Nancy Burns, JD MA LMHC LPC

My Approach to Helping

More Info About My Practice

For clients who reside in the states of New York, South Carolina, Vermont, Florida, Utah, Idaho & Wyoming, I offer sessions in the comfort of your home or office through a HIPAA compliant video platform.

I have been trained in EMDR, Somatic Experiencing, CBT, Somatic Embodiment & Regulation Strategies, Working with the Fallout of Narcissistic Abuse and Antagonistic Relational Stress, Emotions Education 101, Forward Facing Trauma Practice and Supporting Jewish Clients During an Active War. I have been certified in AEDP Level I and I have a certificate in the Biology of Trauma (offered through Trauma Healing Accelerated). I am currently in the midst of training in SPACE (Supporting Parents of Anxious Children) offered by Yale University Medical Center.

Please see my website for more information about my practice.

As a courtesy to my clients, I can submit your claims for out-of network benefits to your insurance company at no additional charge to you. You may be entitled to reimbursement for 60 - 80% of the cost of each session if you have out-of-network benefits, after you've met your deductible. Click on the "Use Your Insurance" tab on the FAQ page of my website to check to see if you have out-of-network benefits and what the approximate reimbursement would be.

And please schedule a free short consultation call so that you can get to know me and ask me any questions that you might have.

"There is no normal life that is free of pain. It's the very wrestling with our problems that can be the impetus for growth." Fred Rogers

Specific Issue(s) I'm Skilled at Helping With

Much of my work involves working with people who have experienced repeated bouts of depression, possibly since they were adolescents. They often have worked with other therapists and counselors and might have tried different anti-depressant medications, which seem to work for awhile, but then all of a sudden the depression is back. Besides the sadness and hopelessness that accompanies the depressed mood, they might experience periods of irritability. Their loved ones might tell them that they feel as if they have to walk on eggshells when the client is around.

My clients often have emotional reactions that they feel are uncontrollable and out of character. These reactions are uncomfortable to them. These strong emotions interfere with their personal and professional relationships.

They also often have distressing thoughts which move too fast and which they can't get to slow down. They sometimes might feel as if they want to jump out of their own skin. Before we start working together, they often feel hopeless, as if they won't ever have control of their lives.

If this sounds like you, we will work towards exploring the patterns of the mood states and the accompanying emotions that you have experienced. We will identify your repetitive negative thoughts and challenge their veracity while practicing new coping skills so that you can gain more control of your emotions. We might discuss the possibility of a referral to a medical provider for a trial of different medications, if it seems as if that might be helpful. We will strive towards helping you gain control over your mood and emotions, instead of your mood and emotions controlling you.

If you find yourself involved in toxic relationship cycles, we will work together to discover how you can break the cycle, rework, and nurture your relationships by identifying the root cause of these unhealthy patterns. This could involve pinpointing traumatic childhood experiences like neglectful or abusive behaviors from parents and other authority figures in your life.

Once you've recognized where these dysfunctional patterns come from, we will work toward getting rid of harmful belief systems like constant self-blaming so you can begin to prioritize your well-being. We can then work on rebuilding your self-esteem, setting your emotional and mental boundaries, and learning how to better regulate your emotions.

Do you wonder if you might have experienced complex, developmental trauma, having been raised by well-meaning but emotionally immature parents? Our childhood traumatic experiences impact us in so many ways, from how we build relationships with other people to how we deal with conflict and stressful situations. If you think that you might have experienced childhood emotional neglect, together, we will work to understand how your past experiences are impacting your current reality, and chart a path forward to something healthier, more balanced, and whole.

We will keep track of your feelings and explore how your body reacts as part of your trauma response. Our goal here is to help you become more self-aware of your own trauma response so you can learn how to better deal with trauma-induced conflict.

For clients who are experiencing the joy and also the stress of parenting andor caregiving, we will be discovering ways you can safeguard your mental health while still remaining an effective caregiver. Together, we can create new strategies that will allow you to better integrate your caregiving tasks into your personal daily activities so caregiving becomes less stressful and more bearable for you and the person you're caring for. Our goal here is to find out what you can do to prioritize your mental health so you can always provide the best care for your loved one.

My View on the Purpose of Psychotherapy

Choosing to start your healing journey is a very courageous act. If you want to make sense of your life experiences and learn how you can become the person you want to be, therapy can be a powerful tool. I'm here to walk with you as you work on taking care of yourself, prioritizing your needs, and making new connections.

"Anything that's human is mentionable and anything that is mentionable can be more manageable. When we can talk about our feelings they become less overwhelming, less unsettling, and less scary." Fred Rogers

My Role as a Therapist

When it comes to therapy, I believe that there is no one-size-fits-all approach. This is why I will be working with you to create a comprehensive treatment plan that is geared toward helping you achieve your mental health goals.

I'm here to help you realize that the troubles that you've experienced aren't your fault and that, though they may have been difficult, you CAN heal and move forward toward something better. If you're feeling worn out, overwhelmed, and that you don't know how to make lasting changes in your life, I'm here to help you figure it out.

"Feelings are something you have, not something you are." Nido Qubein

My Therapy Focus

My clients are usually adults and young adults who experience bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, and emotional dysregulation, parents and caregivers, and individuals looking to process their traumatic experiences and break free from dysfunctional, toxic relationship cycles. My former employment as an attorney gives me unique insight into the stresses experienced by those in careers which involve high stress and long, unpredictable work hours. I developed an appreciation for the challenges faced by college-aged young adults when I worked at the College of Mount Saint Vincent counseling center.

"You can't stop the waves but you can learn to surf." Jon Kabat Zinn

The Duration and Frequency of Therapy

The focus of each session will be on your individual needs. Depending on what you would like to work on, sessions often involve psychoeducation and interactive dialogue aimed at identifying patterns which have led to upsetting feelings and dysregulated behavior. Sessions can be more problem oriented and involve behavioral assignments designed to meet a specific goal. Regardless of the format, sessions are typically 50 minutes long and can be weekly or less frequently, depending on your preference. And you will always be treated with warmth, kindness, compassion and unconditional positive regard!