Natalie Summit , LPC, LCMHC

Natalie Summit is a licensed mental health professional whose career in counseling began in 1996. With 29 years of experience, she built her foundation in community mental health before directing her skills toward supporting law enforcement officers and the communities they serve. Over a 20-year tenure with a local law enforcement agency she focused on crisis intervention and compassionate service, retiring from that role in 2019.

Her work has repeatedly brought her alongside individuals and families during profoundly difficult moments, including situations involving mental illness, addiction, domestic violence, sexual crimes, child and elder abuse or neglect, and traumatic losses such as suicide, homicide, and accidents. Those clinical experiences reinforced her conviction that people are resilient, want to be heard, and are willing to consider change when respect and trust are present. She looks to engage clients who are ready to participate in growth and healing.

Natalie holds the credentials LPC and LCMHC - Licensed Professional Counselor and Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor - which indicate formal licensure and training to provide counseling services. Her specialty areas span stress and anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, anger and depression, relationship and family concerns, grief and parenting challenges, LGBT issues, bipolar and mood disorders, ADHD, and coping with life changes, among others. She also maintains an interest in first responder needs and complex situations that require thoughtful, culturally aware support.

Her professional approach has included telehealth options to provide flexible care, and she draws on a range of therapeutic methods to tailor treatment to individual needs. Natalie emphasizes creative, culturally competent strategies and collaborative problem solving when working with families and individuals facing challenging circumstances.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people clarify what matters most to them, learn to accept difficult thoughts and feelings, and take committed action toward their values. It can be useful for anxiety, stress, and life transitions by focusing on meaningful behavior change rather than eliminating every uncomfortable feeling.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a structured approach that identifies unhelpful thinking patterns and teaches practical skills to change thoughts and behaviors. It is often used for anxiety, depression, and coping with everyday challenges by building concrete strategies and problem-solving techniques.

Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes a respectful, nonjudgmental relationship in which the therapist listens deeply and supports the client's self-directed growth. This approach can be especially helpful for clients seeking validation, improved self-esteem, and a collaborative therapeutic relationship.

Natalie approaches treatment as a collaborative process - she works with clients to determine which methods best match their needs, goals, and preferences. That exploratory process helps shape a plan that feels right for each person and can combine techniques from different approaches as appropriate.

Online therapy offers flexible options such as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, making it easier to fit care into busy schedules, access support from home, and maintain continuity of care despite geographic or time constraints.