Crystal Cooper, AMFT

Pronouns: She/her/hers

Phonetic pronunciation of name: "KRIS-TUHL"

Role at Evergreen: Clinician

I am a feminist integrative therapist who is passionate about supporting all genders and groups of people navigating oppression in any way. I am an ally because I believe we are more alike than different, and we can all use a gentle reminder to swing the pendulum in the other direction. Change can be hard whether it’s necessary or initiated. There isn’t one way to approach an issue because sometimes what we think we want shifts, expands, or completely changes form. There are many societal, familial, and cultural expectations that dictate if and how we show up with ourselves, peers, and loved ones. I want to help you find balance and comfort amidst the tides. My work as a Firefighter, an EMT in the Emergency Room, and a Mental Health Worker in a psychiatric hospital has refined my desire to support individuals with both urgent and continued challenges. We are all existing in multiple realms while trying to fit the puzzle pieces together.

Inside the therapy room is an intimate space where we can share, explore, and discover more of what aligns with you, while also challenging you to be open to new ways of being. I will follow your lead in setting a pace that feels comfortable. Let’s work together to create more moments where your deepest self feels both seen and valued, while also honoring the needs of your most personal relationships. Through collaboration, we will find the best ways to express what matters most; this way, your time, passion, and energy are received as intended.

Clinical Style

Warm, collaborative, relational, passionate, egalitarian, open, and explorative.

License

Associate Marriage and Family Therapist #148519

Degrees

Antioch University Los Angeles | Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology | 2023

National University | Bachelor of Arts in Psychology | 2013

El Camino College | Associate of Science in Fire and Emergency Technology | 2009

Advanced Trainings

Gestalt Theory and Therapy | Jen Leong | 2023

Holistic Treatment Interventions for Trauma Recovery | Consuelo Davis | 2023

Winnicott's Thinking | Antioch University | 2023

Trauma in Childhood | Amanda Seon-Walker | 2023

Feminist Theories in Psychotherapy | Theodore Burns | 2023

Grief and Loss | Kiss Kevorkian | 2022

Trauma-Focused CBT | Medical University of South Carolina | 2022

Community Resiliency Model | Trauma Resource Institute | 2022

Working With Highly Traumatized & Systematically Oppressed Communities | Southern California Counseling Center, Marianne Diaz | 2022

Why I do this work

Growing up in a unpredictable home left me both confused and curious about human behavior. Over time that curiosity grew into a yearning to learn and understand everything about personalities. It was fascinating! It also help me to make sense of my early trauma wounds and attachment issues with loved ones. So much of your outlook, hopes, and output are shaped by what did or did not happen during childhood. I do this work because I want to support individuals navigating times of uncertainty and transition. I want to help guide them on how to understand the love they are receiving as well as express their love in the most meaningful way.

The best part of my job

The best part of my job is seeing a client rediscover their autonomy, agency, freedom, and choice. Oftentimes when things are challenging we succumb to feeling powerless, in feeling unable to facilitate any relief in the matter. Seeing the internal smile and big exhale someone experiences when they step out from “underneath the problem” and into the internal shareholder role is deeply rewarding.

How I spend my free time

I often spend my free time traveling, swimming, trying new recipes, or getting lost in a book.

Favorite quote

“In life I’ve found that the things we procrastinate with most are actually the things that will set us free.” B. Behm

Top personal growth resources

  • The Body Keeps The Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk
  • Set Boundaries, Find Peace by Nedra Glover Tawwab
  • Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins
  • Big Feelings by Liza Fosslein and Mollie West Duffy
  • The Dance of Connection by Harriet Lerner
  • Fear and Other Uninvited Guests by Harriet Lerner
  • Maps of Narrative Practice by Michael White
  • The Body is Not an Apology by Sonya Renee Taylor
  • The Strength in Our Scars by Bianca Sparacino
  • A Room of One’s Own by Virginia Woolf

Podcasts

  • Therapy for Black Girls
  • Our Whole Childhood
  • The Glow Up Secrets Podcast

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