Modern Mindful Therapy

Carolyn S. Riviere Owner, LMFT, Registered Play Therapist, Certified Sex Therapist

E-mail

carolyn@collaboratecounseling.com

Phone

COAMFTE ACCREDITATION

The Master of Arts (MA) in Marriage and Family Therapy program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education – COAMFTE

112 South Alfred Street
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
(703) 838-9808/
coa@aamft.org.

Choosing the right therapist is crucial, and I believe that a solid foundation of background, training, and expertise is key to fostering a meaningful therapeutic relationship. I bring extensive experience in trauma-informed care and recovery, specializing in couples and family therapy, as well as addressing addiction, anxiety, and depression in individuals.

My primary approach, Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) for couples, is grounded in empirical research and is designed to create lasting change. As an attachment-based therapist, I focus on building or rebuilding trust within the client-therapist relationship, emphasizing the importance of emotional expression. This approach examines the impact of early attachment experiences with primary caregivers on an individual’s ability to form healthy emotional and physical relationships in adulthood.

Through attachment-based therapy, my goal is to cultivate a supportive and trusting environment that can help prevent or treat anxiety and depression. I am proud to hold the following certifications and memberships:

American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Registered Play Therapist
Association for Sandtray Therapy
Commission on Association for Marriage and Family Therapy Education
Certified Sex Therapist

My Story

Hello! I’m Carolyn S. Riviere, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), Registered Play Therapist , Certified Sex Therapist., Trauma informed and an addiction therapist(CACII addiction certified) My expertise lies primarily in Emotionally Focused Therapy, attachment-based therapy, and trauma-informed care and recovery modalities.

I hold an undergraduate degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing, alongside a second major in Psychology. After spending 27 years in the corporate world with Fortune 500 companies like Xerox, SUN, Oracle, and IBM—where I held various sales and technical positions—I transitioned my career to focus on my passion: helping individuals, couples, and families achieve balance in their work and personal lives, heal from trauma, and overcome addictions.

On a personal note, I am a proud mother of a recently engaged, 30-year-old son, a 34year-old daughter, and a 13-year-old granddaughter. My life journey has included single parenting, marriage, remarriage, divorce, overcoming major illnesses, navigating midlife career changes, and experiencing both trauma and discrimination in the workforce. Throughout it all, I’ve balanced being “on and off the mommy track,” coaching and mentoring others as they climbed the corporate ladder, and launching several successful businesses—including my therapy practice, which is truly my passion.

I am dedicated to using my rich life experiences to guide others on their paths to healing and fulfillment.

Training, Certificates, And Supervision

Background, training and areas of expertise are extremely important when choosing your therapist. I have an extensive background in trauma informed care, couples and family therapy, sexuality and addiction. All of this background is supported by the most empirically based therapy modality, EFT (Emotionally Focused Therapy) for couples, individuals and family all deeply entrenched in attachment theory which places the individual in the context of his or her closest relationships. An attachment pattern or bond, is vitally important to our survival and thriving in relationships and how we emotionally regulate within ourselves and within relationships.

In addition, from an individual standpoint, most of my training’s and career experience and expertise has focused on the individual and the impact the individual has in relationships, couples and family systems.

Carolyn S. Riviere LMFT

My credentials

(Free Consultation)

Human Sexuality II & III: Disorders & Dysfunctions: 60 hours, towards Certified Sex Therapist, Sept./Oct./2018
Human Sexuality IV & V: Treating Adult &Juvenile Sex Offenders. Sexual Trauma & Abuse, 60 hours, towards Certified Sex Therapist, Sept./Oct./2018
Pharmacology II, 14 hours, CACCIII, 9/17,2018
Human Sexuality and Couples I: 30 hours, towards Certified Sex Therapist, 9/2018
AASECT 50th 2018 Annual Conference: Sexuality Taboo Pleausre Diversity Inclusion Identity, 23 hours, Denver, CO
Emotion-Focused Family Therapy, Adele Lafrance, PhD, 13 hours, 4/18
Addiction & OCD Gaps & Overlaps in Treatment: Sandstone Care 2/2 2018, Lori Johnson, LPC,LAC, 3 Hrs
44thAnnual Winter Symposium Addictive Disorders& Mental Health( National Ass.,of Alcoholism&Drug Abuse Counselors)1/18
Trauma Focused Play Therapy: Simple Interventions to Help Youth Manage Traumatic Stress. (1) One Play Thp hour 10/18/17, Nicole 0-Pries, LCSW, CFTP
Pharmacology I/OBH exam passed. OBH approved Trainer, Ryan Kennedy, PsyD, LAC, RN, CACIII, 4/2017 (14hours)
Vulnerability, Authenticity, &Attunement: Regulating Ourselves with Dysregulated Clients. Bev Tuel, PhD. , 4/27/17
Principles of Addiction Treatment(CACIII cert/Training), Noeticus Counseling Center and training Institute, 4/2017
Infectious Diseases in Addiction Treatment (CACIII certification training), Noeticus Counseling Center and training Institute, 1/2017
Play Therapy Interventions for the Sexually Abused Child, Jane L. Johnson, LLC, LCSW, PRPT-S(0/24/2016)
Trauma Workshop: The application of EFT, Trauma Couples (Kathryn Rheem, Ed D. LMFT 7/16, 12 hrs)
Emotionally Focused Therapy: Core Skills Advanced Training: June-December 2016 (64 hours)
Early Psychosis Intervention: The growing national Movement &Why it Matters: Tamara Sale, Director, EASA Center For Excellence, Portland State University. Co. Office for Behavioral Health. 5/25/2016
Mastering Sixteen Key Habits of Emotionally Resilient People: Kateri McRae, PhD (7 CE)
Introduction to Synergetic Play Therapy: Lisa Dion, LPC, RPT-S: Play Therapy Institute of CO, Boulder (18CE)
Somatic Psychotherapy: Exploring the Role of the Body, Sensation, & Movement in Counseling (15 Contact Hours) Noeticus Counseling & training Institute, September 2015
Shame & Self Loathing in the Treatment of Trauma (8.0 Contact Hours) Janina Fisher, PhD. PESI Training, September 2015
Motivational Interviewing (15.0 Contact Hours) Noeticus Counseling & training Institute, September 2015
Emotionally Focused Therapy(EFT) Externship Training: May 6-9- 2015(including trauma in relationships)
Experiential Play Therapy: Sexual Abuse: Training by Dr. Byron E. Norton: Office of Behavioral Health Community Behavioral Health, Colorado May 28, 2015
Pragmatic/Experiential Therapy for Couples (PET-C): Facilitating Emotional Intelligence in Relationships - 08/15 Noeticus Counseling Center and Training Institute (15.0 Contact Hours)
Transforming the Well-Intentioned Therapist: Understanding Trauma-Informed Counseling Practice Training (15.0 Contact Hours), January 2015; Noeticus Counseling Center & Training Institute, Centennial, CO
Dialectical Behavior Therapy - Facilitator Training (15.0 Contact Hours), February 2015 Noeticus Counseling Center and Training Institute, Centennial, CO
Working with the Void: Introduction to Existential Issues for Psychotherapists (15.0 Contact Hours), Noeticus Counseling Center and Training Institute, Centennial, CO
Introduction to Gestalt Therapy for Mental Health Professionals (15.0 Contact Hours), July 2014 Noeticus Counseling Center and Training Institute, Centennial, CO
Trauma Informed Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics Training (15.0 Contact Hours), October 2012 Child Trauma Academy, Houston TX
Emotionally Focused Cor Skills Training: June, 2016/December, 2016: Centennial, CO
Mastering Sixteen Key Habits of Emotionally Resilient People, (6 CE's) Kateri McRae, PhD. 2/19/16 Centennial, CO.
Complex Trauma: Brain body Spirit: (1.5 hrs.) CCA Conference, 4/2016, Centennial, CO