About

The quality of our relationships determines the quality of our lives. 

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Margaret Denise Brauns, MS, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist

My name is Margaret Brauns and I'm glad you are here. I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and provide mental health services to adults, couples and teens. I received my Masters of Science degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from California State University, San Francisco in 1998. My 25 years of experience is diverse. I have worked with all age groups and in many settings including community mental health agencies, public schools, and non-profit organizations. For the last 23 years, I have maintained a private practice. As a credentialed School Counselor, I am able to remain informed of campus life and stressors for students and their families.
In my work as a therapist, I have found that people tend to be happiest when their relationships are healthy. In order to maintain healthy relationships, we need to be healthy both physically and mentally. Much of the work we do in therapy is related to self-awareness and self-examination. With self-awareness, we can learn important life skills and strategies for interacting with others that can significantly improve the quality of our lives and relationships.
The connection we make and the comfort you experience in sharing about your life is essential to reaching your goals for therapy. It is important that you feel understood, know that our work together is confidential, and you will not be judged. When you are able to share openly, I can better understand and support you.
It is my passion and continues to be a privilege to support others in living healthy, more satisfying lives. 

Professional Development

Credentials/Education:

 Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
 Credentialed School Counselor
Certified Family Law Mediator

California State University, 
San Francisco 

Master of Science
      Specializations:
     - Marriage and Family Therapy
     - School Counseling

California State University, 
Chico 

Bachelor of Arts, Social Science
     - Behavioral Science 

Therapy Approaches

Mindfulness

Being present and self-aware is no easy task. Mindfulness is the practice of learning to be present in the here and now. Mindfulness focuses on the importance of living in the present, not looking toward the past or future. When we are present, we can experience more joy in our daily lives and relationships.

Relational and Strength Based Therapy

Human beings are wired for social connection and we are happiest when our relationships are meaningful and healthy. Relational therapy focuses on helping clients achieve emotional health by building skills to establish and maintain satisfying relationships.
Strength based therapy encourages open communication and thought processing. Clients learn to identify and capitalize on their own strengths and capacity to control desired change. 

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy - CBT

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is an evidence based treatment that focuses on challenging and changing unhelpful patterns of thinking. CBT addresses cognitive distortions which are faulty thoughts, beliefs or attitudes that negatively impact our choices and behavior. When we develop healthy coping strategies, we can more easily solve problems and regulate our emotions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is effective in treating anxiety, depression, and improving communication and interaction with others.

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy - DBT

The primary goals of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is learning distress tolerance, emotion regulation skills, and how to improve relationships. Dialectical Behavior Therapy is effective with patients struggling with depression, anxiety and relational challenges. Similar to Cognitive Behavior Therapy, DBT is evidence-based and one of the most successful treatment modalities used in mental health.

Let's Talk

The first step in therapy is talking. Let's find a time where we can meet and talk about what's on your mind.
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