About
Welcome to Shire Family Counseling
What is the story of your life?
At Shire Family Counseling, you will have the space to share your own life story; the highs and the lows, the successes and the setbacks, the wins, the losses, and all the stressors in between.
Setbacks, losses, failures, and traumas are sometimes painful experiences in life, and yet, they are only parts of your whole life; they do not encapsulate your whole journey through life. There is much you have to offer, and your adventure through life continues despite all the hardship. We endure such hardhips, and it’s nice when we can find ways to face our life challenges with motivation, strength of mind, and emotional resilience. Through better understanding of our mental muscle, we can find ways to have more happiness and fulfillment in our life story.
Changing your life story is possible by gaining new insights and perspectives into who you are. At Shire Family Counseling, we want to hear your life story and help you chart a path towards peace, purpose, and passion in your life.
Meet Thomas
Nice to meet you! My name is Thomas Brackendorff, LPC. I received my M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Houston - Clear Lake in 2021. My own life story before becoming a licensed therapist included graduating with a B.A. in History and Psychology in 2011, teaching middle school in Honduras, and working in hospitality. Needless to say, my own journey through life took me down many paths before I found my calling as a mental health therapist. Within the field of mental health, I have worked with teens, adults, couples, and families in both inpatient and outpatient settings. I truly love hearing others share their experiences with me, whether they be joyful or painful.
I take a Person-Centered Therapy approach when first starting with my clients because therapy is about the person (you) finding a better understanding of your thoughts, feelings, motivations, dreams, and desires. Ultimately, you are the boss of your life and I would never want any of my clients feeling disempowered after a session.
When in therapy, I may also challenge and motivate you to process your thoughts and feelings through a variety of other therapeutic modalities, including Attachment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT).
If I challenge you to face your thoughts and emotions on a deeper level, it might have you leaving the therapy session feeling like you just had an intense workout. My aim when challenging you is not to burden you, but to help strengthen your emotional resilience and cognitive abilities. Ultimately, you have the strength to work through your challenging emotions and inner conflicts. Let’s help you find the path towards the peace of mind that you deserve.
