Hear from Our Marriage & Family Therapist, Tianna!
Tianna Herrera, APCC (APCC 11100), AMFT (AMFT 132674)
Tianna Herrera is an Associate Professional Clinical Counselor (APCC) and an Associate Marriage & Family Therapist (AMFT) at JRM&A. Tianna has a Masters in Mental Health Counseling and Counseling Psychology. She has been in the Air Force for 24 years and has experience working with children, LGBTQ+, and parents of children with neurological disabilities.
Tianna talks about her experiences in the Air Force and how they have motivated her to help others.
“My military experiences have 100% impacted who I am today. I believe my experiences have led me to become more open, interested in other cultures, and able to communicate effectively with people from all walks of life.
Over the course of my career, I have overcome many obstacles. As a female in the military, I faced sexual assault and harrassment almost as soon as I started my career in Air Traffic Control. Although I decided to stay in the military, I decided to cross train for a different job, Command and Control Operations, which I have been doing for 23 years now. I think it’s perfect for me. It’s actually my job to report sexual assaults and harassment, medical emergencies, and suicides.
I have really been inspired by this position to make a positive impact on the world. I have seen those reports time and time again over the years and thought, even if it’s just one person, I want to change those numbers somehow.
As a volunteer for the Soldier’s Angels Organization at the Palo Alto VA Hospital for many years, I was often drawn to talk to people about their experiences and hear their stories. Many of them would often tell me I should be a therapist, to which I always replied “No, definitely not”. Over time though, I realized they might be onto something, and that I could help military personnel, first responders, and ordinary citizens as a therapist. Three years later, I decided to go back to school to become a counselor.
Over the course of my education, I gained a lot of experience working with women (particularly those from Asian cultures) and children suffering from trauma. I am passionate about helping those of all backgrounds heal from trauma and find meaning in their lives. I find that my personal and professional understanding of trauma often helps me connect with many of my clients and approach them in a nonjudgmental way. I love what I do today because I’m able to make a difference in client’s lives and to give them new hope and be that person who truly believes in them.
As a therapist I’m very direct. Many military members and first responders work well with me because oftentimes they need someone who will be direct with them, and I understand because I’m the same way. I also do a lot of socratic questioning, I’m not a therapist who will just sit there and nod, I’m very proactive and dynamic with my clients. I aim to provide validation, active listening, and support. It’s very important to me that I create a safe and open environment for clients where they feel heard and supported throughout their journey.
One thing that’s unique about JRM&A is that our staff members come from many different backgrounds, cultures, and experiences. This benefits us because we are able to learn from each other and to look at scenarios from a multitude of perspectives. We offer a variety of techniques to our clients in order to help them grow and achieve their goals. In collaboration, we are confident that we can help all of our clients make positive life changes.”
Read more about Tianna here!
At JRM&A we lead with compassionate, trauma-informed therapeutic models that are personalized and solution-focused to help support our clients’ needs and attain their personal goals.
You can reach us at (650) 386-6753 or info@joellerabowmaletis to share your comments, ask questions or schedule an appointment.
