Clinician Spotlight - Rina Phillips
Four Corners Counseling & Well-Being has skilled, experienced, and compassionate therapists, and we want to share some of what makes them special! Rina Phillips specializes in anxiety; depression; parenting; grief and bereavement; domestic violence; trauma; achieving work/life balance; mindfulness and self-compassion; life transitions; employment difficulties; spiritual and existential conflicts.
What helps you to feel calm in life?
Daily walking helps me stay calm and brings me joy. I like to walk alone, and this has been a huge source of calm during Covid.
What is the most valuable thing you have learned in life?
One of the most valuable things I have learned in life is that people are the same everywhere. Having lived and worked in different parts of the world, I have learned that all people, no matter race, religion, culture, or status, hurt the same, love the same, and ultimately want the same things in life.
Rina with one of her pups and her son
Are you a dog or a cat person?
Since Covid, I have realized my love for dogs - I fostered 6 dogs over the course of the year and the experience has taught me and my kids a lot about love and loss. I sometimes wonder if it has been traumatic for my kids to bond with a dog only to have the dog go to their adopted home. But I try to teach them that we are helping homeless dogs have a loving home until they find their forever home.
What is your style of therapy?
I have a warm and compassionate style of therapy - lots of validation and I want my clients to feel heard and understood. I have been told I am down to earth and relatable. My clients teach me so much, more than they will ever know! I absolutely love and feel honored to walk alongside them in their healing journey.
What is a fun fact about you?
I used to play jazz trumpet on the streets of Jerusalem, in my early 20's. I made a bit of money doing it and am surprised by my lack of inhibition!
What modalities are you drawn to using in the therapy room?
I am drawn to IFS because of its embracing philosophy that "all parts are welcome". No other therapeutic model has resonated with me like IFS, in its understanding of the human experience, and its effectiveness in healing past wounds.
Do you prefer tea or coffee?
Tea (with milk). Every morning. I can't open my eyes or speak properly without it.
Where are you from? What is your favorite thing about that place?
I am from El Paso, TX and am so proud to be from a town that celebrates diversity, inclusion, and immigration. Growing up, many of my friends were Mexican Americans and Spanish was spoken more often than English. El Paso was rated the 2nd safest city in the US, and as a border town, that makes me proud.
To read Rina’s formal education and work bio click here.
