Crystal Forbes, LPCC

I am a professional mental health counselor licensed as an LPCC, in the state of New Mexico dedicated to helping people find their way to their best selves.

I have been working as a mental health counselor for the past 9 years utilizing an approach where the focus is on the client, not the problem. Where the client can set the pace of their counseling and is treated with respect, acceptance, non-judgement, and empathy. I also take an integrated approach, meaning I will use interventions from other therapeutic theories. One therapeutic approach does not fit all, and it is important to adjust therapy as it fits best for the individual. This has translated to established therapeutic relationships that allow clients to attain their goals of treatment.
I have primarily worked with clients who suffer from anxiety, depression, trauma (stress related, PTSD and Complex traumas), addiction/s, stress management, grief, and bipolar disorder. My clinical counseling experience includes working with people of all ages and backgrounds at clinical mental health hospitals, schools, career counseling, community care & mental health clinics and crisis counseling/suicide prevention. In addition, as part of licensing requirements, personal interest in tools and interventions that will help my clients, there is on-going continuing education that includes: ethics, new research, treatment modalities, multicultural and trauma informed treatment.
Since March 2020, I have been working from home using telehealth/webcam video for counseling sessions with my clients. I found this to be a very useful and beneficial tool. It has allowed my clients greater access and flexibility to their counseling sessions. Given the time and patience it takes to get used to meeting via webcam, telehealth counseling can be quite similar to meeting face to face.
I am only the guide in this therapeutic journey. You will be the one to decide to do the work. Mental health healing is not a linear process. It can be all over the place, forwards, backwards, sideways, up and down. But know, I will be there to support and guide you along your path.
Do keep in mind that my approach is not going to be a good fit for everyone. Here’s what I don’t do as a counselor: I am not going to tell you what you should or shouldn’t do (I will offer options/different perspectives), I do not give you ‘homework’ that has to be done before your next session (I encourage actively using interventions discussed in sessions), I do not set up a plan for each session (again, in this process, you are in control of what is discussed and worked on in sessions). If these are things you are expecting and need in counseling, then I may not be a good fit for you as a mental health counselor. And that is ok, as it is important for the counseling process to work and be a good fit for you.