I believe that a strong therapeutic alliance is a key component of effective and successful outcomes--I highly prioritize your need and right to feel safe, validated, supported, and heard without judgment as we collaboratively work toward your goals. I utilize evidence-based approaches and encourage your active engagement in therapy--it's not about me telling you what you should do, it's about me helping you discover and enhance the innate potential we all possess. I consider it a gift to be part of your journey toward self-empowerment, peace, and satisfaction in your personal and professional life. My clients appreciate me for being warm, safe, and non-judgmental. With couples and families, I respect multiple perspectives, foster trust with each participating member, and maintain a neutral, unbiased position. I am skilled at treating addiction issues and clients who are very doubtful about benefiting from counseling. I also am very experienced with treating depression, anxiety, and relationship issues. I have strong appreciation for ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic factors that influence personal identity, experiences, and values. If you are struggling with feeling hopeless and alone, please know that you deserve to feel hopeful, happy, and empowered. It is my privilege to support you.

At Joining Hands, we are passionate about helping children and families through their journey toward emotional healing and repairing relationships. Joining Hands Counseling provides counseling services to children, adolescents, adults, and families to address issues of anger, depression, trauma, anxiety, grief and loss, sexual behavior problems. Joining Hands Counseling also provides services to children on the Autism Spectrum and provides services and support for infants, small children and their families. We offer a variety of non-traditional therapy techniques to assist each client in their personal journey toward resolution, healing and growth. Joining Hands Counseling gives the client the opportunity to choose an alternative means to traditional talk therapies throughout their counseling sessions, and allows the client a non-threatening means to reach their goals. Services include: Standard talk therapy; Sand tray therapy; Play therapy; Art therapy; Directive play therapy (especially for children on the autism spectrum); Infant mental health (DC 0-3); School consultations; Professional development. Play Therapy Play therapy is a therapeutic technique used with children ages 3 - 11. Free play interaction is the child's vocabulary, and is a limitless language of self-expression. There are no specific rules in play as there are in verbal communication, and thus, allows the child to feel safe doing what they do best...PLAY!! The pace of the therapy is controlled by the child and allows the child to expand the expression of self. Play therapy provides healing from hurts and trauma, and breaks down tension. Play therapy is conducted in a safe environment, which allows the child to express a variety of emotions. Play therapy assists the child in learning to cope with anxieties and conflicts through their natural pastime of play. Joining Hands utilizes Dr. Byron Norton's model of Experiential Play Therapy and Garry Landreth's Child-Centered model of play therapy. Both models are nondirective and work effectively with children. Directive Play Therapy... Joining Hands Counseling in Roseville specializes in Directive Play Therapy and counseling services for children who are diagnosed with: Developmental and Cognitive Delays; Autism; Asperger's Syndrome; PDD. Directive Play Therapy can assist the child in: Learning social skills; Managing anger; Expressing emotions; Identifying facial expressions; Increasing conversation skills; Understanding personal boundaries and space; Developing empathy. Parents are invited and strongly encouraged to participate in the Directive Play Therapy process.

As a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, I specialize in the treatment of TEENS AND THEIR FAMILIES. I also greatly enjoy working with COUPLES, INDIVIDUALS and CHILDREN of all ages. If you are thinking about embarking on the journey of therapy then you have come to the right place! But before you continue, let me start you out with a few thoughts to ponder: First, don’t give up! I know the decision to start therapy is not easy. And for so many, the steps toward actually feeling relief from symptoms may seem insurmountable. It often involves call after call researching and choosing a therapist, sorting through scheduling and finances, and perhaps begging loved ones to participate with you -- it can take a lot of energy! Energy that you may not think you have. But what is the alternative? To let the problem you’re faced with continue to build and build? You will probably reach a point of frustration again and be right back where you started -- searching for a therapist! Don’t give up -- you’re closer than you think. I am passionate about assisting my clients in reaching their goals. I believe in identifying clear goals, formulating a strategy, implementing proven methods, and seeking results. There are no guarantees for specific outcomes in therapy, but I can assure you that I will be working hard alongside you. Taking your burdens to a safe, confidential, empathetic place to unload and find the right tools for change can make all the difference. I am humbled by the opportunity to participate in the important work of fostering fulfilling relationships, promoting healing, and always encouraging growth.

Investing in counseling means that you are investing in your most important assets-your emotional and physical well being and the wellness of your family and personal relationships. Having a trained professional support you in changing negative patterns and healing old wounds can often give you positive results. I try and work as hard as my clients do, because I understand the importance of the trust they place in me and the seriousness of the issues they bring into my office. I work well with people who are facing these issues: - Moving past and healing difficult events and patterns such as abuse, family dysfunction, trauma, depression, anxiety, PTSD and divorce. - Enhance communication and improve your relationships with spouse, family, partner, co-workers and friends. - Cope with chronic pain or illness. - Address issues around infertility, pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum issues and childbirth traumas. - Work with adult abuse survivors who want to reduce anxiety and trauma symptoms and work on having healthy relationships. - Process issues of grief and loss. - Deal with life challenges and adjustments. - Heal attachment disruptions. - Prepare for a happy marriage with premarital counseling. I work with adults, couples (married, unmarried, and LGBT) and teens. My clients tell me that they enjoy having feedback from a professional, neutral third party to help them sort out life’s challenges. My style is warm, approachable and down-to-earth. I take the time to find out about your specific situation and what has and has not worked for you as a part of tailoring my feedback to be the most helpful for you rather than protocols that may not be helpful in your life. I offer a free 20-minute phone consultation so you can have your questions answered without having to commit to an appointment and so you can feel confident as you move forward that this will be a good fit for you. Find out more about my clinical interests on my Specialties page. Even if your specific issue is not listed I invite you to contact me via email or phone to find out if I can help you. If you have any questions please call or email me. My office is in Roseville, adjacent to Highway 80 and the neighboring communities of Rocklin, Auburn, Lincoln, Granite Bay, Fair Oaks, Folsom, Citrus Heights, Carmichael, and Sacramento. I serve both Placer County and Sacramento County residents. Lindsey Stewart Plumer, LPCC, LMFT (LPC#175, MFC#43983).

Brent’s style of counseling is based on his conviction that people can and do change, and that we are all in a continuous process of transformation. He believes that people naturally thrive when they have met their needs such as safety, love, influence, and purpose, just as plants flourish when they have sunlight, water, and hearty soil. As your counselor, Brent will offer you empathy, hope, encouragement, advice and insight, self-awareness, honest feedback, and the experience of feeling truly heard and understood. He will not only offer you solutions that have worked for other people, but will collaborate with you to create new possibilities that are specific to your unique relationships, family, and life situation. Whether your path leads you through frightening and dark storms, or up against painful and exhausting obstacles, Brent will walk with you along the way, helping you grow from your struggles and emerge with greater clarity, peace, and strength. Brent specializes in helping individuals, couples, and families harmonize their relationships, love themselves and others, recover and grow from traumatic experiences and difficult adjustments, feel safe and empowered, boost confidence and motivation, discover purpose and meaning, live their values, pursue their dreams, and experience greater well-being and joy.