"to heal and to enhance"​
Why see a counselor?
You are not alone. Often times, people struggle with questions like, "why me", "why now" or "how come I can't get a grip on this?" Mental health and mental illness have been stigmatized, and as a result, people are hesitant to share their struggles. I want to tell you that you are not alone. There is help out there, and a counselor is one professional that can help you! I am glad that you chose to take that first step to start exploring ways to make things better in your life. Counselors are interested in building relationships, and these relationships often times are the healing factor in and of themselves. Let's talk, to see if this is right for you!
ABOUT ME
I am a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor Supervisor (LPCC-S) in the state of North Dakota and in the state of Minnesota. I am a Nationally Certified Counselor and a Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor (NCC and CCMHC) through the National Board for Certified Counselors. I am a Certified DBT Therapist (CDBT).
​
I am currently a doctoral student at North Dakota State University, seeking a PhD in Counselor Supervision and Education, with an anticipated graduation year of 2023. I have a masters degree in Counseling Psychology from Webster University, and an undergraduate degree in Pre-professional Psychology from Southwestern Assemblies of God University.
​
I have 18 years of experience in mental health, which include but is not limited to: case management, In-home services with kids and families, crisis and emergency services, on-call support, Dual Disorder treatment, Partial Hospitalization Programs, individual, group and couples counseling, trauma, substance use and severe and persistent mental illness. I am trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, EMDR (a trauma therapy), Cognitive Processing Therapy and employ various other theories in my approach to counseling.
John Perez, LPCC-S, CCMHC, NCC, CDBT
MY MISSION STATEMENT
"To heal and to enhance." This is my mission statement as simply as I can put it. I believe that counseling is not just for "broken" people. Counseling can be for everyone! The power of a trusting and healthy relationship can heal. Learning to manage your anxiety, manage depression, manage stress or even manage your thoughts and emotions can heal. I believe that counseling can enhance your life too! My personal goal has always been that of constant improvement, and there are parts of that journey that can be difficult or even painful at times. You can do it, and you are not alone! A single thread can be easily cut, but a cord of a few strands cannot be broken; together, we can see change and growth as a reality!