Megan Hightower

Finding a way to live our lives aligned with our goals and values is one of the most meaningful steps we can take to decrease suffering and increase a sense of purpose in our life. Unfortunately, over our lifetime, we may have learned ways to engage with the world which get in the way of our own successes. We may have become stuck in patterned ways of thinking and acting, which become second nature and can be difficult to change without targeted work. This can lead to feeling discouraged or even hopeless.

I have worked with many clients who were grappling with these difficult emotions, who had learned ways to cope that might have been effective in the moment (isolation, aggression, self-harm, substance use, etc. ), but were keeping them from reaching long term goals. I graduated with my masters degree in mental health counseling in 2014. For several years, I have worked in a residential treatment setting to help adult clients manage symptoms including difficulty regulating their …emotions, including managing feelings of anger, anxiety, and depression. Many of my current and past clients have learned ways to maintain healthy relationships with partners, family, friends, and employers without sacrificing their own needs.

Before transitioning to the mental health field, I taught elementary school for six years and spent the following three years training teachers to effectively reach at-risk students. I am passionate about addressing issues at the earliest onset, which includes working with children/adolescents and their families to find effective strategies and facilitate change. Often the same issues we have as adults started in our youth, and while we can address them at any point, gaining skills earlier can prevent difficulties down the road.

I believe that all clients are capable of change and that, while change is rarely easy, the effort it takes to see results is worth it. I use primarily Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) to work with my clients. This methodology uses components from Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) paired with mindfulness and acceptance to help clients live their "life worth living". I am happy to work with clients of all ages, backgrounds, etc who are motivated to work together to address their needs with targeted strategies, including practice outside of the therapy session.