Our Practice

Welcome to Beyond Counseling

Beyond Counseling LLC, provides a continuum of mental health services from early intervention to intensive therapy treatment. Our overall philosophy is based on the value of preserving individual and family integrity by helping children, individuals, couples and families build on their innate strengths. We empower our clients by guiding them through the process of identifying and implementing solutions to their problems.

We provide mental health services for children, adolescents, their families, couples, and individual adults by strengthening their ability to successfully cope with social, communication, and behavioral challenges. Services include individual, group, and/or family therapy; skill-building; and parent training.

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Many of our therapists use the Gottman Method of couples counseling and have been trained in play therapy.

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Our team

Angela Boyd, LPC

Clinical Director

Ms. Boyd has experience serving the elderly, adults, adolescents and children providing individual, couples, and family counseling. She creates a safe, compassionate and a friendly environment to support people overcoming challenges in their life.  She has 30 years of experience in the mental health, social services, substance abuse, autism, physical disabilities, intellectual disabilities, mentoring, crisis intervention, in-service training, prevention programs, group facilitation and criminal justice fields.  She is extensively trained in the diagnosis and treatment of co-occurring disorders. 

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Treatment areas include:

* Couples counseling

* Trauma 

* PTSD 

* Anxiety and stress management

* Anger management  

At the end of therapy patients will leave with emotions, understanding and perspectives that will lead to a healthy and useful behavior and interactions.

Gwendolyn Austin, LAC, EMDR, CCMC

Licensed Associate Counselor

Certified Clinical Military Counselor

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I believe while our minds carry our emotional stress, our bodies do, too. We store trauma and stress in our bodies and I am looking forward to helping you to reprocess and release that trauma. What is trauma, exactly? It is any stressor that occurs in a sudden and forceful way and is experienced as overwhelming. My passion is helping my clients resolve deeper problems hidden beneath the current patterns. Whatever has you feeling stuck, I am looking forward to be a source of energy and direction as you choose to become unstuck.

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I am also a Certified Clinical Military Counselor (CCMC), which enhances my understanding of the unique challenges Active Duty Military, Veterans and their families are facing at present.

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I am passionate about exploring your story with you, at your own pace, with the strengths, insights, and spirituality that are important to you. I provide a safe place to be heard and understood, supportive listening, thoughtful questions, the sharing of insights, exploration of ideas, an opportunity to explore mindfulness, and practical suggestions. It brings me great joy to empower my clients to discover and foster their innate strengths while providing help to grow their tool box.

Nutaila Rizwi, M.C., LAC 

Licensed Associate Counselor

Trilingual Therapist (Urdu/Hindi/English)

Nutaila Rizwi completed her master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from University of Peshawar, Pakistan in 1999 and then her Master’s Degree in Professional Counseling from Ottawa University, Phoenix in 2015. Nutaila is licensed as a Licensed Associate Counselor.

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She has several years of work experience across a variety of treatment settings which includes residential substance abuse, and community-based services under Regional Behavioral Health Authority for Maricopa County. Nutaila has worked with individuals of varying ages and backgrounds in the following areas:

·       Self-image and self-esteem Issues

·       Communication skills

·       Parent/child or partner relational problems

·       Domestic violence/abuse 

·       Schizophrenia

·       Mood disorders

·       Anxiety disorders

·       Physical, sexual, emotional abuse

·       Anger and stress management

·       Dual diagnoses

·       Substance use issues

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Nutaila is eclectic and uses a blend of Cognitive Behavioral, Motivational Interviewing, Solution-Focused, Reality-Based, and psycho-education techniques. Nutaila is also fluent in Urdu/Hindi language.

Isabella Moreno, Ed. S., M.S., LAC, LASAC

Certified School Psychologist

Bilingual Therapist (English/Italian)

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Isabella  Moreno is a licensed associate professional counselor and a licensed associate substance abuse counselor in the State of Arizona with 20 years experience working in community agencies, schools, and more recently, the substance abuse field.

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Ms. Moreno has received training in Structural Family Therapy at the Child Guidance Clinic and University of Pennsylvania and a post graduate certification in marriage and family therapy from Saint Mary’s University, MN.  Ms. Moreno is also a nationally and Arizona certified school psychologist, where she has worked in public schools for more than 20 years.

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Isabella has extensive experience conducting groups,  is versed in sand tray therapy and prefers a blend of solution-focused and narrative approach when working with adults. Ms. Moreno is also versed in psycho-educational assessment with children and adolescents.

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Ms. Moreno believes in empowering clients and families to rewrite their narratives going away from problem-saturated stories and embracing new and more hopeful narratives.  Ms. Moreno firmly believes that “the problem is the problem; the person is not the problem” as Michael White, late narrative therapist often said.  Ms. Moreno has been trained in Level 2 for Couples Counseling. 

Aaron Jacobson, M.S., LAC

Beyond Counseling is a place to explore your true self and confront the trials of life. Together, we create a sacred space for healing, growth, and discovery. As a counselor, hearing your story is one of my greatest privileges. It is my hope that as your life story unfolds, we can better prepare you (the main character) to face and embrace the challenges, opportunities and events that shape you.

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We will identify the gifts and qualities within you that bring about a sense of satisfaction and direction, then examine the assumptions about life that may no longer be serving you. We will also strengthen those beliefs which guide you onward toward a greater sense of fulfillment.

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In our sessions, we learn to trust in the therapeutic process, as well build trust between one another. I offer my counsel for your journey toward a consistent sense of well-being. It is an honor to be of service to you.  Mr. Jacobson has been trained in Gottman Method Level 2 for Couples Counseling

Armando Grijalva, MC., LAC

Bilingual Therapist (English/Spanish)

Armando C. Grijalva is a Licensed Associate Counselor working with child, adolescent, individual and family therapy in English and Spanish.  He creates a safe and compassionate environment in which self-understanding and self-empowerment are explored and promoted to create healthier, sustainable, and greatly fulfilling change. 

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He is trained in the use of Sand Therapy and Motivational Interviewing.  He also exercises elements of Adlerian Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Structural Family Therapy in his therapy sessions. 

Mark Mansfield, M.S., LAC

Mark Mansfield, MC, LAC has been a therapist for the past 18 years.  For a majority of that time he has worked with kids and their  families. His experience also includes time as a behavioral consultant and a training manager. Therapeutically he primarily works from a CBT framework but includes elements of DBT and narrative therapy as well as the more indirective play-based Sand Therapy  and StoryPlay® interventions. He is passionate about helping others heal, grow, and reach their full potential.

Brian Bednar, MC, LAC

Brian Bednar has experience serving the elderly, adults and adolescents. He has worked for 21 years in the criminal justice field working with seriously mentally ill adults, adults with general mental health disorders, and adults with sexually maladaptive behaviors. Brian also has worked in several settings with adults and adolescents with developmental disabilities.  He completed his Master Degree in Community Counseling from the University of Phoenix in 2010. Brian is a Licensed Associate Counselor. He has several years of clinical experience working with adolescents on standard juvenile probation, adolescents on probation for sexually oriented offenses, and seriously mentally ill adults in group and individual settings. Brian is trained in the use of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and utilizes elements of Modified Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and Solution-Focused Brief Therapy. Brian has worked with individuals in the following areas:

Substance abuse

Dual diagnoses

Anger management

Schizophrenia/bipolar Disorder

Communication skills

Sexually maladaptive behaviors

Independent living skills