ABOUT ME

Welcome to my site, I am glad you are here. My name is Niki Lopez, I am a mother of three sons, a wonderful daughter-in-love, and Grandma to one beautiful grandson. The youngest of five, I grew up in a small town in California where I developed a love of horses. I consider myself blessed to be able to spend time with them again in such a meaningful and valuable way.   

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I am a widow and it was my husband's unexpected death that set me on the course to becoming a counselor. After he died I sought Equine Assisted grief therapy and there I found the salve that my soul needed. I have since seen the benefit of this modality in many other aspects of therapy and counseling. Grief is a terrible yet wonderful thing, requiring proper management lest it take over and control our lives. It is my goal to help you navigate your journey through this life, whether you are dealing with loss, trauma, anxiety, depression, or other life issues, and help you become a stronger person, equipped to manage life's many issues.

 

After my husband's death, I came to realize how uncomfortable we as a society are with the concept of death. None of us can avoid it, yet we are extremely awkward when confronted by it. To that end, I am writing a book that shares my story in hopes of encouraging others and bring them to a better understanding of how to support loved ones in times of grief.    

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I believe that at the heart of every successful counselor-client relationship rests a foundation of trust and mutual respect. I believe in a client centered and collaborative approach to counseling and work hard to create an atmosphere of acceptance and warmth that goes hand in hand with empathic understanding. Should we establish a counseling relationship, I will strive to become a safe and supportive place where you can share your story, gain insight, and come away equipped with skills to better manage day to day life and all that comes with it.    

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I am a published photographer and I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, playing with our two dogs and two cats, home improvement projects, and working on my book.