About

Samantha Caran, CCTP, LAC

Welcome. If you found this page chances are you are looking for something. It may be the answer to a question you cannot find. You might be searching for restoration or healing from the past. You may be struggling with your identity, your energy, or your ability to handle life circumstances and are unsure of where to turn. You may be overwhelmed and tired of trying to figure it out alone. If any of this resonates with you, I would be honored to be a part of your journey in discovering your path to healing. I work with adults, adolescents no younger than 13 years old,  the LGBTQ+ community, with challenges in depression, anxiety, relationship and trauma.

As a Mental Health Counselor and Clinically Certified Trauma Professional, it is my fundamental goal to provide an environment where clients are able to speak freely and process their emotional experiences openly. I specialize in utilizing Trauma-informed interventions to help my clients understand their emotions and triggers, and to be able to cope and heal effectively. My primary interventions are drawn from Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Narrative, and Motivational Interviewing, as I believe in using the advantage of client strengths to aid in growth and resilience. My Bachelor of Science in Psychology and my Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling were both completed at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, AZ. under supervision with Michael A. White LPC-S & Rhonda Porro, LMFT-S


The road to healing can be complex and intimidating, but you won't be alone! I strive to help all of my clients at their own pace, individual culture, experiences, and belief systems. I look forward to working with you and walking alongside you in finding your identity, restoration, and purpose. I am married to my wonderful husband Daniel, and although we don’t have any kids, we have six wonderful fur-babies, five of which are cats and our dog Dozer. 

In her free-time and as a part of her self-care practices, Samantha enjoys spending time with her animals, traveling, creating artwork through painting and photography, reading, singing, baking, swimming, and any outdoor activity that is bearable for the Arizona heat. Availability Monday-Friday 9:00 am-6:30pm.

John-Paul Vu, LAMFT

One of the toughest parts about going to therapy is starting it in the first place. Thank you for your bravery and trust in this process. I look forward to being a part of your journey towards healing and growth.

My goal as a therapist is to create a safe, nonjudgmental space for clients to work through life's challenges. I am excited to take the knowledge and experience I've acquired and empower my clients to live a full life. I believe that my clients are the experts of their own lives and therefore have all the skills to overcome their challenges and transform their lives.

When working with my clients, I enjoy being able to build a collaborative experience where we can work together to achieve goals, discovering strengths, and create new meaning. I have experience in working with individuals and couples from all walks of life and I am especially passionate about helping couples to better understand the patterns that keep them in conflict and to help build communication and connection. For individual clients, I enjoy helping adults and adolescents explore their challenges particularly in identity, self-esteem, and family relationships. I primarily utilize Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Narrative Therapy, Gottman Method Couples Therapy, and Solution-Focused Therapy in my work with individuals and couples. JP is a Graduate of ASU and holds a Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy with a Licensed Associate Marriage and Family Therapist under supervision with Michael A. White LPC-S & Rhonda Porro, LMFT-S

Outside of the therapy room, JP enjoys traveling, being a foodie, and playing volleyball with his friends. Available Monday – Friday 9:30 to 7:00 pm & on Saturday's 9-1 by appointment only.

Hope Lyons, LAMFT

Hello, my name is Hope, which is exactly what I intend to bring to your therapeutic experience. Opening up and being vulnerable with a stranger can be intimidating. My ultimate goal as a therapist is to provide a comfortable place for people to be themselves and get to the root of the issue plaguing their lives. As a Marriage and Family Therapist Associate, my therapeutic lens incorporates individuals and their families, we don’t experience life and its challenges alone after all! My therapeutic style incorporates evidenced-based models of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, and Narrative Family Therapy.

As a therapist I am non judgmental and strengths based because I believe that everyone has their own unique life path as well as the tools to overcome all of their struggles. My job is to help you get there in a safe and comfortable environment. I also prefer a one-down approach to therapy, meaning I believe that everyone is the expert in their own lives. I do not propose to have all the answers, but I would love to help you answer them yourself. Hope is a Graduate of ASU and holds a Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy with a Licensed Associate Marriage and Family Therapist under supervision with Michael A. White LPC-S & Rhonda Porro, LMFT-S.

My clinical experience includes working with children on the autism spectrum, families, and adolescents, I also see couples and individuals and look forward to meeting with you and helping you and your family on this journey!  I will be accepting new clients starting February 26th 2024. Available – Tuesday - Friday 11:30 to 6:30 pm & on Saturday's 10-4 pm by appointment only. 

Emily Pniewski, LPC 

Asking for help is no easy task. Whether looking to help yourself, your relationship, or your career, it can be scary to admit vulnerability. However, despite some popular beliefs, therapy is not about “fixing” something that is broken; it is about understanding the nature of your difficulties and working with your strengths to see yourself through it. I strive to offer compassion and understanding to help you identify your current barriers in life while also helping you resolve deeper emotional distress. I provide a warm and caring space for reflection and to help you process your needs.

My name is Emily, and I have 5+ years of experience in the mental and medical health fields. I believe in using humor in therapy (when appropriate), especially in working toward relief from stress and anxiety. I specialize in issues related to anxiety, depression, ADHD with teenagers and adults, sexual development, identity development, sexuality, relationship issues, mismatched libidos, and trauma. I have training in general mental health concerns such as trauma, anxiety, ADHD, and depression, as well as sex and relationship therapy for issues such as sexual dysfunction, identity concerns, and sexual enrichment. I have experience working with LGBTQIA+, polyamorous, and kink communities.

As a therapist, I believe in the benefit of both individual and group therapy. During therapy, I use various learning tools and therapeutic interventions with personal strength and resilience such as CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), DBT (Dialectical behavior therapy), TF-CBT (Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), Narrative Therapy, ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy), Gestalt Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Jungian Therapy. 
Current Availability Telehealth ONLY evenings starting at 4:45pm plus Saturdays by appointment only.  

Blanca Alcala, LAC

Getting started with therapy or finding a therapist can be overwhelming and I want to congratulate you for taking the first step. A little about me first, I believe we all have qualities that makes us unique. In my case, some say, it is the way I love my children, my siblings, and my dog. Even though sometimes loving them is not easy; it is always very gratifying. My children and I enjoy watching movies at home walking in the desert, exploring new restaurants and playing with our demanding and playful little dog.

I’m a Board-Certified Counselor with the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners with a Master in Professional Counseling degree from Grand Canyon University. I’m Bilingual fluent in Spanish-English reading, writing and of course speaking. My experience in the health care field since 2016 and the last 4 years in mental health within the community mental health system has only grown my ability to connect with a diverse population and understand the challenges, we all face time to time. I have a passion with children 6 years old and up, adolescent, special needs of all ages, adults, and a passion for couples. My training includes, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT), Narrative Therapy, Brief Solution Focus Therapy (BSFT), Structure Family Therapy (SFT) approach when working with families and EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitizing Reprocessing). Under supervision with Michael A. White LPC-S.

I strive to be empathic, nonjudgmental, and understanding when we explore and use our uniqueness to reach their goals. As loving my family is gratifying so is my career as a therapist in those moments we are sitting together through your most difficult times. I invite you to call and together; we will work on identifying what you need towards healing and empowerment is a top priority. I’m accepting new clients for these days- Monday & Thursday 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. Friday 9:00 am to 1:00 pm.

Vanessa Ramirez, LAMFT

Hello everyone! My name is Vanessa, I am a bilingual marriage and family therapist in the state of Arizona. I work with Individuals, Couples, Adolescents of all ages, Families, Children 8 yrs and up. I especially enjoy working with teens! Some areas of focus include but are not limited to; stress, anxiety, depression, self-esteem, ADHD,  some spectrum challenges, relationship challenges and feeling “stuck”. How does this look like to you?

My mission is to help you reach the goals that you want to achieve in order to create a more positive and effective way of living! I believe in creating a safe, collaborative, and non-judgmental space in order to help you develop new tools to help you navigate through challenges.

Vanessa is a Graduate of ASU and holds a Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy with a Licensed Associate Marriage and Family Therapist under supervision with Michael A. White LPC-S & Rhonda Porro, LMFT-S. Vanessa has immediate openings on Fridays from 8am-7pm and Saturdays from 9am-4pm. In person or virtual sessions are available.

I am so excited to assist you in your journey to healing. Thank you! 

¡Hola! Mi nombre es Vanessa, soy una terapeuta bilingüe matrimonial y familiar en el estado de Arizona. Me encanta trabajar con adolescentes! Igual trabajo con parejas, familias,  y con personas de todas las edades. Algunas áreas de enfoque incluyen pero son limitadas al; estrés, ansiedad, depresión, problemas de relación y sentirse “atorado”. 

Mi misión es ayudarle a alcanzar sus metas para crear una forma de vida más positiva y efectiva! Ofrezco un espacio seguro, colaborativo y sin prejuicios para desarrollar nuevos métodos para navegar a través de problemas. 

Tengo citas disponibles los Jueves, Viernes de 8am - 7pm y Sábados de 9am-4pm. Las sesiones en persona se llevan a cabo en la ciudad de Glendale, también ofrezco citas virtualmente.

Si te interesa, por favor contáctame para una consulta de 15 minutos gratuita o para hacer una cita. ¡Gracias!

Michael A. White, NCC, LPC

Michael holds a Master of Science in Professional Counseling from Grand Canyon University. He is highly regarded as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) with the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners. 

The integrated counseling style that Michael brings is based on the unique needs of each individual, or teenager 14 years old and above that he works with. Michael is trained in Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and has specialized training in Trauma related challenges, specialized training in Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), is a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP) and is Certified with the National Board of Certified Counselors (NCC).

Michael’s therapeutic modalities are effective when working with individuals facing issues of addiction, trauma, anger, anxiety, depression, loss/grief, marital/interpersonal conflict, and other life stressors that surface during life transitions or emotional disruption. This experience, as well as working within crisis settings, proves valuable experience in helping the individual or couple in their life challenges in a caring, safe, and non-judgmental atmosphere.

Intentional collaborative work during sessions will leave you feeling supported and empowered to address sensitive or difficult challenges and to prepare you to move forward with a sense of optimism and hope. Every challenge has a solution given the time to explore one’s options. Michael is ready to come alongside you to help you explore your solutions.
Availability M-F 9am to 5pm.