Alexandra Duran, LMFT

DOES THIS SOUND FAMILIAR? - You frequently feel overwhelmed, anxious, or just plain exhausted. - You’re often hard on yourself and struggle to feel “good enough.” - You find it difficult to quiet your mind or truly relax. - You feel disconnected from joy or the things that previously brought you comfort. - Your energy and/or motivation has disappeared, and simple tasks seem to feel incredibly difficult. - You have been carrying around emotional pain from the past and often find it being triggered in your present day life. - You’ve experienced a loss and feel like nothing will ever be the same. You thought time would make it easier, but the pain still lingers. - You find it challenging to trust others or feel safe in relationships. - You struggle to set boundaries or express your needs with others. - You keep finding yourself in the same kinds of painful relationships time and time again. - You crave closeness but are also terrified of being hurt. - You’re adjusting to a big life change (e.g. a move, breakup, job loss, or new role) and feel unsteady or overwhelmed as a result of the transition. - You want to understand yourself on a deeper level and live more intentionally. If any of this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. You deserve support and a safe space to heal. Together, we can work toward the change and peace you’ve been hoping for. There is a path to feeling better and therapy can help you get there! ABOUT ME: Hello, my name is Alexandra (Ali) Duran! I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) based in Fresno, California, and working with clients statewide via telehealth. I provide individual therapy to adults (ages 18+), as well as couples therapy for those seeking assistance with relational issues. I specialize in helping individuals with depression, anxiety, attachment related issues, or a history of trauma and loss - teaching them how regulate their challenging emotions, develop new life skills, process painful memories, and ultimately find joy and meaning again. I’m also passionate about working with couples - helping them strengthen their bond with one another, improve their overall communication, navigate difficult conflicts, and explore joint needs, responsibilities, and dreams/goals for the future. I love my job because I get to support individuals in learning to live a more genuine and satisfying life while also helping couples have more rewarding relationships with one another! I honestly find this work deeply meaningful and incredibly fulfilling! The path to healing can be a difficult one, but you are not alone. If given the opportunity, I would be honored to be a part of your healing journey! MY APPROACH TO TREATMENT: My approach to therapy varies based on the individual needs of each and every client. However, my overall approach to treatment is always person-centered at its core. I strongly believe that clients are the experts on themselves, and given a safe and nonjudgmental environment (and just a little bit of guidance), they are often able to find the answers/solutions they are seeking themselves. That being said, I also utilize several evidence-based approaches such as Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS), The Gottman Method Of Couples Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy (SFT), and Motivational Interviewing (MI) in order to provide clients with the skills and resources that they need to be set up for success. I aim to provide a safe and warm space for you to explore your feelings, questions, and concerns. I do this by being genuine and honest, while also respecting and accepting you as you are, without judgment. My goal is to create a meaningful connection, in which you always feel seen and understood. That being said, I understand that trust comes with time, and will always make efforts to accommodate your preferred pace of treatment. In treatment, I will help you identify the goals that are most important to you and will always respect your right to make your own decisions. I will also help you identify and appreciate your own unique strengths, as sometimes it is hard to see this in ourselves. I will additionally provide psychoeducation on your diagnosis/symptoms, as I strongly believe, knowledge is power. I will also provide you with a large variety of resources and skills, so that you can select the ones that best meet your individual needs. Finally, I will seek feedback about your treatment on a regular basis, so that we can track your progress and continue to ensure that your needs are being appropriately met throughout the treatment process. Therapy is about connection, trust, and mutual respect. My hope is that in our work together, you’ll feel supported, understood, and empowered to create meaningful change. I MIGHT BE THE RIGHT THERAPIST FOR YOU IF... - You realize that therapy takes courage, and are willing to be open, honest, and authentic in session - You’re open to exploring your emotions, even if it feels uncomfortable at times. - You’re open to exploring patterns from your past that influence how you show up today. - You’re eager to learn, and value knowledge and/or psychoeducation about your mental health - You’re ready to develop AND practice coping and practical skills in your daily life - You’re motivated for change, even if you’re not sure where to start. - You’re willing to ask questions, set boundaries, or advocate for your personal needs in session - You want a therapist who believes in your ability to grow, even when you’re struggling to see it. - You want to feel safe exploring your story — without judgment, pressure, or shame. - You’re looking for a therapist who’s collaborative — someone who will meet you where you are and help you move forward at your own pace. - You appreciate structure and accountability - you want a therapist with a balance of warmth and gentle challenge. - You want a therapist who’s compassionate AND focused on helping you find tangible steps forward. - You want a therapist who integrates multiple evidence-based approaches (like DBT, ACT, CBT, IFS, and EMDR) to tailor the work to your unique needs. - You want a therapist who will help both you and your partner feel heard and respected — without taking sides. Finding the right therapist is an important part of the healing process— it’s the foundation of trust, safety, and growth. You deserve to feel comfortable, understood, and supported while engaging in therapy services, so I encourage you to take your time in finding someone who feels like the right fit for you and your unique needs. That being said, If my style feels aligned with what you’re looking for, I would be honored to be part of your healing journey! WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT: During Your First Therapy Appointment During your first therapy session, we will collaboratively discuss your needs and personal reasons for seeking therapy services. As you share this information about yourself, I may ask specific questions in order to help me better identify and understand your personal needs. I will also ask you about your unique strengths, as I strongly believe that these can be used in order to help you meet your overall goals for treatment. I will then offer some information about the services I provide in order to help us collaboratively determine whether or not we are a good fit for one another. I do this because I want to ensure that services will be a worthy investment of your time, energy, and money. If we decide that we are a good fit for one another, we will then create a plan for moving forward in treatment. If we decide to continue treatment, my hope is that this initial session will be a great starting point for building trust and rapport with one another. WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT: When Choosing Treatment Goals Throughout treatment, I will be helping you identify the goals that are most important to you. Once we have established these goals, I may provide psychoeducation, skills training, resources, and referrals catered to your specific needs. However, I will always respect your right to make decisions about your own treatment, as I strongly believe that clients are the experts on themselves. Depending on your specific needs, some of the things that we may explore in treatment include addressing safety concerns (e.g. thoughts of suicide or homicide), increasing your overall feelings of hope and motivation for change, learning mindfulness/coping skills, building a support system, identifying and challenging unhelpful thoughts, exploring and processing feelings and/or trauma history, learning helpful life skills (e.g. communication, conflict resolution, boundary setting, or problem solving skills), improving your relationships with others, increasing your participation in social/recreational activities, enhancing your overall self-esteem, exploring your personal values, and finding meaning/purpose in life. You know what you want, my goals is just to help you get there! WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT: When Scheduling Appointments Once you start treatment, I will typically set you up with a re-occurring appointment day/time. That way you always know when your next appointment is scheduled. The frequency of your appointments will depend on your individual needs, but are usually scheduled on a weekly or biweekly basis. Please note though, that I can increase services to 2x a week for clients with more severe symptoms or decrease services to 1x a month for clients with very minor symptoms. Sessions typically last for approximately 50 minutes, in order to allow sufficient time for the completion of necessary documentation. Client’s also have the option to contact me if they are needing an emergency appointment. Though I can not guarantee that I will have availability right away, I am always willing to put you on my standby list and can inform you as soon as I get a cancelation within my schedule. Please note that all appointments are provided virtually via the client portal. As a result, clients are required to have stable internet/audio connection, video capabilities, and a confidential space when engaging in therapy sessions. WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT: When Tracking Progress & Graduating From Therapy I’m not here to waste your time, energy, or money. Therapy should not be forever. I eventually want you to feel so strong and confident that you no longer need me. I want you to THRIVE, not just SURVIVE. That is why I track all of my client’s progress on a regular basis. I do this by checking in with you every 3-6 months to review your symptoms/progress, update your treatment goals, and give you the opportunity to share what is and is not working well within treatment. Your feedback during this process is what helps me make sure that we are on the right track while continuing to individualize treatment to your specific needs. That being said, I am never going to rush or pressure you in treatment. I will always respect your individual pace for growth. For some people, therapy may only last for a few months. For those with more severe symptoms and trauma, therapy may take several years. It is also common (and totally ok!) to occasionally need a break from therapy services. Whatever your pace, I will be honored to be a part of your healing journey. So how do we know when your ready to end treatment? Well, we will decide on this together, but usually some good indicators that you are ready to graduate from services are 1) you are running out of things to talk about, 2) your symptoms/impairments are absent or minimal, 3) you have successfully met all your treatment goals and 4) you are feeling pretty secure, stable, and happy in life. Once these conditions are met, we will begin transitioning you out of treatment little by little. This may involve slowly decreasing the frequency of services, creating a relapse prevention plan, and taking the time to review and celebrate all your progress and success! At this point, you will have done the hard work and it will be time to celebrate and enjoy life!