“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.
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Irena Taylor, LMFT
Hi, my name is Irena Taylor (she/her) and I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and the Director of Training & Staff Development. I believe in meeting the client where they are and joining them in their journey toward achieving their goals. My therapy approach is honest, compassionate, and non-judgmental. I approach situations from a systems perspective and explore the way the environment influences the person. I believe that we are all doing the best we can in given situations and, at times, need someone to assist us in exploring the bigger picture and help us get unstuck.
Seeking out a therapist is the first step in putting your needs first and I value the opportunity to guide you as you work through unresolved traumas, relationship concerns, life transitions and adjustments, and ways to cope with anxieties and feelings of depression. In order for change to occur, one needs to feel safe, valued and heard. My goal is to provide a safe and accepting environment that allows for growth and new experiences to be formed.
I have experience working with individuals, couples, and families dealing with a myriad of concerns ranging from anxiety, stress, depression, communication issues, life transitions, and PTSD. I utilize evidenced-based interventions to best assist them in finding their own individual ways of managing their needs and moving past difficult times in their lives.
I earned my graduate degree from Southern Connecticut State University in Marriage and Family Therapy in 2007 and have been licensed with the Department of Public Health. I am also certified in Gestalt Therapy and have been trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), as well as Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) models amongst others. I also speak German, Bosnian, Croatian, and Serbian languages fluently and incorporate multicultural influences into therapy sessions, as appropriate. I have worked in various settings over the last two decades including outpatient facilities, residential treatment, and extended day programs.
Irena participates with Aetna, Anthem, Cigna/Evernorth, and Husky plans.
Irena will be providing in-person sessions on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.
Trauma Expert
“Trauma comes back as a reaction, not a memory”- Bessel van der Kolk.
During my extensive work and training in the trauma field, I genuinely trust in the therapeutic process and our brain’s ability to process and re-learn ways of responding to traumatic triggers. Through validation, acceptance and active listening, I help individuals find their authentic self and take back the power over their own mind and body. At times, one can feel helpless and not in control of their circumstances and behaviors, albeit therapy can provide a space to practice new skills and learn ways to take back the power to make positive choices and healthy changes.
Relationship Explorer
Relationships with oneself and others are fundamental needs for humans, as we are biologically wired to crave connections with others. Being part of healthy relationships can increase our confidence and self-esteem, making us feel important and good enough. On the other hand, being part of unhealthy relationships can become triggers for negative emotions, anxiety and depression. During sessions, intrapersonal and interpersonal relationships are explored and interwoven into the treatment focus.
Couples therapy can at times be viewed as a negative step and last effort to save a relationship; however, all couples can benefit from setting aside a time where the relationship is the focus and both parties agree to come together to devote the time to each other. As a marriage and family therapist, my focus is on the couple, highlighting positive and successful traits, as well as working through maladaptive patterns that may have developed over time.
Supportive Guide
My goal is to support you in your exploration of what it means to be at peace with yourself and others around you. I believe that one can accomplish and overcome many obstacles when provided the environment that supports growth, healing and change.
At times, we lose our way and can become lost in maladaptive thinking patterns that influence our behaviors and relationships with self and others. During therapy, I offer support and validation, while providing gentle interventions aimed at increasing your ability to take control over your life and becoming the best version of yourself.
A Little More About Me
I believe that wounded warriors tend to be the best healers. I am a single mom of two wonderful daughters that give me so much joy and determination to continue to be the best person I can be. As a child, I have moved to Germany as a refugee due to the Bosnian civil war and eventually immigrated to the United States as an adolescent. Adjusting and overcoming have been themes in my life, which has ultimately shaped the therapist I have become and the compassion that I have developed for one’s determination and resiliency.
When I am not working, I enjoy kickboxing, watching football, and listening to music.
