Meghan Harlan, LMHC
Meghan Harlan’s Therapist Disclosure Statement <<< (Clickable)
I remember when I was a young kid I went up to my dad and asked him how people heal. Although at the time I didn’t have the vocabulary that I do now, what I meant was how do people heal not just physically (although related), but also emotionally, spiritually, relationally, and so on. I was just a child, but I saw the pain and suffering in the world and wanted to know what to do about it. What I have since wrestled through and nurtured is a worldview that acknowledges and is compassionate towards our suffering while also valuing hope and believing that people can flourish.
I believe you have inside of you the ability to heal, grow, and begin to trust yourself as you transform your relationships with that which ails you (fear, anxiety, yourself, others, etc.). I believe that you have the strengths needed to reconnect with who you are and who you want to be as you clarify your core values and use them as motivation and inspiration.
I’m Meghan, a therapist here at Refresh Therapy. My approach to counseling is rooted in person-centered therapy (a nonjudgemental space emphasizing the therapeutic relationship) and is influenced by education in internal family systems (the mind is understood as being made up of different interacting parts). However, my style varies as I tailor it to each person who walks through my door, utilizing a variety of approaches such as cognitive and mindfulness based methods (exploring one’s thoughts and beliefs and becoming more aware of oneself without becoming judgmental). Additionally, I pull from a strengths based and attachment theory perspective (deploying personal strengths to aid in recovery and empowerment and recognizing the relationships and bonds between people). Furthermore, I employ systems thinking (which evaluates the systems and structures people are apart of).
Outside of work I enjoy going on adventures with loved ones out in nature and abroad! I also love swimming, saunas, and sushi! If I could, I would have a jimjalbang inside of my house! I recently moved back to the US after spending 10+ years working globally with nonprofit and for profit organizations and clinics focusing on humanitarian aid initiatives, education, and mental health needs. My goal is to provide you with a comfortable space in which we can collaborate to help you explore your world and live skillfully.
Specialties and areas of focus
- Anxiety/Stress
- Adjustments/Life Transitions
- Expatriate Life
- Multicultural Counseling
- Self-esteem/Identity
- Relationship Issues
- Depression
- Grief/Loss
- Trauma
- Body Compassion
- Intuitive Eating
- Spiritual Concerns
- Career Counseling
- Goal Setting
- Skill Development
Q&A with Meghan
1.) Some therapists are more comfortable addressing the immediate problem, while others want to focus on the deeper issue. Which are you?
As a collaborator in this process with you, I will take time to listen to you and then together we can make a plan on the direction of your time in therapy.
2.) Do you tend to lead the session, or follow my lead?
The answer we give the eye roll to… both. Sometimes one is helpful and sometimes it is not, and vice versa. Therapy is thankfully more flexible than one or the other.
3.) What are your strengths as a therapist?
My clients have voiced that they feel genuinely accepted, listened to, and understood and they appreciate that I provide for them a caring space to find clarity and healing.
4.) If you had one superpower, what would it be and why?
I would be fluent in all languages, including symbols, cultures, and history. My hope is that it would be a way to bridge gaps and cultivate more understanding and ultimately connection and community.
5.) What makes you laugh?
GIF wars
6.) Who would you have dinner with, dead or alive?
My grandparents, all of them, because since I was a kid I have always wanted to hear the stories of those who have gone before me.