Briana Nicole Messerschmidt, LMFT
(she/her)
About Me
Do you have “sticky” self-defeating thoughts that won’t leave you alone? Do you “know” you’re good enough but don’t “feel” it? Have you suffered the loss of a pet or loved one and struggling to find someone who “gets it”? I am here to help with these and more. We have all been faced with major changes and sacrifices in 2020. Some of these changes have left scares and holes in us. I truly believe we all have the power to grow and heal within us; sometimes we just need a little guidance and specialized tools to get started. I can help you gain strength, motivation, resiliency, and a deeper compassion for yourself and your journey.
I specialize in trauma recovery, pet loss & bereavement reconstruction, compassion fatigue, and addiction. I work with my clients using an Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) model and narrative perspective incorporating the robust and effective therapies Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing(EMDR), expressive arts, sandtray, and guided meditation.
2020 revolutionized therapy and reminded us of the beauties and pains that remain in the world. As an accomplice, I strive to provide culturally informed therapy and improve my & my fields awareness through advocacy. It takes incredible courage to seek help, especially now. I hope to be the therapist you can trust and connect with while taking this journey.
Education & Experience
Specialized training:
-Certified in working with Compassion Fatigue
-EMDR Therapy for Suicidal clients, self harming behaviors and Borderline Personality Disorder training
-Safe TALK Trained
-Non-violent crisis intervention Trained
-Suicide for EMDR Training
-Neurodiversity and the LGBTQ+ Community: Best Practices for Services Providers
-Animal-Assisted Therapy Trained
-Implicit Bias training
-Recent Traumatic Episode Protocol (R-TEP) and -----Group Traumatic Episode Protocol (G-TEP) trained
-Desensitization of Triggers and Urge Reprocessing (DeTUR) trained
Education:
-Master of Science degree in Counseling from
-California State University, Fullerton
-Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from University of California, San Diego
-Graduate of Exotic Animal Training and Management Program
-Chi Sigma Iota Honor society
-Phi Sigma Theta Honor society
Professional & Volunteer Affiliations
-TRN Orange County
-California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists Member
-American Counseling Association Member
-Association for Multicultural Counseling Development Member
-Human-Animal Interaction: Section 13 of Division 17 of the American Psychological Association Member
-Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement Member
EMDR International Association (EMDRIA) Member
-Association of Professional Dog Trainers Member
International Association of Canine Professionals Member
-Therapy Pet Unlimited Evaluator
-Canine Good Citizen Evaluator
Specialty Area
- Abuse/Neglect
- Addictions
- Alcohol/Substance Abuse
- Anxiety/Panic Attacks
- Bipolar Disorder
- Birth Trauma/Pregnancy Loss
- Chronic Illness/Medical Issues
- Dissociative Disorders
- Domestic Violence
- Family Issues
- Grief/Loss/Mourning
- Mood Disorders
- Motor Vehicle Accidents
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders
- Performance Enhancement
- Phobias
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Self-Harm
- Sexual Abuse
- Somatic Issues
- Spirituality
- Sports Injuries
- Stress Management
- Suicide Risk
- Survivor's Guilt
- Traumatic Incident
Population Served
- Adolescents (13-17)
- Adults
- BIPOC
- Community Mental Health Center
- First Responders
- Group
- Immigrants
- LGBTQ+
- Residential Treatment Facility
- Seniors
- Underserved
- Veterans/Military
Language
- English