Services

  • A woman sitting on a bed with a laptop, and a golden retriever sleeping in the foreground.

    Individual Therapy

    At Hope Counseling, we provide compassionate, collaborative therapy to help you feel understood and supported. Our team uses evidence-based approaches like EMDR, CBT, DBT, IFS, and mindfulness to support clients facing anxiety, depression, PTSD, OCD, and more. We focus on your strengths, goals, and values while creating a safe space for growth and healing. Virtual sessions are available in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, Texas, and Florida, with Arkansas coming soon.

  • A woman participating in a virtual meeting on her computer, holding a mug, with a group of diverse colleagues visible on the screen.

    Group Therapy & Support Groups

    Rising Strong is an 8-month virtual therapeutic group currently seeking members. This group is designed to provide a safe, supportive, and empowering space for women healing from domestic violence. Through guided discussions, trauma-informed practices, and the sharing of personal experiences, participants will reconnect with their sense of self, build emotional resilience, and learn practical tools for ongoing healing and growth. The group fosters genuine connection and mutual support, helping women move toward greater empowerment and emotional well-being.

    Rooted Together is a support group for moms of neurodivergent and special needs children. This group was created for mothers who often carry more than others realize, offering a space for connection, validation, and relief. Whether you're navigating diagnoses, therapies, advocacy, or the emotional weight of caregiving, Rooted Together offers a space to feel seen, heard, and supported—because your well-being matters too.

Specialized Evaluations

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A person wearing a maroon jacket hugging a happy golden retriever dog outdoors with mountains and sky in the background.
A black Labrador dog wearing a yellow vest with the logo and text 'Canine Companions' and a red flower collar, standing indoors on a gray floor. An individual beside the dog, partially visible, holds the dog's leash.

Ready To Get Started?

  • Asylum Cases

    Comprehensive evaluations documenting the psychological impact of persecution, severe trauma, and torture experienced in an applicant’s home country. Assessments provide objective clinical evidence of PTSD, anxiety, and depression to establish credibility and support claims of feared harm upon return.

    VAWA (Violence Against Women Act)

    Trauma-informed assessments designed for individuals who have experienced domestic abuse, battery, or extreme cruelty by a U.S. citizen or permanent resident spouse, parent, or adult child. Reports thoroughly document the psychological, emotional, and physical impact of the abuse to meet legal evidentiary standards.

    U & T Visas

    Specialized evaluations for victims of qualifying crimes (U Visa) or human trafficking (T Visa). These assessments document the substantial physical or mental abuse suffered as a result of the crime, as well as the ongoing psychological barriers to recovery and full functioning.

    Extreme Hardship Waivers (I-601 / I-601A)

    In-depth psychological evaluations documenting the severe, extraordinary emotional and mental health impacts a qualifying relative (U.S. citizen or permanent resident spouse or parent) would suffer if the applicant is deported or if the relative must relocate abroad.

    Cancellation of Removal

    Definitive clinical evaluations for individuals in deportation proceedings. Assessments focus on establishing the "exceptional and extremely unusual hardship" that a removal would cause to the applicant's qualifying U.S. citizen or permanent resident family members.

  • Navigating the rules around ESAs can feel confusing, and unfortunately, the internet is flooded with "scam registries" that sell fake certificates. Landlords know the laws and will reject these unverified documents.

    As a licensed professional, I provide legitimate, legally compliant ESA evaluations that give you peace of mind. Here is how my process works:

    1. Compassionate, One-on-One Evaluation

    We will schedule a private, stigma-free consultation (in-person or via secure telehealth) to discuss your mental health history, your current challenges, and how your animal helps alleviate your symptoms.

    2. Clinical Assessment

    I will evaluate whether you meet the criteria for a DSM-5 mental health diagnosis (such as generalized anxiety, major depressive disorder, or PTSD) and determine if an ESA is a justifiable recommendation for your treatment plan.

    3. Delivery of Your Official ESA Letter

    If you qualify, I will write a formal, legally compliant ESA letter on my official letterhead. It will include my license number, contact information, and the necessary legal language required by landlords.

  • While the ADA does not legally require service dog handlers to carry a formal letter in public spaces, having documentation from a licensed mental health professional (LMHP) is incredibly valuable.

    Many clients require official documentation for reasonable workplace accommodations (under the EEOC), certain housing verification processes, or to confidently complete the Department of Transportation (DOT) Service Animal Air Transportation Form.

    As a licensed professional, I provide comprehensive, ethical Psychiatric Service Dog Evaluations:

    1. Diagnostic Evaluation

    We will conduct a thorough, clinical assessment to determine if your mental health condition meets the legal definition of a disability under the ADA (a condition that substantially limits one or more major life activities).

    2. Task Alignment & Review

    We will discuss and document the specific, trained tasks your dog performs (or is being trained to perform) to directly mitigate your symptoms.

    3. Formal Documentation (PSD Letter)

    If you qualify, I will provide a formal, professional letter on my official letterhead stating that you are under my care for a diagnosed mental health disability and that a Psychiatric Service Dog is a prescribed part of your ongoing treatment plan.

    Is a PSD Assessment Right for You?

    A Psychiatric Service Dog assessment may be appropriate if you have a diagnosed condition such as:

    • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

    • Severe Generalized Anxiety Disorder or Panic Disorder

    • Agoraphobia

    • Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

    • Bipolar Disorder or Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

    Important Note: A PSD must possess a calm temperament and be trained to behave impeccably in public. While I can evaluate and document your mental health need for a service animal, the responsibility for the dog's task training and public access behavior rests on the handler/trainer.

Meet the Team

  • A woman with dark brown hair and blue eyes smiling outdoors, wearing an olive green long-sleeve top, blue jeans, a brown belt with gold rings, and a white headband, standing in front of a tree with yellow leaves.

    Stephanie Spjuth, LCSW

    FOUNDER | CLINICAL DIRECTOR

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  • Close-up of a smiling woman with medium-length brown hair, wearing a beige knitted sweater, against a black background.

    Angela Alonzo, LPCC

    THERAPIST

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