Counselor Interview – Farrann

Getting to Know the Counselors of Quandary

Maggie and I (Jeremy) are so grateful for the incredibly talented, compassionate, professional people that have chosen to be a part of what we are trying to do, offer and be at Quandary Counseling. Each person is unique in their own stories, their professional training and education and in their passion for people, healing and mental health. We decided to focus in on each counselor so you, our followers, can get to know them better. If you or anyone you know would benefit from sitting with a counselor for any reason at all, please contact us and let us help connect you with the right one. You might just be worth it!

Farrann Sanchez, M.A. Registered Mental Health Counseling Intern

How/when did you feel the calling into counseling as a profession? How has your own story impacted your ending up being a counselor?

My interest in counseling began during my growing up years when my father was a drug addict. Though I did not have a good experience in counseling myself when I was growing up, I wanted to become a counselor in order to help the family members of addicts. Upon graduating from college with my bachelor degree, I was burned out with school so I decided not to pursue a master’s degree in counseling at the time. I began working for a college ministry and enjoyed working with college students. My favorite part of my job was meeting with students one-on-one and talking about their lives and stories. I began exploring my own story in counseling during my time on the ministry staff. I began to notice that my desire began to grow to become more equipped in knowing how to walk with people in pain and suffering as my counselor had walked with me.

What is the place who is the client you find yourself most “in the zone” in counseling work? What is your sweet spot when working with clients?

I enjoy working with women who are walking through life transitions such as the transition from college into the “adult” world, single to married, married to having children, change in career, etc.

I enjoy working with individuals who are struggling in relationships with others (parents, peers, spouse/partner, boss, etc.) and are seeking to find healing in their relationships and gaining their voice back.

I enjoy working with individuals who have childhood complex trauma and are seeking to find healing. Often this begins to come out in anxiety and depression first.

What models of therapy do you most draw from and why?

I work from the Attachment theory and practice mostly from Emotion Focused Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Family Systems, some DBT and some CBT. I believe that our earliest attachment experiences profoundly impact our thoughts, emotions, and behavioral choices. And these shape and inform our core sense of self and inner monologue.

Coming from the Attachment framework helps clients to make sense of their pain. It helps clients “connect the dots” between past experiences, formative relationships, and current struggles. It helps them to recognize that some of their deeply held “truths” were never actually their own thoughts, but maybe imposed on them by their caretakers. So doing deeper family of origin work gives clients the opportunity to re-examine, re-evaluate and potentially let go of thoughts that have never been accurate or served them well.

I use family systems theory to look at how their relationships were formed, and how it impacts their relationships now. We discover who we are in our families, we develop, change, give/receive support for survival in our families.

I use EFT to help clients identify their thoughts, feelings, and action patterns. Then I sometimes use CBT and DBT to help people regulate their emotions and develop healthy coping skills.

Whats something your clients would never believe about you, but its ok for you to share?

I am from a small town in Arkansas and grew up going hunting, fishing, and riding four-wheelers for fun.

Music, Film/show, book that means a lot to you and why?

“The Gift of Being Yourself” by David Benner and “Healing for Damaged Emotions” by David Seamands are books that I read at the beginning of my journey of finding myself, becoming my true self, and finding healing in my life.