Hello and Aloha! My name is (Ms.) 'Rickie' Banning. I have earned LCSW Licenses in the States of Virginia and Hawaii. When life knocks us down, we all need a warm heart and a safe space where we can sort things through. I am here to help, whether you are navigating life challenges, repairing relationships with yourself and others, healing loss, or building change resilience. Reaching out takes courage. A committed counseling journey leads to healing and peace. I could share that I trained with Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross and Virginia Satir. I would rather say that I listen to connect, not to judge or reject. "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together."-African Proverb. Reach out. Let's explore together!

My approach

I describe myself as a results-oriented therapist, collaborating to inspire each client to set achievable goals in their self-growth journey. I have training in psychodynamic holistic, and psycho-analytic approaches and solution-focused short-term counseling, family systems, and couples counseling. I trained with the world's leading expert in grief work around coping with loss and managing change.

My focus

I typically work with adult humans aged range 18-70. I have a solid track record treating a variety of issues, ranging from anxiety, life adjustment-transition, conflict resolution, coping with loss and grief, trauma resolution healing, bulimia, LGBTQ+, relationship conflicts-communication, managing change, mild-moderate depression, work coaching, stress management, bulimia and more.

My communication style

I believe the 'elephant in the room' requires talking about and processing. Although I have a direct communication style, I allow the client to be directive, meaning this is your healing journey, and you are in charge of the pace and how deep you ultimately wish to go within yourself to find healing. After all, counseling is your journey into self. The therapist is along to inspire and guide and invite you to grow forward.

My journey to therapy

I entered the counseling field decades ago by working in the corporate sector's EAP (Employee Assistance Programs). Throughout my long career, I have worked with people, as a psychotherapist, as a University faculty teaching diversity and business courses, as a corporate trainer, as a human resources manager for the largest organization in the USA, and as an executive and organizational coach-consultant working in all regions USA and multiple other countries overseas. People are our human resources, and the planet brightens when we inspire one another to grow. Every human can find healing for their heart wounds if they do their inner work and commit to investing the time to look within to clear their way forward to become a better version of themselves.

My goals for you

The more specific the client can identify goals, the more you will likely gain from our work. For example, just saying, "I wish to be a better communicator" (too vague), is different from deeper diving by saying, "I wish to identify where I am getting stuck in a conversation that leads to arguments with others." Taking a more precise approach helps inspire laser focus on the core issues.

My first session with you

The first session is devoted to gathering information to get a pulsebeat of your essence and life history milestones that make you uniquely you and identify your goals for your journey into self-awareness.