A Different Kind of Mental Health Counselor in Longmont
My name is Faith Halverson-Ramos, and I am a mental health counselor and music therapist in Longmont. As such, I have a different approach to mental health. I like to say that I help people get “in tune” with themselves.
Since graduating from the Transpersonal Counseling Psychology Music Therapy program at Naropa University, I have worked with people of all ages throughout life. These experiences found me working in settings ranging from early childhood special education to in-home hospice care. These experiences contribute to my interest in the full spectrum of human development and inform the scope of care that SoundWell Music Therapy provides.
Who I Work With as a Mental Health Counselor
Through SoundWell Music Therapy, I work with people who want to understand themselves and what is going on in their lives. I work with people having a hard time knowing who they are and what they want out of life. In some cases, they may be having a hard time accepting who they are and their current life circumstances.
They are tweens or teens trying to figure out where they fit in. Sometimes they are young adults new to the world of “adulting” in the 21st century. They can be adults of any age facing a difficult transition or change in their life, and they are having a hard time moving forward. Sometimes they are older adults who never really thought about what it would be like to get old, and they want to age as well as they can
How I Work With People as a Mental Health Counselor
In working with clients, I take a holistic, client-centered, and trauma-informed approach. I recognize how complex people are and how their lived experiences impact mental health and well-being. In part, this is due to my training as a mental health counselor. However, part of this is also because of the mental health challenges faced in my own life. These experiences especially make me feel passionate about working with teens and young adults.
Who I Am as a Mental Health Counselor
When choosing a counselor to work with, you need to know if you can feel comfortable connecting with them. Below are some traits that I bring into the therapeutic relationship:
A Contemplative Approach
Valuing Mindfulness and Contemplation
I find mindfulness and contemplative practices to be personally valuable. That means I practice it for myself but also incorporate it into my work with clients. Practicing mindfulness helps me to be present with people and to be able to hold space for them amid their pain and confusion. And by incorporating mindfulness into our work together, clients can:
To learn more about how I incorporate mindfulness into my work, check out the blog posts I wrote on the topic here, here,here, and here.
A Transpersonal View
Recognizing that there's more to being human
Additionally, my training in transpersonal psychology influences my work and how I see people and their experiences. This view helps me to recognize how profound personal growth can come from pain. Likewise, this view acknowledges that there can be more to our lived experiences than just our bodies and minds. This transpersonal view also recognizes that there is value to transcendent experiences, which music can facilitate.
As well a transpersonal view allows space for discussions around personal spirituality and beliefs. Exploration of these topics can have a positive impact on a person’s health and well-being. That is because conversations about these topics can help people find greater meaning and purpose in their lives.
A Sense of Humor
Seeing the Humor in Life and Not Taking Myself Too Seriously
Humor is another tool I use in counseling and life in general. Sometimes life is absurd. It can be funny at times at just how life unfolds, and sometimes the only thing we can do is laugh about it.
Being able to find humor and lightness despite difficulty and pain is a valuable ability to have. After all, laughter is beneficial to health. Additionally, when we don’t take ourselves too seriously, we can open a door that allows for a different or expanded view of ourselves and our situation. Within this, we can then also better recognize our role in this dramatic comedy called “life.” Recognizing that we have a role to play gives us more power and control over what we want that role to be.
Professional Background
Over the years, I have had the opportunity to work in various settings as a therapist and educator. These opportunities include working both here in Longmont and abroad.
Settings I have worked in include:
- Special education in public schools
- Early childhood education in both public and private schools
- Community mental health
- Residential mental health treatment programs
- Eldercare, including working with those with Alzheimer’s and other neurological or cognitive issues
- Palliative care and hospice
In each setting, I have had the ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds. These backgrounds include ethnicity, socioeconomic background, gender, sexual orientation, and religious or spiritual beliefs.
Because of these experiences, I have a deep appreciation of the human condition and our shared humanity. Every person I encounter as a mental health counselor and music therapist has a story to share. As such, it is an honor to help people find their voices, embrace who they are, and find their way in life.
Professional Interests
The following are other values and interests I hold as a therapist.
Community Involvement
Giving Back
Because community and culture can play a role in mental health, I believe in giving back to the community. Some of the ways I do this are through:
American Music Therapy Association (AMTA), Online Conference for Music Therapy (OCMT), Delta Kappa Gamma (DKG)
And in the past I have:
Public Speaker and Presenter
Educating the Public
In addition to my work as a therapist, I also enjoy presenting. As a public speaker, I have presented nationally and internationally on the topics of:
You can learn more here about the workshops and presentations I offer. Otherwise, contact me if you would like to set up a presentation or workshop for your organization.
Lifelong Learner
Continuously Learning
One thing is for sure, as long as I am alive, I will want to learn more. The world is a fascinating place, and there is so much to learn. I enjoy having a curious mind, and I hope to help foster that in others.
Some of the areas in which I continue to study and contribute professionally include:
Contact Me and Find Out More
If you have further questions about the counseling services I offer, you can contact me by email. Otherwise, I offer a free 15-minute consultation by phone or online that you can schedule here. At this time, we can talk in more detail about your situation and how I might help you.