Ernestine Tennefos, LPCC

Ernestine Tennefos is a licensed professional clinical counselor who helps people facing trauma, grief, anxiety, stress, addictions, relationship strain, parenting challenges, anger, and self-esteem struggles. She welcomes straightforward conversations and meets people where they are. Taking the first step can be hard, and she acknowledges the courage it takes to begin.

Ernestine favors clear, practical sessions. She creates an open setting where clients can talk about thoughts and feelings without judgment. Sessions focus on problem-solving, skill building, and understanding emotional patterns that get in the way of daily life.

Her work draws on cognitive behavioral therapy to identify unhelpful thoughts and test new ways of responding. She also uses client-centered techniques that prioritize the client's goals and emotional experience. Emotionally-focused ideas help when relationship or intimacy issues are a central concern.

Mindfulness practices are offered to help reduce reactivity and stay present during stressful moments. Those practices are short and usable between sessions so people can try them during a busy day.

Ernestine brings 15 years of experience as an LPCC in New Mexico. She combines active listening with concrete strategies to help clients cope with life changes and build steadier routines. If someone wants easy-to-apply tools and calm, direct guidance, this approach may fit well.

How her approaches translate to online work

Ernestine blends cognitive behavioral techniques with client-centered care to guide online sessions. Cognitive behavioral therapy focuses on noticing unhelpful thoughts and trying small behavioral experiments to change reactions to stress, anxiety, and addictive patterns. Client-centered work emphasizes the person's goals and lived experience, giving space for feelings and choices to shape each session.

She views approach selection as a joint process. During early sessions she will help clients identify which methods fit their goals and situation. The therapist adapts techniques over time based on what the client finds most helpful, keeping the work collaborative and goal-oriented.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to offer flexibility. Video is useful for a full-session conversation and visual cues. Phone sessions are helpful when bandwidth is low or a shorter check-in is needed. Live chat and text messaging let someone send updates between sessions or use brief check-ins during a busy day. These options make scheduling easier and let people try different formats to see what works best.