Q and A with Quinlan Rhodes, MS, NCC

Quinlan Rhodes is our newest provider here at Forward Counseling with experience in addiction treatment and working with clients like new parents and caregivers. She uses techniques like Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Gestalt Therapy, and Internal Family Systems to cater to each client's unique experiences. Quinlan also enjoys creative counseling methods like visual art, poetry, dream work, and meditation. She believes that each person has the potential to live the life they want by developing tools and practices that bring them closer to their goals. She is eager to join clients on their healing journeys of self-discovery and personal empowerment.

In this article, let’s dive deeper into Quinlan as a mental health provider brimming with passion. Her therapeutic toolbox overflows with creative techniques. Tailoring her approach to each client's unique needs, Quinlan fosters a collaborative environment where the therapeutic relationship becomes the cornerstone of healing and growth. Her dedication extends beyond the therapy room, as she equips her clients with the tools and practices needed to cultivate fulfilling lives.

Join us as we delve into the impressive capabilities of Quinlan. Don't miss out on this opportunity to discover all that she has to offer.

1.  What are the top benefits of seeing a therapist or counselor?

Therapy has numerous benefits. Choosing to engage in therapy demonstrates courage, a commitment to personal growth, and a willingness to cultivate change that will positively impact many facets of life. Therapy provides a safe space free from judgment to explore personal issues that may be too difficult, confusing, or painful to express with other relatives. Therapy is a collaborative process, and an unbiased third party can help facilitate personal growth by shedding light on areas that are hidden from conscious awareness. Therapists offer support that may be inaccessible outside of therapy and provide accountability. As individuals explore their inner selves and relationships, therapists provide a space to safely try out new approaches and skills. Whether goals are tangible, such as establishing personal boundaries, or intangible, such as exploring existential questions about reality, therapy often marks the beginning of a journey toward healing and self-discovery.  

 2. What made you choose to work in the mental health field?

As long as I can remember, I have been an empathic and sensitive person. When I was a child, I loved engaging in pretend play that focused on interpersonal relationships. During adolescence, I became interested in psychology and understanding the rich and dynamic interplay among human emotions, thoughts, and behaviors and how these facets of human existence shape our perceptions of reality. On a more personal level, I began to recognize a desire for more peace within myself and around me. After I graduated from college with a bachelor’s degree in psychology, I knew I wanted to pursue a graduate degree that would lead to a career in the healing profession. My master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling put me on the path to helping others heal and find peace in their own lives. My passion for peace—both inner and relational—is the driving force that motivates me to work in the mental health field today.

3. Can you tell us more about your approach to counseling and the techniques you use to support your clients?

I approach counseling as a shared learning experience for the therapist and the client. I believe the relationship, or alliance, that the therapist and the client develop is the foundation for successful therapy. Before meaningful work can be done, trust must be established. I establish trust by demonstrating a willingness to listen, by nonjudgmentally accepting clients for who they are, and by respecting their experiences. I tailor techniques based on the unique needs of each client. While commonalities can inform treatment, specific strategies may work best with different clients based on their goals and circumstances. For example, if a client is struggling with assertiveness and establishing personal boundaries, role-playing may help the client gain self-confidence and bolster their determination to establish limits within relationships. Clients struggling with anxiety may benefit from rational-emotive behavioral therapy, in which beliefs surrounding anxiety-provoking situations are explored. The techniques I choose are informed by what I believe will most benefit the client.     

4. How do you create a nonjudgmental environment for your clients to feel safe and heard during sessions?

I think one of the most important components of a nonjudgmental environment is a willingness to listen fully to the client. Through active listening and unconditional positive regard for the client, I am able to be present and open. Therapy is a learning experience for the therapist as well as the client, and I believe humility and a willingness to admit mistakes are valuable traits for therapists to embody. I strive to see clients as unique individuals whose personal narratives reflect their worldviews and cumulative experiences. When I present alternative approaches or perspectives to clients, I do so gently and with encouragement. I never want to shame the client. Life can be incredibly challenging, and therapy is a place to turn to for acceptance and help.

5. What role do creative approaches such as visual art, poetry, dream work, and meditation play in your counseling sessions?

Sometimes emotions are more readily conveyed and explored nonverbally. Visual art offers a medium that allows clients to explore their experiences through the use of color, shape, and other artistic elements. I believe that everyone is an artist, and in the therapy room, art is as much about the breakdown of rules and expectations as it is about personal discovery. So much of human existence revolves around norms and societal pressures. Art provides an opportunity to step out of the confines of socially acceptable behavior and offers space for personal exploration that can be both spontaneous and liberating. Likewise, poetry provides an opportunity for clients to think deeply about language, to play with words, and to express themselves in a manner that differs from everyday conversation. Both art and poetry encourage play, which is an important and often neglected component of the adult human experience. Dreaming is another form of creative expression, and I invite clients to bring their dreams to the therapy session. My interest in dreams is informed by the work of Carl Jung and contemporary Jungian analysts. I believe that dreams provide rich metaphors facilitated by the infinitely creative unconscious mind. By examining our dreams, we can learn more about ourselves and our relationships. In addition to active and symbolic creative processes, I like to incorporate guided meditation into therapy to help clients destress and cultivate a loving relationship with their bodies. Meditation connects the mind with the body and helps us become aware of the ever-present source of peace and relaxation that emanates from each of us—our breath.

6. How do you tailor your techniques and approaches to meet the unique needs and experiences of each client?

No two clients’ stories are identical. Each of us is shaped by unique experiences and circumstances that influence our perceptions and attitudes. In counseling, one size does not fit all. I am interested in the client’s story. Listening from a place of curiosity and openness allows me to better understand the client’s worldview, needs, and aspirations. When I develop a hunch about what I think might work for a particular client, I present the concept or tool to the client, and we work together to determine if it is a good fit for their situation. If a client is resistant to a technique, but I believe that it would benefit the client, I may circle back around to it later, when the client is ready to participate. However, if the client believes that something I am asking of them is not appropriate for their situation, I will respect the client’s point of view and also reflect on my own motives for wanting to implement a technique.

7. What are some common challenges that clients may face when seeking meaning in their lives, and how do you support them through this process, especially this Mental Health Awareness Month?

Many people struggle with anxiety in the fast-paced, competition-oriented modern world. We are constantly bombarded with mixed messages from social media and advertising while also experiencing a flood of negativity from the news media. Anxiety, worrying, and generally feeling unsafe are detrimental to wellbeing, and I believe it is important to recognize how anxiety is attempting to protect us. When we can develop a new relationship with anxiety—or any other emotion we may be experiencing—instead of continually attempting to eliminate it, we shift from a position of fear to a space of gratitude. Cultivating gratitude and contentment are important skills to develop that foster presence and a here-and-now focus. I help clients through the therapy process by serving as a sounding board, a safe space, a confidant, and a mirror that generates self-reflection from a place of caring. I offer tools to clients that they can try out and put to use outside of therapy.    

 8. How do you empower clients to develop tools and practices that align with their goals and deeper purposes?

Many clients seek therapy to alleviate symptoms such as unwanted emotions accompanied by distressing thoughts. I believe that clients have inner resources that can be discovered and implemented. The therapeutic relationship is a process that helps clients unearth their strengths and apply them to their lives. By getting to know the client, I learn about their superpowers, and using my perspective, I share my observations with them about what I see as their strengths. I also begin to learn about habits or tendencies that impede a client’s ability to utilize their superpowers. It can be challenging to let go of patterns of behavior that were once protective or useful but are no longer needed. Equipping clients with tools to implement when they recognize destructive or unhealthy coping mechanisms is one way that I assist clients on their journey toward wellness. Once clients know how to best cope with whatever may be interfering with their personal goals, they are more able to tap into their inner resources and navigate their lives with confidence.   

9. Can you share a success story or a memorable experience from your counseling practice that highlights the impact of your work?

Witnessing clients discover their inner strengths and become in touch with parts of themselves that bring them joy and contentment is one of the most fulfilling and meaningful aspects of being a therapist. When I began my field experience during my master’s training, I had the opportunity to work with clients in an addiction treatment outpatient setting. While addiction was the primary reason the clients were attending the program, having the opportunity to join clients as they delved into their deeper selves was a beautiful experience. Many clients revealed strengths and abilities that we were able to bring forth and apply to their current situations. Using art as a tool to generate insight and encourage self-reflection was enlightening for a client who engaged in creative expression, and I was amazed by how intuitive the process of self-examination became when the client used art as a medium for communication.

10. How do you envision joining clients on their healing journeys of self-discovery and personal empowerment?

Therapy is a journey, and each client brings a roadmap of their lives to the therapy session. Sometimes the map is torn or incomplete, and as a therapist, I serve as a guide to help illuminate the client’s own inner strengths and capabilities. I also help to repair the client’s personal roadmap. In turn, the client begins to find new directions in their life. The map expands with paths and possibilities as the client cultivates a sense of solid footing. As healing continues, the map becomes clearer. With support from the therapist, the client learns to rely on an internal compass that continually realigns with the client’s growing inner peace and security, regardless of the terrain.

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