Yasmine Saunders (she/her)
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist #146470
Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor #16398
CLINICAL APPROACH
Welcome to Teen Therapy Center, I look forward to meeting and connecting with you! I always like to say, there is never a right or wrong time to come to therapy. I encourage you to leave your fears, doubts, and worries at the door as we get to explore the strength and resiliency within you. As we begin this journey together, my hope is to create a space where you are able to show up as yourself, feel safe, and explore the barriers that stop you from feeling confident and ready to take on the world. I am not here to tell you what to do. Instead, I would like help identify values and explore how to grow compassion for yourself. I am eager to walk along side of you in your journey of self-discovery and growth!
My therapy approach focuses within a client-centered and strengths-based approach. Therapy can look different for each teen therefore I believe in meeting each person where they are at in their life’s journey. Despite what others may tell you or the thoughts you may have, everyone has strengths within them! I also incorporate solution focused, cognitive behavioral therapy, expressive arts, and mindfulness into my work. Dialectical behavioral therapy, along with family-systems, attachment theory, and trauma-informed therapy are also used in my therapeutic approaches. Within these theoretical orientations I may use, I am always mindful of multicultural factors that can impact the therapeutic setting. I enjoy working with students, teens, and their families!
ABOUT ME
When I am not at the office, you can find me training for my marathon (or some other running event!), baking, catching up on my TV shows, or trying out new restaurants. You can find me re-watching any of the Hunger Games movies or The Parent Trap! Food Network Channel is on if the other 2 movies are not! Right now, my favorite self-care practice is finding yoga videos on YouTube and doing at least 3 stretches/mediations a week.
I think of myself as a” glass half full” person, rather than “glass half empty” in that there is always some sort of positive despite feeling negative. I like to laugh and remind myself that I am trying my best, and that’s all we can do. My personal goal for this year is to travel at least 4 times out of the state of California.
I am Bilingual in Japanese and English!
SERVICES I OFFER
In-person & virtual sessions for:
Individual Therapy (Teens)
Family Therapy
Parent Support
THERAPEUTIC MODALITIES & PRACTICES I USE
Family Systems Therapy
Mindfulness
Motivational Interviewing
Narrative Therapy
Non-Violent Communication
Person-Centered Therapy
Play Therapy
Solution-Focused Therapy
Art Therapy
Attachment-Based Therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (trauma-informed)
Crisis Intervention
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
Existential Therapy
SPECIALTIES
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Strengths-based Therapy, Expressive Arts and Play Therapy
Supporting and empowering multiracial teens and their families
BIPOC (black, indigenous, people of color) community, and women and men struggling with self-esteem, confidence, and relationships
AREAS OF CONCERN I WORK WITH
LGBTQ+ Concerns (Discrimination from Family/Friends/Community, Gender Dysphoria, Gender Identity Exploration, Gender Incongruence, Interpersonal Connections, Parenting, Romantic Relationships, Sexual Orientation Exploration, Transitioning)
Life Transitions
Loneliness
Narcissism
Neglect
Oppositional & Defiant Behaviors
Parenting Issues
Perfectionism
Personality Disorders
Pessimism
Phobias
Pregnancy & Childbirth
Procrastination & Motivation
Psychosis
PTSD
Relationship Problems
Schizoaffective Disorder
Schizophrenia
School Avoidance
Self-Esteem
Self-Harm
Sensitivity To Rejection & Criticism
Sensory Processing
Sex Addiction
Sexual Assault (Survivor)
Sexual Assault (Offender)
Sexual Behaviors
Shyness
Sleep Problems (Nightmares, Night Terrors, Insomnia)
Social Skills
Spiritual & Religious Issues
Stress & Stress Management
Substance Use
Suicide (Attempted, Ideation)
Terminal Illness
Trauma
Trust Issues
Video Game Addiction
Wetting/Soiling Bed & Clothes
Abandonment
Abuse (Emotional/Verbal, Physical, Sexual) (Offender)
Abuse (Emotional/Verbal, Physical, Sexual) (Survivor)
Academic Problems
Acting Out Behaviors
Adoption
Aging & Geriatric Concerns
Aggression/Violence (In Kids/Teens)
Aggression/Violence (In Adults)
Anger
Anxiety (Generalized, OCD, Panic Attacks/Disorder, Social)
Attachment Issues
Attention Problems/ADHD
Autism Spectrum
Bipolar
Blended Families
Body Dysmorphia
Body Image
Bullied By Others
Bullies Others
Codependency
Communication Difficulties
Cultural Issues
Death
Death (Preoccupation With)
Depression (Major, Peri/Post-Partum, Seasonal)
Developmental Delays
Discrimination
Disordered Eating (ARFID, Binging, Orthorexia, OSFED, PICA, Purging, Restricting, Rumination)
Divorce (Supporting Kids/Teens, Supporting Adults)
Domestic Violence
Family Conflict
Fire Setting
Grief, Loss & Bereavement
Health & Medical Problems
Identity Exploration
Illness Within the Family
Impulsivity
Infidelity/Cheating
Learning Difficulties
LGBTQ+ Concerns (Anxiety, Coming Out, Depression)
* Areas of concern in bold are areas I'm particularly passionate about working with
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE
Education:
Master of Arts in Counseling from Saint Mary’s College of California (2020)
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (2017)
Completed Level 1 TEAM-CBT certification training
Work Experience:
Associate Marriage Family Therapist at Starlight Community Services (2022-2023): School based mental health for middle and high schoolers within Santa Clara County.
Associate Marriage Family Therapist at Bill Will Center (2020-2022): mental health services provided for youth and families between 6 years old – 21 years old.