Registration Number:

Associate Marriage and Family Therapy #143921

Associate Professional Clinical Counselor #15538 

I am currently under the supervision of Dr. Allison Brownlee, PsyD., LMFT #89484 and work for Stronger Together Community Services, a nonprofit based in San Diego, California. 

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Marriage and Family Therapists (MFTs) are licensed mental health professionals who work with individuals; couples – whether or not married; family’s of all types; and groups to cure or relieve mental, emotional, and relational concerns of all kinds. MFTs work in a variety of settings throughout California and the rest of the country providing mental health services, as well as provide services in independent practice.

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A Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) is a mental health professional who provides counseling and psychotherapy to individuals, couples, families, and groups. LPCCs work in a variety of settings, including private practice, schools, hospitals, VAs, and community agencies. They can provide a range of services, including counseling, psychotherapy, assessments, diagnosis, evaluations, psychoeducation, clinical case management, career counseling, and crisis services.

MFTs and PCCs have minimally acquired two-year master’s degrees, 3,000 hours of supervised experience, and have passed two rigorous exams.

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For more information or to contact my supervisor:

Allison@StrongerTogetherSD.org

833-757-7909

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Counseling sessions typically last 50 minutes.

Session frequency is based on your specific needs and concerns and typically is once or twice weekly. Sessions are encouraged to continue until you have met your specified treatment goals or until you are feeling better. As therapy progresses, we can work together to determine if weekly sessions will continue to be useful. Some people will find that as they begin to heal and grow, fewer sessions are needed. The frequency of sessions can be adjusted in order to best meet your needs and maintain positive change.

There are many factors that will help determine the length of therapy, including the complexity of the issue, how much growth and change you want to make, how deeply you would like to explore the issue and your commitment to making and maintaining positive changes.

I will work with you in determining the appropriate schedule for therapy.

I am not in network with any insurance companies. If you decide to enter into counseling with me, you would be responsible for my rate of $150/session.

I encourage clients to call their insurance carrier and learn what out-of-network benefits they have. If you decide to work with me, they may offer the option of using a superbill to help you get reimbursed (paid back) for your services. I can provide you with a superbill after each session that you can then submit to your insurance. 

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I do offer sliding scales that are based on your income. Applications will have to be submitted and approved.

It is important to choose a therapist who you feel is a good fit for you. This can often be identified through your initial phone call and early assessment sessions with the therapist.

Some practical things to consider also include the therapist’s qualifications, including education, training, experience, the fee for the session, and the location of the office.

Questions to ask yourself:

Do you feel comfortable with your therapist? 


Can you be honest and open with your therapist? 


Is your therapist responsive to your concerns and questions? 


Do you feel confident in their understanding of your concern?


Do they just listen or are they active in session?

Having a good fit makes a significant difference in making progress in counseling. In fact, studies show that the number one predictor of positive outcomes in therapy is the quality of the relationship between me and the therapist.  

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If I am not the right fit for you, that is okay! I'd rather you be with another therapist, and I would be more than happy to provide recommendations.

Therapists are mandated, by law, to maintain your confidentiality.  There are however a few limits that pertain to this law, which include:

• Suspected child abuse or dependent adult or elder abuse. The therapist is required to report this to the appropriate authorities immediately. 

• If a client is threatening serious bodily harm to another person. The therapist is required to notify the police. 

• If a client intends to harm themselves. The therapist will make every effort to work with the individual to ensure their safety. However, if an individual does not cooperate, additional measures may need to be taken. The crisis team or police may be notified.

When you go to a civilian therapist, your confidentiality is far more certain than when you go to counseling on base. Base therapists are government employees who are required to break your confidentiality in ways that I as a civilian therapist will never do. 

As a civilian psychotherapist, I have greater control over client records and can thus limit access to therapy notes. Engaging in therapy with a civilian therapist does limit the potential for negative career impact. 

What isn’t private: As stated in Question #5, like all therapists, I am legally required to do my best to keep you and other people in your life safe from harm. Please read the limits of confidentiality above. 

I am the spouse of an active-duty military member and have substantial experience working with the military population and understand military culture.

• Anxiety 

• Depression 

• Trauma & PTSD

• Spiritual & Religious issues 

• Self-esteem, self-worth, or identity issues

• Relationship Issues 

• Life Transitions 

• Military stressors/ deployment readjustment 

• LGBTQIA+

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I have experience working with military veterans and military spouses, those experiencing spiritual/religious abuse and trauma, survivors of human trafficking, domestic violence, coercive relationships, LGBTQIA+, neurodivergence, those suffering from chronic pain, PTSD and trauma.

I hold a Master of Arts in Clinical Counseling (MACC) from Point Loma Nazarene University.  This program complies with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences and meets the requirements for LMFT and LPCC Licensure requirements in the state of California. I am currently working on dual licensure.

I have completed diverse training and supervision in AEDP, EMDR, and Somatic therapies. I have completed Parts I and II and the required consultation hours meet the EMDRIA EMDR training.

Yes! I have extensive training and experience with telehealth services and have worked diligently to ensure that the quality of service is not affected by the screen. With that said, telemhealth is not suitable for all kinds of medical encounters or situations. If there are concerns regarding this, we can discuss it in the intake call. I will make appropriate referrals if I believe you would benefit from in-person services or a higher level of care. 

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At this time, I do not offer in-person services.

The first step is to schedule a FREE consultation call. This call will last about 15-20 minutes and I will ask you simple questions to get familiar with needs and goals. From there you can decide whether I am the right therapist for you. If you do decide to work with me, we will schedule our first session and I will send you all the paperwork through our patient portal. 

Absolutely! Our professional social media pages offer amazing tips and reminds about upcoming events. While it is not a substitute for therapy, it is a great resource.

We don’t follow, friend, comment, respond, or make other similar connections on social media with clients, or their family members or friends. This is to protect your confidentiality and privacy. If you choose to follow us on social media, it’s at your own risk.

Please note, this is not a way to contact us for any reason, especially an emergency.

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@wendiebriggstherapy

@strongertogether_sd