritual perspective and empower women in humility to seek and understand God’s inherent value He has placed on the female counterpart of humanity.

Payment and Forms

Sessions: I offer 53-minute sessions. Sessions can be held more than once per week, weekly, or every other week. Scheduling options are discussed in greater detail during your Risk-Free Initial Session.

Availability (by office location):

• Monroe – Monday, Tuesday and Friday
• Online (WA Only)– Monday, Tuesday and Friday

Fees: I offer a Risk-Free Initial Session for individuals looking to pursue counseling with me. Please note that there is a fee for the Risk-Free Initial Session as it is a clinical hour and reimbursable to most insurance companies, but if you choose not to reschedule and continue therapy after the initial session, the entire fee for the session will be waived. For ongoing treatment, the full fee per session is required at the time of service.

Insurance: As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor Associate (LMHCA), some insurance companies will reimburse for a portion of my services (as an Out-of-Network Provider). Please consult with your insurance provider as to whether they specifically cover individuals.

Receipts/Statements: In the event you require a printed or digital receipt, I will provide receipts for personal use, insurance reimbursement, Flex Spending Accounts (FSA), and Health Savings Accounts (HSA).

Payment options: Cash, Check, or Credit Card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, & American Express). A fee of up to 4% per transaction may be added for credit card payments.