“Mental health is all about riding the wave: not against it, not under it, not over it, but with it.”

Tina Regis, LMHC with HBH grew up a nurturer. 

The inspiration for her future career as a therapist was cultivated at a young age. Tina grew up in Southern LA, where giving back to economically and racially diverse communities came naturally to her. 

Tina said that her conscious experiences with empathy weren’t learned, “It’s just part of who I am.”

This empathy, along with her ability to form connections with people built on safe levels of vulnerability and trust, led Tina to the mental health field. 

For the past six years Tina has provided counseling for individuals, groups, families, and communities in a wide range of settings. 

At the heart of her practice, Tina holds an unconditional acceptance and respect for the client. Through developing a safe and strong therapeutic relationship, Tina helps individuals build a personal foundation of self-actualization, and self-love. 

Her approach combines the practices of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) with an emphasis on meeting the client’s unique needs. She will safely offer supportive tools to help clients realize their unique strengths and arrive at their goals. 

We sat down with Tina to learn more about her background in the field, her therapeutic approach, and what clients can expect from working with her online and in our West Springfield office.

What drew you to the mental health field?

My mom went through a series of failed relationships, and put me in therapy at a young age. 

It was difficult for me to find a therapist who I really connected with. I didn’t always feel like my mental health challenges were being supported and worked through. I knew that I could offer people a different experience.

Something within me has always loved taking care of people, and therapy is a form of care-taking.

As far back as I can remember, I felt compassion for the homeless people in my community whose lives were so different from my own. I’d spend my fifty cents on candy at the candy store, and bring it to them.

My openness and ability to cut through surface-level conversations with people also encouraged me to work as a therapist. I’m an extravert, and building rapport with people comes naturally to me.

Can you talk a bit about your experiences in the field?

I received my Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology from American International College in 2018, and I’ve been a Licensed Mental Health Clinician in Massachusetts since. 

I’ve worked with diverse populations experiencing a wide range of life challenges in both private and community-based settings. From counseling people with a dual diagnosis of substance use disorder and mental health, to supporting men who’ve recently transitioned from prison to the community, I’ve had the opportunity to help all different types of people.

What mental health challenges do you offer treatment for?

I provides therapy for individual and couples therapy experiencing a wide range of life challenges, including:

• Depression
• Anxiety, Panic, and Phobias
• Bipolar Disorder
• Personality Disorders
• Substance Use Disorder
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) 
• Trauma
• Attention-deficit Hyperactivity Disorders (ADHD/ADD) 
• Sexual Offenders
• Peak Performance/Performance Anxiety
• Anger Management
• Divorce/Custody Disputes

How do you form a therapeutic relationship with your clients?

From the minute the client walks into our session, it’s all love. 

Respect is immediately given from the inside out.

There’s no prestige or power play; I don’t come across as overly professional or rigid. I always share my background and my approach with the client, so they can sense who they’re working with.  

I believe that therapy is all about earning the client’s trust, it’s not handed to you. This is a safe space for the client to develop tools and strengths to meet life’s challenges, and work toward their goals. I encourage them to tell me what’s working and what isn’t. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach to therapy, and we can work together to figure out what works best.

What is your treatment style and approach?

My mission is to meet the needs of the client. 

Person-Centered: I’m always attuned to the client in front of me, which involves understanding how systems of families, institutions, culture, and society impact their lived experiences. No matter what experiences the client brings to our session, I hold myself accountable to meet their needs, zero-judgment. 

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Sometimes, people find themselves stuck repeating patterns of thoughts and behaviors that no longer serve them, and they don’t know how to shift their perception. A lot of our perception is based on our previous experiences, triggering emotional responses which influence our thoughts and behaviors. 

CBT is about learning to recognize patterns of thoughts and behaviors that are hurting our relationship with self and others. As we learn how to identify, process, and adjust unhelpful thoughts, we start thinking and taking empowered actions. 

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT): A lot of people struggle with their personal relationships and don’t know how to handle crisis situations. DBT teaches us distress tolerance skills that allow us to navigate through uncomfortable or challenging situations, and manage urges to react in harmful ways. 

Rather than living in the past, and creating feelings of depression, or living in the future, and creating feelings of anxiety, DBT teaches us how to cultivate mindfulness states. We learn how to live in the here and now, accept the present moment, and then set goals to get where we want to be.

What is your favorite part of being a therapist?

My job is to help people start loving themselves, healing their relationships, and improving the overall quality of their life. 

I also really love helping people learn how to become more assertive and stand up for themselves to reach their goals. 

You only have one life to live, you know? What are you going to do with it?

The Take-Away

Through providing the tools and encouragement to look more closely at your life, Tina will help you awaken to your own truth and reach your full potential. 

Tina offers counseling in both our West Springfield office, and online throughout the state of Massachusetts. To schedule an appointment with Tina, please contact us today at (413) 343-4357.

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