SUPPORT FOR HEALTHY LIFE PATTERNS, RELATIONSHIPS & ACCOMPLISHING YOUR GOALS...HEALING FROM LOSS AND TRAUMA...FINDING RELIEF FROM INACCURATE, SELF-SABOTAGING, SELF-LIMITING BELIEFS...GAINING TRUST IN SELF & ONE'S OWN INNER AUTHORITY...ENJOYING A FULFILLING, MEANINGFUL LIFE...
"My Focus is always that everyone deserves the utmost respect for his/her process of healing and recovery in a genuinely safe therapeutic environment."
COLLEEN RUSSELL, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (MFC29249) and Certified Group Psychotherapist (CGP) has over 20 years of experience providing general psychotherapy, counseling, and consultations for individuals, couples, and families in addition to facilitating educational and exploratory psychotherapy groups. Her theoretical approach is psychodynamic, cognitive, relational, and family systems. In-office and phone consultations and sessions are available.
Ms. Russell has training, education, experience, and competence to help clients with various issues including those involving relationships; depression and anxiety; loss & grief; trauma and post-traumatic stress; complex post-traumatic stress; dissociation; compulsive behavior; transitions; depression; anxiety; adults neglected and/or abused as children; early parent loss; identity issues; current stressors or crisis; meaning of life concerns.
She also specializes in the following:
Cult (or High-Demand Group) Education & Recovery for former members including those born and/or raised in cults and families or partners of a loved one currently involved in a cult. Cults are groups that share cult characteristics in their structure and dynamics. They may be identified as "Spiritual", "Religious", "Political", "Eastern", "Christian", "New Age", "Large Group Awareness Training Programs", "Philosophical", "Family", "One-on-One". Colleen Russell also works with those affected by church or clergy abuse.
"Motherless Daughters", women who have lost their mothers through death or abandonment in childhood, adolescence, or adulthood.
"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." Anais Nin (1903 - 1977)
At a time of our economic crisis, groups are more affordable than individual psychotherapy and, in many cases, they are a preferred option. The following safe, respectful on-going exploratory, educational groups are facilitated by Colleen Russell and offered at her office in Mill Valley, CA:
MOTHERLESS DAUGHTERS SUPPORT GROUP for women who have lost their mothers through death or abandonment, in childhood, adolesence, or adulthood, every other Monday, 6:30 - 8:00 PM, Mill Valley, CA.
GROUP FOR FORMER MEMBERS OF CULTS (OR HIGH-DEMAND GROUPS) including Second Generation Adults (SGAs), those born and/or raised in cults or high-demand groups, every other Saturday, 4:00 - 6:00 PM; , Mill Valley, CA.
-- CLIENT COMMENTS --
All in all I would say that our work together continues to have been a grand success...Having worked through much of the underlying pain and conflict, I simply no longer feel the need to be intoxicated -- there is no pain left to kill. That is a freedom so fantastic that it remains hard for me to express in words." --Robert
"As a motherless daughter I now realize that for years following my mother's death I didn't allow myself to feel my pain or to confront how her death and illness affected my life. Now I'm able to be myself and not let my perception of others' feelings dictate what I do or say...The pain has subsided and even the shame I somehow felt. I can now comfortably say 'I'm a motherless daughter' because it's part of who I am." -- Janice
"I feel I have healed from the impact of the cult and it is no longer on my radar. I have been testing out different churches ... In this process I feel empowered and not obligated to serve under a certain pastor and if I don’t like the place, I leave (then and there, not when the service is over) and don’t come back. I feel no guilt or fear of cosmic punishment if I do so. I will not compromise my hard-earned victory by placing myself under the strong hand of a tyrant. I guess I have been immunized in that regard. Thank you for helping me to be empowered to take control of my life." -- Natalie
"I thoroughly appreciate your consistent professionalism, gentle support, and understanding. I'm leaving our group as a 'new person' in some ways...I'm sad that I won't be seeing everyone regularly, but I'm excited about my life. This 'graduation' was not possible in the cult." -- Sara
"I spent roughly two years meeting with Colleen, and at times with the group she maintains. I was at a complete loss for a definition of what I wanted or needed to do to regain control over my life, mind and body. I was riddled with doubt about her ability, and it was a significant challenge to learn to trust her, and myself, in the process of finding a pathway to healing.
"There was no moment of epiphany, no instantaneous clarity, no magic. Indeed, the expectation of such things is itself a side effect of the cult in which I was involved. There was no secret knowledge, no higher level to obtain... What we did 'together' was form a partnership, a team. Our objective was deeper understanding, but not special knowledge or the revelation of secrets.
"All individuals will face their own challenges, but for me, it seemed that the process was akin to shedding a second skin of personality and behaviors that had been imposed on my psyche. It took time, and effort, and was fraught with setbacks and doubts.
"It was ultimately worth it. Life today is not perfect, but then, it is not perfect for anyone and I have learned not to expect to be so. Over time, the nightmares came less often, the paranoia melted away, and my need to self medicate dissolved. I found out that it was possible to simply be, without having to be something or someone or somewhere. I could simply exist, with all my faults and gifts, with all my highs and lows, and within a world of many shades of gray, instead of a world filled with only black and white."-- Paul
You may contact Colleen Russell by phone: 415-383-7721; long distance:800-619-5705or email: crussellmft@earthlink.net. She generally responds within 24 hours. Located in Mill Valley, CA, her office faces a redwood-covered ridge, approximately 10 miles North of San Francisco.
SUPPORT FOR HEALTHY LIFE PATTERNS, RELATIONSHIPS & ACCOMPLISHING YOUR GOALS...HEALING FROM LOSS AND TRAUMA...FINDING RELIEF FROM INACCURATE, SELF-SABOTAGING, SELF-LIMITING BELIEFS...GAINING TRUST IN SELF & ONE'S OWN INNER AUTHORITY...ENJOYING A FULFILLING, MEANINGFUL LIFE...