Bree Romero, CEO, Founder

HEALING IS THE WORK OF THE HEART I believe in healing, nurturing, and loving into existence our heart’s desires. In today's world of instant gratification, social media platforms that create a cycle of seeking validation and engagement, and constant hypervigilance of how others perceive us, it may seem almost radical to quiet the chatter, look within and to explore our innermost thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Counseling is about putting the focus on your life in a way that’s intimate, personal, kind, and caring. It is about creating a safe environment between you and your therapist to do deep, transformative, sacred work. Whether you are an immigrant wounded by racial systemic trauma or someone who grew up in a rural community hurt by an abusive and violent upbringing, the emotional pain of trauma is all the same – an oppressive trapping that can lead to depression, anxiety, lack of self-esteem, false sense of self, and so much more. As CEO and Founder of Kindled Heart Counseling LLC, my goal is to help you warm up to the parts of yourself that need nurturing, exploration, and kindness. ABOUT BREE ROMERO I identify as a multicultural therapist. I am curious about your background, any languages you speak, gender identity, neurodiversity, socioeconomic background, and any themes in your life that impact how you feel about yourself. My goal is to continuously learn, do my own self-reflection, and maintain an openness to other's lived experiences. My background provides me with a foundation of maturity, compassion and curiosity needed to support others on their healing journey. I am Latina, an immigrant, bilingual, and part of the LGBTQIA+ community. I was born in El Salvador in Central America, and raised in Los Angeles, California. I belong to Generation X, and as someone in my late 40's I bring insight to individuals of different generations. I live in beautiful Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, I am married and a mother of two energetic dachshunds and two independent cats. I earned my Master of Science in Counseling Psychology from Chatham University, and I am trained in trauma-informed care. I use various counseling approaches in my practice, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Relational-Cultural Therapy, and Acceptance Commitment Therapy. Although I am grateful for all the education and training that has allowed me to practice counseling, my knowledge has its limitations. My favorite expression is “I don’t know, can you teach me?” I believe in forming a safe and trustworthy relationship with my clients where we can be honest with each other and curious about things we are willing to explore together. AREAS OF FOCUS My areas of focus are my passion – immigrant counseling, LGBTQIA+ counseling and trauma informed counseling. I am best suited for individuals who fit my scope of practice. However, I will never turn away anyone who wants counseling, and if it turns out I am not your best match, I will do my best to provide you with the appropriate referrals or contacts. IMMIGRANT COUNSELING Emotional challenges related to being an immigrant can feel insurmountable. A fast-changing political and socio-economic landscape can make it hard to open up unless you feel safe, and completely comfortable. Living as an immigrant can be stressful and often comes with its own set of unique difficulties. As an immigrant, I have a deep understanding of acculturative stress, and immigration trauma. I am trained in culturally responsive mental health prevention and intervention, and I am sensitive to our collective struggles. Together we can navigate the emotional and psychological challenges faced by our communities. LGBTQIA+ COUNSELING LGBTQIA+ is an acronym that stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex, and asexual. The “+” represents other identities that are part of the community, such as non-binary, pansexual, and agender. I came out late in life, and struggled through emotions of isolation, fear, shame and not feeling authentic. Being part of our community comes with unique challenges, and I can help you work through difficult emotions. I am an LGBTQIA+ affirming therapist who understands gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning issues with adults. I can help you navigate the many intersections of your identity and help you make sense of who they are and how they fit into a historically queerphobic world. I want to help you to really listen to the needs you may be avoiding. I want to help you have pride in who you are and in your existence. TRAUMA INFORMED COUNSELING "Trauma compromises your ability to engage with others by replacing patterns of connection with patterns of protection." -Stephen Porges Trauma occurs when an event overwhelms a person’s ability to handle their emotions. This can make it difficult to stay present and understand what’s happening. Whether it’s a single event, like a car accident, or repeated experiences, such as domestic violence or child abuse, trauma can lead to feelings of irritability, anger, fear, panic, and sadness. It can also cause physical symptoms like numbness (shock), headaches, aches and pains, nausea, shakiness, and dizziness. The good news is that there's help. Healing doesn't simply happen with the passage of time; it flourishes in the warmth of safe and compassionate experiences. It's through creating these nurturing moments that your nervous system learns to trust and feel that the threat has truly passed. Embracing a therapeutic journey with a therapist can lead to profound healing and peace. THEMES TO CONSIDER A few common themes thread throughout my areas of focus, such as racial trauma, systemic oppression, and even state-sanctioned violence to name a few. As a trauma-informed therapist, I may be curious about how cultural factors influence your experiences with risk and safety. Together we can explore these issues in a calm and non-judgmental way. My goal is to hear you, see you and understand you. GRATITUDE If you made it this far and read my website, thank you. I really appreciate your time. I hope that after reviewing my website, I might be the right therapist for you. If you have any thoughts or questions, please call me for a free 15-minute consultation. I would also like to give a warm and loving thank you to my mother and father, sister and brothers, family, friends, loved ones, colleagues and professors who encouraged me forward. Your love and support kindled my heart into an everlasting flame. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I am a Licensed Associate Professional Counselor in Pennsylvania. My clinical supervisor is Felishatee Rodriguez, PhD, LPC, NCC, CCTP, ACS