Rock Rose Counseling
Christine Benton, MA, LCPC
Compassionate Care for Every Step of Her Journey
Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety in women can show up as persistent worry, social anxiety, panic attacks, or phobias, affecting both mental and physical health.
Pressures to balance career, family, and societal expectations can lead to headaches, fatigue, muscle tension, and stress, impacting self-esteem, confidence, and overall well-being.
Effective therapy for women with anxiety uses evidence-based approaches like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness, and EMDR to reduce anxiety, build resilience, and support emotional wellness.
Depressive Disorders
Women are twice as likely as men to experience depression, with an estimated 10–12% affected in their lifetime (NIMH, 2023). Common types of depression in women include Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), Persistent Depressive Disorder (PDD), and Postpartum Depression. Other conditions such as Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) and Bipolar Disorder, which often presents with more depressive episodes in women, are also prevalent.
Treatment for women’s depression varies based on type and severity, and can include evidence-based therapy, medication, lifestyle interventions, and holistic mental health support (APA Depression Resources). Early recognition and personalized care are key to improving emotional wellness, resilience, and overall mental health
Trauma
Trauma can deeply impact women, affecting their sense of safety, trust, and self-worth. It often contributes to anxiety, depression, challenges in forming or maintaining relationships, and physical symptoms such as fatigue, tension, or chronic stress. Many women may also struggle with shame or self-blame, which can complicate emotional healing.
With trauma-informed therapy and evidence-based support, women can reclaim strength, confidence, and resilience, and cultivate a renewed sense of peace and emotional wellness. Approaches like EMDR therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and mindfulness techniques have been shown to help women process trauma safely and build long-term mental health.
Relationship Issues
Relationships are essential for women’s emotional wellness, providing support, growth, and connection. These can include friendships, romantic partnerships, family dynamics, and professional associations. Navigating relationships often requires balancing personal needs, societal expectations, and mental health.
Building and maintaining healthy relationships relies on effective communication, mutual respect, and clear boundaries, which are key for fostering emotional resilience, self-esteem, and overall well-being.
Evidence-based approaches in relationship counseling can help women improve interpersonal skills, resolve conflicts, and cultivate meaningful, supportive connections in all areas of life.
Treatment
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Research shows that female brains exhibit higher activity in regions like the limbic system, which governs emotions, making women more sensitive to stress, anxiety, and depression. Women also have stronger connections between emotional and cognitive brain regions, which can contribute to rumination and overthinking.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) (learn more here) is an effective, evidence-based approach that helps women identify negative thought patterns, challenge unhelpful thinking, and reframe emotional responses. This therapy supports the development of healthier thinking patterns, reduced anxiety, and improved emotional wellness.
EMDR Therapy
EMDR therapy helps women heal from painful experiences and trauma by reprocessing distressing memories, so they no longer feel overwhelmed. This evidence-based approach enables the brain to integrate past trauma in a healthier way, reducing anxiety, shame, and self-blame.
Through EMDR, women often gain emotional resilience, clarity, and a renewed sense of self-worth, supporting overall mental health and emotional wellness. EMDR is particularly effective for trauma recovery, PTSD, anxiety in women, and other emotional challenges.
Positive Psychology
Positive Psychology helps women, teens, and girls develop confidence, resilience, and a sense of purpose. For example, a teen struggling with self-doubt can learn to recognize her strengths instead of comparing herself to others, while a woman navigating life’s challenges can shift her mindset from failure to growth, finding meaning in setbacks.
By focusing on personal strengths, gratitude, and positive relationships, clients build the skills to navigate life with empowerment, emotional wellness, and joy. Evidence-based techniques in positive psychology support self-esteem, personal growth, and mental health for women and girls.
