In the evolving landscape of mental health care, few practitioners have mastered the delicate art of trauma therapy quite like Christine Colburn. As Founder, Owner, and Therapist at Beacon of Hope Counseling Services, Colburn has pioneered an approach to healing that transcends traditional methods—one that places authenticity, connection, and cultural sensitivity at the heart of therapeutic practice. This month’s feature explores how her profound personal journey shaped a visionary who has touched countless lives through trauma-informed care, and examines the philosophy behind her success in transforming the healing process for clients across the lifespan.
A Healing Path Forged Through Personal Loss
Christine Colburn’s journey begins with profound loss a foundation that many might consider devastating but that ultimately became the cornerstone of her life’s purpose. Born into circumstances that would later inform her deep empathy for those suffering in silence, Colburn experienced trauma that would shape her understanding of grief, resilience, and the human capacity for healing.
“My journey into mental health especially trauma therapy was deeply personal,” Colburn reflects. “I didn’t just choose this path; it chose me. I experienced profound loss early in life. My mother died by suicide a week before my 13th birthday, and eighteen years later, my sister died the same way, the day before our birthdays.”
What might have been a breaking point instead became a catalyst for transformation. Growing up in an environment where mental health wasn’t discussed and therapy wasn’t readily accessible, Colburn developed a mission to become “the voice I didn’t have to be the person I needed when I was younger.”
This calling took time to materialize. Colburn didn’t begin her formal education until age 29, but when she did, everything aligned. She discovered her purpose in advocating for children and adolescents, especially those who have experienced trauma. This realization that her own pain could become purposeful in helping others heal changed everything and set her on the path to founding Beacon of Hope Counseling Services in Gilbert, Arizona.
Building Trust Across the Lifespan: The Foundation of Healing
At the core of Colburn’s therapeutic approach lies a profound understanding of what creates meaningful connection with clients of all ages. Her experience working with individuals from toddlers to those nearing end-of-life has crystallized her belief in the universal human need for authentic engagement.
“The key to building trust with any individual regardless of age is authenticity, empathy, and presence,” Colburn emphasizes. “People can feel when you’re being genuine, when you’re truly listening, and when you’re sitting with them in their pain without judgment. That matters, whether they’re 3 or 93.”
This philosophy takes different forms across age groups. For children, trust begins with safety and consistency creating an environment where they feel seen and heard, even when words fail them. For adults carrying lifelong trauma, trust often emerges when someone finally approaches them not with pity, but with compassion and belief in their inherent strength.
Research published in the Journal of Clinical Psychology demonstrates that therapeutic alliance the relationship between client and therapist accounts for approximately 30% of successful outcomes in mental health treatment, regardless of specific methodology. Colburn’s emphasis on connection aligns with this research, positioning authentic engagement not as an optional “soft skill” but as a fundamental driver of healing.
Cultural Humility: Lessons from the Community
Colburn’s professional journey includes eight transformative years working with the Gila River Indian Community as a home-based counselor, followed by another three years providing home-based services off the reservation. This experience profoundly shaped her understanding of cultural humility in the therapeutic relationship.
“Working with the Gila River Indian Community was one of the most humbling and transformative experiences of my career,” she shares. “I was honored to walk alongside individuals and families carrying deep generational wounds, yet also profound resilience and cultural strength.”
This immersion taught Colburn that healing isn’t one-size-fits-all it must be rooted in understanding, respect, and cultural humility. The importance of community, tradition, and ancestral connection now shapes how she approaches trauma work, emphasizing that therapy should meet people where they are both literally and emotionally.
These insights have become central to Beacon of Hope’s methodology, which emphasizes:
- Cultural Sensitivity: Understanding that healing practices must respect diverse backgrounds and traditions.
- Community Connection: Recognizing the healing power of belonging and cultural identity.
- Adaptability – She was once able to meet clients wherever they felt most comfortable at home, in school, or even at their office. However, after transitioning into private practice, insurance no longer reimbursed for in-home mental health therapy services. Despite this limitation, she remains committed to client care and, under exceptional circumstances and when her schedule permits, still tries to accommodate such requests.
- Honoring Resilience: Acknowledging the strength already present in individuals and communities.
This approach represents a significant departure from traditional clinical models that may unintentionally impose dominant cultural perspectives on diverse populations. By integrating cultural sensitivity with evidence-based practices, Colburn creates therapeutic spaces that honor the whole person including their cultural identity and community connections.
The Language of Healing: Expressive Modalities
Perhaps the most distinctive aspect of Colburn’s therapeutic approach is her emphasis on expressive modalities play therapy, art therapy, sand tray, and color therapy especially when working with young clients who may lack the verbal capacity to process trauma.
“Children don’t always have the words to explain what they’re feeling especially when they’ve experienced trauma,” Colburn explains. “That’s where expressive modalities become incredibly powerful. Play therapy, art, sand tray, and color therapy give kids the tools to communicate in the language they know best through creativity, movement, and symbolism.”
These approaches have transformed how she connects with young clients. Children who initially present as withdrawn or silent begin to express their experiences through creative mediums, bypassing the pressure to verbalize complex emotions and instead finding safety in symbolic expression.
Research from the American Art Therapy Association shows that expressive therapies activate different neural pathways than verbal processing, allowing trauma survivors to access and process memories that may be stored non-verbally in the brain. For children especially, whose prefrontal cortex is still developing, these modalities provide developmentally appropriate avenues for healing.
Case Study: Reclaiming Voice Through Play Among the many transformative moments in Colburn’s career was her work with a severely traumatized child who had become completely nonverbal. Through consistent application of play therapy techniques, Colburn witnessed what she describes as “an incredible transformation.”
“One of the most profound moments was when this child, after months of silence, finally spoke during a session,” she recalls. “It was a breakthrough that felt like the opening of a door for them a moment of reclaiming their voice after years of feeling silenced.”
This case exemplifies the power of expressive modalities to create pathways to healing where traditional talk therapy might fail, particularly with young clients whose trauma occurred pre-verbally or during critical developmental windows.
Empowering the Seeds of Our Future
Colburn’s philosophy on working with children reflects her belief that each child carries within them the capacity for healing and growth. “I truly believe that children are the seeds of our future full of potential, strength, and purpose,” she shares. “My role as a therapist is to help nurture those seeds by showing each child they already hold the tools within themselves to grow, heal, and thrive.”
This empowerment-focused approach differs significantly from deficit-oriented models that view traumatized children primarily through the lens of their wounds. Instead, Colburn focuses on:
- Creating Safety: Establishing environments where children feel secure enough to express their authentic emotions
- Emotional Literacy: Teaching children to identify, name, and manage their feelings
- Body Awareness: Helping children recognize and respond to physical manifestations of emotional states
- Resilience Building: Fostering the belief that challenges can be overcome through internal resources and appropriate support
“Resilience isn’t about never struggling it’s about knowing you can get back up, again and again,” Colburn emphasizes. “And when a child discovers that within themselves, it’s one of the most powerful and sacred things to witness.”
This approach aligns with current research on resilience, which identifies supportive relationships as the single most important factor in developing adaptive responses to adversity. By positioning herself as a consistent, caring presence while simultaneously building children’s internal resources, Colburn creates the conditions where resilience can flourish.
Breaking the Stigma: Advocacy Through Authenticity
Despite significant progress in recent years, mental health remains stigmatized in many communities. As both a therapist who has experienced personal trauma and a public advocate through speaking and writing, Colburn approaches stigma reduction through radical authenticity.
“Breaking the stigma around mental health starts with having the courage to speak openly—especially about the hard things,” she explains. “I share my story not for sympathy, but to create connection and show others they’re not alone.”
This commitment to transparent conversation extends through all aspects of her professional life therapy sessions, speaking engagements, and writing projects. By modeling vulnerability without shame, Colburn creates spaces where others feel safe to acknowledge their own struggles.
Crucially, Colburn recognizes that stigma manifests differently across communities and cultural contexts. Her approach to advocacy is therefore tailored and culturally responsive, meeting people where they are rather than imposing standardized views of mental health and recovery.
“Mental health is not a one-size-fits-all conversation, and recovery isn’t a straight line,” she notes. “My goal is to normalize healing as a journey and to help people see that asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.”
Beacon of Hope: A Haven for Healing
The name Beacon of Hope Counseling Services reflects Colburn’s vision for her practice creating a light for others during their darkest moments. Founded in September 2013, the practice embodies her belief that no matter how broken or overwhelmed someone may feel, there is always hope and a path forward.
What distinguishes Beacon of Hope in today’s mental health landscape is the level of heart and intention behind its services. Rather than focusing narrowly on symptom reduction or diagnostic categories, the practice approaches each client as a whole person with unique needs, strengths, and challenges.
“My vision for Beacon of Hope Counseling Services is to offer more than just therapy it’s about creating a safe, supportive space where people feel genuinely seen, heard, and valued,” Colburn shares. “A place where healing is tailored to the whole person mind, body, and soul.”
This integrated approach combines trauma-informed care with expressive therapies, cultural sensitivity, and above all, compassion. In an increasingly standardized mental health environment that often prioritizes efficiency over connection, Beacon of Hope stands as a counterpoint emphasizing presence, relationship, and individualized care.
The Weight of Witnessing: Sustainable Self-Care
The emotional demands of trauma therapy are substantial, requiring practitioners to develop robust self-care practices to maintain their capacity for compassionate engagement. For Colburn, sustainable practice begins with acknowledging the sacred responsibility of holding others’ stories.
“Holding space for others especially those navigating deep trauma is both an incredible privilege and an emotional responsibility,” she reflects. “I’ve learned that in order to be fully present for my clients, I have to prioritize my own emotional balance and well-being.”
Colburn’s self-care regimen integrates spiritual practices, intentional pauses between sessions, connection with nature, creative expression, and community support. This multilayered approach allows her to maintain emotional resilience while continuing to engage deeply with clients’ trauma narratives. My husband, Casey, is a big part of my self-care. He reminds me to slow down and breathe. He reinforces the boundaries I have set for myself, which include no working during family time. My husband helps keep me grounded when needed, and he is also my biggest cheerleader when I aim for the proverbial glass ceiling.
Research on compassion fatigue and vicarious traumatization indicates that therapists who maintain consistent self-care practices show greater longevity in the field and report higher levels of compassion satisfaction the positive feelings derived from helping others heal. By modeling sustainable self-care, Colburn not only preserves her capacity to serve but also demonstrates healthy boundaries for clients learning to prioritize their own wellbeing.
Leadership Through Service: Redefining Success
Colburn’s definition of leadership in mental health reflects her service-oriented approach to professional development and community impact. “Leadership in the field of mental health, to me, is about service, advocacy, and modeling what it means to walk the path of healing both professionally and personally,” she explains.
This leadership philosophy manifests in multiple dimensions:
- Within Her Practice: Creating environments where both clients and team members feel safe, supported, and empowered to grow
- In Clinical Relationships: Guiding clients toward their own wisdom and strength rather than fostering dependency
- In the Broader Community: Advocating for better access to care, reduced stigma, and more holistic approaches to mental health
- For Emerging Professionals: Mentoring new therapists and modeling sustainable, heart-centered practice
“At its core, leadership is about fostering trust, connection, and growth both in the individuals I serve and in the field at large,” Colburn notes. This collaborative rather than hierarchical understanding of leadership has allowed her to create ripple effects of positive change beyond the confines of her immediate practice.
Navigating Dual Challenges: Woman Entrepreneur in Mental Health
As both a woman in business and a trauma therapist, Colburn has faced unique challenges at the intersection of gender expectations, emotional labor, and entrepreneurial demands. She identifies several key obstacles that have required strategic navigation:
- Balancing Business and Therapeutic Roles: The challenge of managing the emotional weight of therapy while handling the practical demands of running a business
- Gender Bias in Entrepreneurship: The subtle pressure to prove herself as a business owner and leader in addition to her clinical expertise
- The Emotional Labor Tax: Managing societal expectations that women in helping professions should prioritize care for others above personal wellbeing
“As a woman in both the entrepreneurial and therapeutic fields, I’ve encountered a unique set of challenges,” Colburn acknowledges. “There’s a subtle pressure to prove myself—not just as a therapist, but as a business owner and leader.”
Her strategies for overcoming these obstacles include leaning into authenticity, building strong support networks, and remaining grounded in her core purpose. By recognizing her worth independent of external validation and accepting that setbacks are part of the journey rather than defining characteristics, Colburn has created a sustainable model for female leadership in the mental health space.
Evolving Practice: Continuous Growth and Learning
The field of mental health is constantly evolving, with new research, methodologies, and understanding emerging regularly. Colburn’s commitment to professional development ensures that Beacon of Hope remains at the forefront of effective, evidence-informed practice.
“The field of mental health is ever-evolving, and as a therapist, it’s essential to stay current and adapt to the needs of those I serve,” she explains. Her approach to continuous learning includes formal continuing education, peer consultation, engagement with current research, and perhaps most importantly, remaining attentive to the feedback provided by clients themselves.
This commitment to evolution extends beyond technical skills to embrace emerging understanding of how factors like cultural context, intergenerational trauma, and social determinants impact mental health outcomes. By remaining a perpetual student of both clinical research and human experience, Colburn ensures that her practice continues to meet the evolving needs of those she serves.
Vision for the Future: Expanding Impact
Looking toward 2025 and beyond, Colburn’s vision encompasses growth on both personal and organizational levels. She aims to continue expanding her knowledge of trauma and mental health while maintaining the self-care practices that sustain her capacity to serve.
For Beacon of Hope, future plans include:
- Team Expansion: Growing a diverse team of clinicians aligned with the practice’s mission of trauma-informed, heart-centered care
- Service Integration: Incorporating additional holistic modalities to support whole-person healing
- Community Partnerships: Deepening connections with local organizations to increase access for underserved populations
- Global Vision: Developing “Counselors Without Borders,” an initiative to bring mental health support to crisis-affected and trauma-impacted populations worldwide
“My dream is for Beacon of Hope to remain a trusted space of safety, healing, and empowerment,” Colburn shares. “And beyond the walls of the private practice, I’m dreaming even bigger.”
This expansive vision reflects Colburn’s understanding that while individual therapy creates profound change for clients, systems-level transformation requires broader engagement. By creating programs that address structural barriers to care while maintaining the heart-centered approach that defines her work, she aims to extend healing opportunities to those who might otherwise remain unreached.
The Message of Hope: You Are Not Alone
Through all her work therapy, writing, speaking, and advocacy Colburn carries one central message to those struggling with trauma: “You are not broken. You are not alone. And you are not beyond healing.”
This message reflects her core belief that healing is always possible, regardless of the severity of trauma or the length of time someone has carried their wounds. By combining professional expertise with personal understanding of trauma’s impact, Colburn creates spaces where clients can begin to reclaim their voices, their power, and their sense of possibility.
“Healing doesn’t mean forgetting what happened,” she notes. “It means reclaiming your life, your voice, and your power. No matter where you are in your journey, I want you to know that hope is never out of reach.”
In a world where mental health challenges remain stigmatized and many struggle in silence, Colburn’s work at Beacon of Hope Counseling Services stands as a testament to the transformative power of compassionate, trauma-informed care. Her story reminds us that from our deepest wounds can emerge our greatest gifts to others and that with the right support, healing is always possible.
Taking Action: Embracing Healing Today
In today’s world where trauma affects so many lives, finding the right therapeutic support has never been more important. Individuals without appropriate trauma-informed care face significant risks:
- Continued suffering that affects quality of life and relationships
- Higher rates of physical and mental health complications
- Intergenerational transmission of trauma patterns
- Diminished capacity to fully engage with their potential and purpose
The journey toward healing begins with a single step reaching out for support from professionals who understand that trauma requires specialized approaches beyond traditional talk therapy.
“Healing is not a linear process, and it doesn’t look the same for everyone,” Colburn reminds us. “We live in a world that often encourages us to rush, to ‘get over’ things, or to suppress what hurts. But real healing takes time, safety, compassion, and connection.”
Ready to begin your healing journey? Contact Beacon of Hope Counseling Services to connect with compassionate, trauma-informed care that meets you exactly where you are.
The time for healing is now.
