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Hughar Hartzenberg, MA, LPC, LAC
THERAPIST
- EMDR Certified Therapist
- EMDRIA Approved Consultant-in-Training
I am a LPC and LAC, as well as an EMDR Certified Therapist and EMDRIA Approved Consultant in Training. I have practiced in the mental health field for over a decade, and have done so as a licensed therapist since 2019. I believe that just because you may find yourself stuck in your past or present pain, these struggles do not have to become your story. I have experience in a variety of theoretical approaches and treatment interventions. I specialize in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and EMDR, and the Adaptive Information Processing and Acceptance and Commitment models serve as the foundation of my therapy. My treatment focus is trauma/ptsd, complex-ptsd, dissociation and related symptoms, co-occurring disorders, depression, grief, anxiety, addictions, and shame. I use interventions to help clients move past current pain and suffering to meaningful and engaged living.
I like to view therapy as two people embarking on a journey. The client knows where they want to go and the therapist has some good ideas about the best routes to get there. Along the way the destination might change, and the client’s needs might change, but ultimately together they figure out how to get to the place where the client wants to be. I love being part of this journey, and I love seeing the beauty and value of life through my client’s eyes when therapy lifts the veil, and helps them become unstuck.
Professionally I have a wide variety of experience, including having worked in residential facilities, intensive outpatient programs, partnered with problem solving courts, and guiding patients as a mental health therapist. I am originally from South Africa, then lived in Japan for 12 years, and finally moved to the USA in 2018. Having lived in three cultures, and having been shaped by those cultures, I have a unique understanding of the contextual factors that drive our behavior, and make us who we are. Throughout my life, within these three unique cultures, I have learned a lot about the courage we all have inside ourselves to create meaning and joy in our lives, no matter what we are faced with. I have been fortunate to hear some of the stories that people can tell about their pursuit of meaning and purpose and these are some of the most valuable moments I have. I am also constantly surprised and motivated by our apparent limitless potential for personal growth.
My approach to therapy and life are both heavily influenced by existentialism, which asks us how to make the most of our lives. I would like to believe that I am also a poet at heart and value the beauty of the world around us. As a therapist and as a person, I am always turned to making life count, and finding beauty and value, even when we need to do so in our negative spaces.
I am a mixed bag of interests, ranging from a deep interest in scifi and fantasy genres (especially games and books) to really enjoying road and mountain biking, hiking, and running. I am also one of those very lucky people to be doing what I am most passionate about. I love to continue learning, especially in the field of psychology, and I love to keep growing as a human. I am a music lover and listen to all genres, but favor bebop jazz, hard rock, and salsa music. I am a big fan of Japanese Haiku, Kendo, Shodo, and Sado.
No matter what you are faced with right now, there are people who can help you get unstuck. This is the first step of your journey to a better, more fulfilled life.
