We’re excited to kick off a brand-new feature at Bright Spot Counseling! Each month, we’ll be shining the spotlight on one of our amazing therapists so you can get to know them better—both inside and outside of the therapy room. This is your chance to learn about their unique specialties, the approaches they bring to therapy, and even some fun facts about their lives!
At Bright Spot Counseling, we believe the client-therapist connection is key, and what better way to deepen that connection than by introducing you to the wonderful people who make our practice so special?
This month we’re introducing you to Irene Ivanac. Irene identifies as a flow-enthusiast, engaging in activities like hula hooping, fire hooping, and fire eating. Don’t fret- she may not ask you to do those things- but she can bring a similar energy to her practice that will help you unlock your potential by using therapeutic movement. Irene also uses a combination of EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and Polyvagal Modalities to support her clients in healing trauma and relationships.
What therapeutic techniques or approaches do you find most effective in your practice, and why?
When I first started at Bright Spot, before I really even saw clients, Ginger suggested to me that I take a training in EMDR, and honestly it was one of the best things I ever did for my career. EMDR has been such an effective way to assist my clients in dealing with their trauma. I’m forever impressed with how something that seems fairly simple can make such a difference. Clients have the opportunity to see the events of their lives with more clarity and they’re able to recognize and draw the lines that connect their past to current issues. I also use a great deal of ACT and polyvagal techniques in my work to help clients recognize their behaviors and responses, and why they happen the way they do. Additionally, I’m a big fan of meditation and mindfulness techniques in my practice and in my personal life. I think that the better able we are to self-regulate and stay in the moment, the better we’re able to respond in the tougher moments rather than reacting.
What do you believe is the most common misconception about therapy, and how do you address it in your work?
I think the most common misconception about therapy is that there has to be something “wrong” for a person to seek therapy, or that they have to be going through some kind of crisis. My own personal belief is that everyone can use some therapy, and generally those who insist that they don’t need therapy the loudest, may be the people who need it most. In my practice (and life) I try to normalize coming to therapy, and recognize that everyone who walks through the door or gets on the call has their own reasons for doing so, and whatever path led them here is up to them.
How do you incorporate your personal values or philosophy into your therapy practice?
I’m pretty sure all my clients have heard me say ‘I am not a blank-slate therapist. I don’t hide my life from my clients, and I tend to be pretty open about my own life experiences and how I dealt with the struggles that have come up, not because I want to center myself or my own experiences, but because sometimes it’s comforting to know that someone else has gone through the same thing you have, and is in a better place. I also found in my own therapy journey that when I’ve had a “blank slate” therapist, that it made me question whether they could relate to me and my experiences.
What hobbies or activities do you enjoy outside of your work as a therapist?
I enjoy a lot of different hobbies, including kayaking (between April and October I generally go at least once a week) bicycling, swimming, hiking and hula-hooping. I also have 2 dogs that I enjoy spending time with, and I’m a mother to 4, and grandmother to 9, so time with my family is pretty important to me.
What’s a fun fact about you that might surprise your clients or colleagues?
I spoke German before I spoke English, kind of. My parents met when my dad went to Germany with the military, and (to make a long story short) came home with my mom and my older sister. My mother’s parents moved here shortly after she did, and lived with us when I was small, so there wasn’t much English spoken in our house. I have very clear memories of the frustration I felt when I started school and only knew some words in German, not English and no one could understand me.
How do you practice self-care and manage stress in your own life?
Meditation, mindfulness, and yoga, of course. Plus I make sure to have time to relax by myself. I think when you spend a lot of time surrounded by other people, as enjoyable as it is, it’s also important to have time for just you. I love taking walks and bike rides alone, as well as just time at home being quiet and hanging with my pets. I’m also a huge proponent for gratitude practice, and I strive to, at least a couple times a day, pause and express thanks for the things important to me in that moment.
What’s one thing you wish every potential client knew before starting therapy with you?
That my goal as a therapist, as well as in life, is to be curious, not judgmental with the people I encounter. Which means that big scary thing (or even small embarrassing thing) that you’re afraid to talk about because you just KNOW you’ll get judged for it? That won’t happen in my office. I’ll ask questions, but I won’t think less of you. I understand that we all go through things, we all sometimes make decisions we regret later, we all have had moments where our highest selves haven’t been present. My job is not to judge you for it, it’s to support you as you work through what’s happened, so you can use those past experiences to move forward in a healthier way, and create a more satisfying life.
How do you make therapy a unique and engaging experience for your clients?
As anyone who has ever occupied the office next to mine knows, we laugh….a lot. I don’t think that therapy needs to be super-serious 100% of the time, and if I can get a client to laugh with me, I consider it a badge of honor. I’ve also used some fairly unusual methods to get people comfortable with me. I’ll occasionally pull a couple nerf guns out of my bag, give one to my client and keep one for myself (If I sense you’re being inauthentic, I shoot you, and vice versa) I’ve also used hula-hoops to break the ice with clients (though that’s a lot tougher in a small office.) It’s gonna get a little weird sometimes, and that makes me happy.
What’s a personal achievement or milestone that you’re particularly proud of?
Honestly I think it’s going back to school for 5 years in my 50s, and getting the MSW that got me here. I tell people all the time that I consider myself the poster child for “It’s never too late” and I mean that. I spent years wanting what I have now, and I’m so grateful, every darn day, to be here.
Irene accepts a variety of insurances including:
- Aetna
- ASR Health Benefits
- Blue Care Network
- Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Priority Health
- Private Pay
To work with Irene, call us at 248.296.3104 or schedule with her through our online portal.
