Bonnie is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist at Matone Counseling & Testing in South Asheville. She earned her Masters of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy from Chapman University in 2005. Beginning her clinician career in California, she has worked in a myriad of settings including schools, group homes, hospitals, and private practice.

Bonnie’s areas of specialty include working with a multitude of childhood issues. She utilizes an eclectic blend of modalities such as play therapy, CBT, and an attachment/developmental approach to address a child’s psychological needs.  She believes that children best express their emotional lives through the safety net of play.  For children, play allows a venue to freely express their inner thoughts and feelings without needing the words for complex and sometimes confusing feelings. Cognitive behavioral strategies are weaved into the treatment process as well when appropriate.  Bonnie works with parents to help them understand what they can do to help their children and to support them in their psychological growth. Parents are the experts to their children and are a vital component in therapy.  She also has specialized training through UC Davis in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), an evidenced based treatment utilized to assist with children ages 2-7 that exhibit defiant, acting out behaviors.

For adolescents and adults, Bonnie has extensive training in Dialectical Behavior Training.  This is an established approach that offers concrete tools to cultivate greater happiness and resolve conflicts in more effective ways. Individuals will learn how to increase their skills in mindfulness, emotion regulation, relationships, communication, and tolerating intense emotions.

Bonnie gravitates toward both a Client Centered and Dialectical Behavioral therapeutic approach to treatment however she understands the importance of incorporating a variety of treatment modalities to fit the needs of her clients. She believes in a strong therapist/client collaboration to help foster growth and help the client reach his or her goals. She provides an unconditional, supportive environment, genuineness, empathy, and active listening skills.

Her first and foremost priority in therapy is to establish and maintain a strong, safe, therapist-client relationship.  Research shows that this component is the biggest factor for change within psychotherapy.  It’s within this trusted, deep relationship that change can happen and clients are able to uncover their own natural inner wisdom. She feels that it is a privilege and honor to be able to bear witness to a client’s journey of well being.