About
My counseling and therapy treatment approach consists of working with the child individually (if appropriate and dependent on age) and as a family. I feel that with such uncertain times and with such an increase in need, now is the time to step forward and reach out to those children and families who may need to heal, grow, and reconnect to the beauty of life.
I’m Dawn Kufeld and I’ve been working with children (Birth-18yrs) and their families for over 25 years. My passion for helping children and families reconnect to the beauty of life began when I was working on my Bachelor’s degree in Communication (emphasis in Theater) and Psychology.
I seemed to always have opportunities to be around and work with children, whether it be teaching dance, theater, or playing with them at various gatherings/events. While I was working on my Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology, I was drawn to working with the youngest of clients while others in my program shied away from child clients altogether. Before I knew it, I had completed my Master of Science Degree in Clinical Psychology and I was working my first job as a Child and Family Therapist at a Community Mental Health Clinic in the beautiful state of Arizona.
I received my NCC (National Certified Counselor) certification in 1994, my LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor) for Arizona in 2004, and my Clinical Professional Counselor License (CPC) in Nevada in 2021. My professional experience in working with children and families consists of helping the family unit reconnect to the beauty of life by strengthening the bonds between parent and child. In doing so, I hope to assist and promote the family in moving forward through any past trauma, challenge, or adjustment they may have experienced or may be currently going through. Healing is a life-long journey and this is what I strive to encourage with children and their families.
Most recently, I spent the past four years as a Clinical Site Supervisor in which I supervised a team of clinicians, sharing my experiences and knowledge helping to further enhance their clinical skills. I conducted chart audits, making sure that treatment plans and chart documentation were up to State standards, developed and completed presentations on various forms of treatment, and provided company-wide training sessions for new staff. I have done a little private practice off and on throughout the years and have often thought about venturing out and pursuing this full-time, but the timing never seemed right.
I now have the time to develop, devote, and grow my private practice through Telemental Health, receiving my certification in June 2020. I feel that with such uncertain times and with such an increase in need, now is the time to step forward and reach out to those children and families who may need to heal, grow, and reconnect to the beauty of life.
Bio
Family Therapy
A form of treatment that is designed to address specific issues affecting the health and functioning of a family. It can be used to help a family through a difficult period, a major transition, or mental or behavioral health problems with family members. The goal is to help family members improve communication, resolve conflicts, nurture relationships, heal, and move forward together as a healthy, resilient, family unit. Therapy may include all family members or just those who are willing or able to participate.
Individual Therapy
This is a form of therapy in which the client is treated on a one-on-one basis with a therapist. For minors (children under 18), it is recommended that young children five and under be accompanied by their legal parent/guardian. Children six and older may attend individual therapy with signed consent from their legal parent/guardian and is recommended that the legal parent/guardian be an active participant in the child’s treatment and on the premises when services are provided through telemental health counseling.
Dawn’s Approach to Counseling
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) Childhood Diagnosis Experience:
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Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD)
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Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
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Parent/Child Relational Issues
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Separation Anxiety Disorder
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Adjustment Disorders
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Attention- Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)/Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)
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Abuse Issues (Physical, Sexual, Emotional, Verbal)
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Conduct Disorder
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Oppositional-Defiant Disorder
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Autism Spectrum
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Bullying
Honors and Awards
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Clinical Professional Counselor (CPC)
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Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
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National Certified Counselor (NCC)
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Telemental Health Certification
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Developed TASK TM Anti-bullying School Program
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Training is Story Play Therapy
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Training in Play Therapy
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Training in Trauma Treatment
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Training in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing)
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Training in Abuse Treatment
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Training in Attachment Treatment
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Employee of the Year
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Dean’s Honor Roll
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President’s Scholarship
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Theatre Scholarship
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Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities