Meet our Clinicians
Benjamin Meyer, Licensed Professional Counselor
Do you find yourself wondering why you do what you do? Repeating the same patterns? Making the same kinds of choices, even though you are not sure how this could have happened? You're not alone. Ben is a licensed professional counselor based in Tempe, Arizona, with diverse experience helping individuals overcome life's challenges. He has a trauma-informed background, recognizing how past traumatic experiences impact current behaviors.
Drawing on his study of psychodynamic psychotherapy and Lacanian psychoanalysis, Ben brings a comprehensive view of behavior to his counseling approach. By understanding the complex interplay between the conscious and unconscious mind, he can help you gain insight into the underlying motivations and emotions that drive behavior.
Ben can help you identify patterns of conflict and inner turmoil, working with you to develop a personalized plan for healing and growth.
If you're struggling with anxiety or depression, Ben can help you identify negative thought patterns and behaviors that may be contributing to your symptoms. He will work with you to develop a personalized plan that includes evidence-based approaches, and mindfulness techniques.
For those experiencing relationship issues, Ben can help navigate the challenges you face and develop healthier communication skills and patterns. By identifying the underlying complexity in behavior, conflict and misunderstandings can develop into greater awareness, understanding, and mutual respect.
Ben is committed to helping you find clarity and wellness. He understands that everyone's journey is unique, and will work with you to develop a personalized plan that meets your individual, or collective needs and goals.
Treatment approach:
Ben is trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Deprogramming and Re-processing), DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy), and Resiliency, and is a Certified Personality Disorder Treatment Provider (C-PD) as well as a Level One Gottman Trained Therapist. Ben uses an approach called Emotion Focused Therapy when working with couples, and a psychodynamic and psychoeducational framework for individuals.
We offer secure online video conference meetings, if preferred.
We invite you to contact us if you have any questions, or are interested in learning more!
Kara Jean Brei, Licensed Associate Counselor
Kara Jean Brei is the founder of Asylum Advising & Asylum Advocates. She is currently the Project Coordinator of the South Mountain WORKS Coalition. That organization is focused on trauma-responsive substance misuse prevention in the historically disenfranchised South Mountain Village neighborhood where Kara Jean currently resides. Kara Jean has her undergraduate degree in Interdisciplinary Performance Art from Arizona State University and her MA in Counseling for Northern Arizona University. Kara Jean is a Licensed Associate Counselor who entered the field of behavioral health in 2008. She has a variety of premier behavioral health experience from high-security hospitals and correctional institutions to luxury addiction rehabilitation centers. Kara Jean provides workplace development and personal therapy & education for individuals, couples, and families. She has also facilitated recovery education groups.
Theoretical Orientations include: Existentialism, Psychodynamic, Psychoeducation, Salutogenic, Attachment Theory, Family Systems, Person-Centered, Cognitive Behavioral, Harm Reduction, Psychodramatic, and other Expressive Arts
Kara enjoys working with such special populations as: LGBTQIAP2S+, Teens, Open Relationships, Neurodivergent, Alternative Lifestyles, Substance Users, and those with Criminal Backgrounds
Treatment and services
Insurances accepted and costs
Cost: An initial assessments for individuals, couples, and familes is $230. Ongoing couples and family sessions are $175, and ongoing individual sessions are $165. An initial phone consultation is available (free) to assess need and potential fit. Health insurance— with the companies listed below— may reduce these amounts significantly.
Sliding Scale: We offer a sliding scale fee based on yearly income. For individual incomes under $50k/year, Ben can see clients at a charge of $125 for the initial session and $75 for ongoing sessions. Kara is available through the organization Open Path Collective ( a non-profit to help reduce costs) where a combined yearly salary of less than $100,000 would qualify for a $70 fee per session. To qualify for this amount, you will need to sign up through the Open Path website here: https://openpathcollective.org/contact/
Insurances Accepted:
Ben: United (Optum), Oscar, Tri West, Aetna, Cigna (Evernorth), Banner Aetna, and Blue Cross Blue Shield .
Note: Medicaid, Medicare and AHCCCS are not currently accepted.
Kara: Aetna, Cigna (Evernorth), and Blue Cross Blue Shield.
Check with your insurance provider for costs for counseling as respective insurance companies and plans can differ sIgnificantly.
Supervision Ben is also accepting Associate Counselors for Supervision. If you are in the market for Clinical Supervision in Arizona, please get in touch! The current rate for Supervision is $100/hour.
Hiring: We are not currently accepting new LAC's, however, LPC's licensed in Arizona are welcome to apply!
Sondermind Ben also has a contract with the company Sondermind. Sondermind's phone number is 1-844-THERAPY, and their website is www.sondermind.com
Some of the above insurance companies are only accepted through this agency. If you are here as a result of Sondermind, welcome!
Specialities
Our goal is in helping you lead the kind of life you desire. This includes being aware of early life traumas that can significantly impact the ability to regulate emotions and manage daily interactions. Ben is well-versed in helping people understand and accomodate so these experiences do not define you or negatively impact others.
Common focuses of therapy include:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Relationship or family conflict
- Co-dependency
- Addiction
- Trauma
Ben has completed the follwing trainings:
- Resiliency Treatment
- DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy)
- Gottman Method Couples Therapy (Level 1)
- EMDR
- Complex Personality disorders (ie: Narcissism, Borderline, Obsessive-compulsive, Histrionic, Paranoid, Dependent, Avoidant, Schizoid, Schizotypal, and Anti-social)
- Motivational Interviewing
Issues treated:
- Addiction
- Anger Management
- Anxiety Disorders
- Bipolar Disorder
- Career Assessment
- Co-dependency
- Couples Therapy
- Depression
- Dream interpretation
- Domestic Abuse
- Eating Disorders
- Emotional Disturbances
- Family Conflict
- Insomnia
- LBGTQ issues
- Men's Issues
- Nightmares
- Obsessive-Compulsive (OCD)
- Peer conflict
- Personality Disorders
- PTSD
- Relationship conflict
- Self-esteem issues
- Social Anxiety
- Stress
- Work-related conflict
Mental Health Conditions:
- Dissociative Disorders
- Impulse Control Disorders
- Mood Disorders
- Personality Disorders
- Thinking Disorders
Treatment modalities:
- Attachment-based
- Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
- Culturally Sensitive
- Dialectical (DBT)
- EMDR (Eye Movement Deprogramming and Re-processing)
- Emotional Focused Therapy (EFT)
- Existential
- Feminist
- Gestalt
- Gottman Method Couples Therapy
- Integrative
- Interpersonal
- Mindfulness-Based (MBCT)
- Motivational Interviewing
- Narrative
- Person-Centered
- Positive Psychology
- Psychoanalytic
- Psychodynamic
- Strength-Based
- Trauma-Focused