Exploring Life & Business with Christine Colburn of Beacon of Hope Counseling Services, LLC

Today we’d like to introduce you to Christine Colburn.

Hi Christine, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Voyage Phoenix Interview

How I Got Started in My Field and What Led Me to Where I Am Today

My journey to becoming a trauma therapist and motivational speaker has been anything but linear. It was carved through lived experience, shaped by profound grief, and refined by the quiet, persistent resilience that grew out of necessity. I didn’t choose this path as much as I believe it revealed itself to me through heartbreak, healing, and a calling I could no longer ignore.

From an early age, I knew what it meant to carry invisible wounds. My mother died by suicide just one week before the shared birthday my sister and I celebrated, our 13th and 16th. Our mother was only 35 years old. Nearly twenty years later, my sister followed that same heartbreaking path the day before our shared 31st and what should have been her 34th birthdays. Layered on top of a childhood already marked by instability, these experiences left me with questions no child should have to ask, and pain no child should have to carry alone.

For years, I moved through life carrying that weight without knowing its name. But in time, I stopped running from my pain and started listening to it. I realized I had two choices: to let my past define me, or to use it as a foundation for something greater. I chose purpose.

At 29, I began college, not as a traditional student, but as someone who had already lived a thousand lifetimes emotionally. I had recently divorced and was co-parenting my two young sons, ages 4 and 7. I pursued my education with fierce determination, completing a fast-track undergraduate program and immediately advancing to graduate school to specialize in Mental Health Counseling. I was drawn to working with children and adolescents because I remember all too well what it feels like to need a voice when you don’t know how to use your own.

As my clinical work evolved, so did my understanding that my story, my survival, could serve others. That realization led me into motivational speaking, initially with clients and their families, and eventually in small group settings. Speaking became an extension of my therapy work, a way to breathe hope into others by sharing not just my past, but what I’ve learned: that we are not our trauma, that healing is possible, and that light can be found even in our darkest moments. I have since published the workbook “The Gift Within You: Becoming Who You Were Meant to Be” and “Parenting Unfiltered: Real Talk For Raising Real Kids”. Next year, sometime, my memoir will be published as well.

Today, I stand in this work as a Licensed Professional Counselor, National Certified Counselor, and Certified Clinical Trauma Professional. But more importantly, I stand as someone who has walked through fire and now holds space for others as they find their way through it, too. I do not position myself as an expert above others, but as a fellow traveler, a mirror, and their personal cheerleader in some ways. My mission is simple: to remind others that they are not alone, they are not broken, and they can rise.

My Inspiration to Specialize in Trauma Therapy, Particularly With Children

My heart for trauma work, especially with children, comes from a place that is both deeply personal and profoundly spiritual. I know what it feels like to grow up trying to make sense of emotions too big to hold. I know what it’s like to feel invisible in your pain, to have no words for the chaos inside you, and to wonder if anyone sees the struggle behind your silence.

That understanding drives everything I do.

When I began my journey into mental health counseling, I was immediately drawn to the voices that often go unheard, children navigating trauma without the tools or language to express it. I saw my younger self in them. I recognized their behaviors, their fears, their silence. And I knew I wanted to be the safe place I once needed, someone who wouldn’t just treat their symptoms, but would honor their stories.

Children often express their trauma through behaviors that adults don’t always understand. My role is to meet them where they are, to help them name the unnamable, and give them the tools to process what they’ve been through. Trauma has a way of stripping children of their power, and my mission is to help them reclaim it.

I believe that when we reach children early, we don’t just help them heal, we change the entire trajectory of their lives. Unprocessed trauma doesn’t disappear with age; it grows roots. But so does healing. When nurtured with care, consistency, and connection, healing takes hold, and with it, a child begins to see themselves not as broken, but as whole, worthy, and strong.

At the core of my work is love, love for the child who doesn’t know how to ask for help, for the teenager who’s tired of pretending they’re okay, and for the adult they will one day become. I do this work because I know what it’s like to be that child. And I know how much one caring adult can change everything.
So I show up, day after day, with compassion, patience, and the belief that every child deserves to feel seen, safe, supported, and above all else, truly heard. That’s not just my job, it’s my passion for the human soul.

Background Experience: Working with the Gila River Indian Community

Right after graduating from grad school, I began working with the Gila River Indian Community. This was one of the most transformative chapters of my career. It deepened not only my understanding of trauma, but also of resilience, cultural identity, and the sacred responsibility of holding space for another person’s lived experience.

What I witnessed there changed me. I saw how trauma is not just an individual burden, it’s a collective wound that can pass silently and powerfully through generations. Many of the children and adolescents I worked with were carrying pain that stretched far beyond their own lives. It was the echo of historical injustices, systemic oppression, forced assimilation, and generations of grief. But within that same pain, I also saw something extraordinary: deep-rooted cultural pride, a fierce sense of community, and a spiritual strength that refused to be extinguished.

This experience taught me that healing cannot be separated from history. To truly serve someone, especially in communities impacted by intergenerational trauma, we must honor where they come from, their lineage, their traditions, and their stories. It’s not enough to apply clinical techniques. We must show up with humility, cultural sensitivity, and a willingness to listen deeply and learn continuously.

Culturally responsive therapy became more than just a concept to me; it became a commitment. I learned to slow down, to listen beyond words, to create space where traditional healing practices and psychological care could coexist with respect. I realized that healing is not something we do to someone; it’s something we nurture with them, in collaboration and trust.

Perhaps the most powerful lesson I carried with me is the healing nature of storytelling. The Gila River community reminded me that stories are medicine. They carry wisdom, identity, and memory. They are how cultures survive, how pain is processed, and how strength is passed down. In their stories, I heard survival. I heard resistance. I heard hope. And I was reminded that in sharing our stories, we reclaim our voice and our power.

This experience continues to shape every part of my work today. I don’t just see trauma; I see people. I see their history, their resilience, their sacred worth. I meet them where they are, and I hold space for them to tell their story in a way that honors who they are, not just who the world has told them to be.
And above all, I remember this: healing doesn’t begin with answers, it starts with understanding, with presence, and with love.

I Often Get Asked If It’s Challenging To Work With Children

Working with children in therapy is both incredibly rewarding and uniquely challenging. Each child brings their own story, shaped by age, experience, environment, and the developmental stage they’re in. The challenges are real, but they are also the doorway to connection, trust, and transformation.

One of the most significant challenges is that children often don’t yet have the language to express what they’re feeling, or what they’ve been through. Trauma, in particular, can make it difficult for children to access or verbalize their emotions. Some of them have learned to survive by staying silent, by dissociating, or by acting out what they can’t say aloud.

This is where my approach shifts. Rather than relying solely on talk therapy, I meet children in their world, through play, art, movement, sand tray, and other expressive modalities that speak the language of safety and creativity. These tools allow children to tell their stories without words, to process pain through imagination and symbolism. Healing might begin with a single brushstroke, the placement of a figure in a sandbox, or the way they cradle a doll. It’s subtle, often nonverbal work, but it’s powerful. It’s sacred.
Another profound challenge is building trust. Many of the children I work with have been harmed by the very people who were supposed to protect them. Some have been moved from home to home, or have never had a consistent adult presence. Understandably, they may test boundaries, resist engagement, or retreat into themselves. My response is always the same: patience, presence, and consistency. I show up, over and over again, with unconditional positive regard. I want them to feel, maybe for the first time, that they are in control of their healing, that they get to decide when and how they share, and that this space is truly theirs.

Working with children also means working with their families, and that brings another layer of complexity. Sometimes caregivers are overwhelmed, disconnected, or carrying their own unresolved trauma. Family dynamics can deeply impact a child’s progress. In these cases, I take a systemic approach, engaging caregivers with compassion and honesty. I work to educate, support, and empower them so they can become a healing presence in their child’s life. I believe that when we support the whole family, we set the stage for lasting change.

But perhaps the most challenging part of this work is witnessing the pain some children carry, burdens far too heavy for their small shoulders. It is heartbreaking to see a child robbed of safety, innocence, or trust. And yet, even in those moments, I find hope. I focus on the resilience, the tiny smiles, the moments of laughter, the breakthroughs that come quietly but meaningfully. I see how even the most wounded children still reach for connection, still create, still hope. They remind me daily why I do this work.
What grounds me is the belief that no child is too far gone, and no story is too broken to be rewritten. I’m here to help them begin that rewrite, one session, one moment of trust, one healing step at a time.

The Importance of Treating Each Client as Unique

To me, treating each client as unique is more than a therapeutic principle; it’s a way of being. It means looking beyond symptoms or diagnoses and seeing the full humanity of the person in front of me. It means honoring their story, their lived experience, their culture, values, and inner strengths. No two people walk the same path, even if their struggles carry the same name, whether it’s trauma, grief, or anxiety. So therapy should never be a one-size-fits-all approach.

From the very first session, my goal is to understand who my client is, not just what they’re working through, but what brings them joy, what helps them feel safe, and how they make sense of the world. Healing doesn’t always begin with words. Sometimes it starts with play, with color on a canvas, a moment of stillness, or even a shared silence that feels safe. My role is not to impose a method, but to co-create a space that aligns with who they are and what they need.

When I work with children, that individuality is especially clear. Some feel most comfortable expressing themselves through play, while others prefer art, movement, or tactile engagement like sand tray therapy. I observe closely and respond gently, always allowing the child to lead the pace and language of their healing. I adapt my techniques to fit their personality, temperament, and emotional readiness, never the other way around.

The same principle applies to adults. Some may prefer structured, evidence-based approaches like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT); others need something more fluid, more relational, more grounded in narrative or emotion-focused work. I let their goals, preferences, and lived experiences guide the process.

To honor individuality also means respecting that healing doesn’t follow a linear path. For some, progress may come quickly. For others, just feeling safe enough to stay in the room is progress. Some need rhythm and structure; others need freedom and exploration. My responsibility is to meet them exactly where they are, with flexibility, patience, and deep attunement.

At the heart of it all, I want every client to feel truly seen, not as “a case,” but as a whole, complex, resilient human being. I want them to know that their story matters, that their healing is possible, and that they are not alone in the process. When we create space for people to show up fully as themselves, without pressure, without judgment, that’s when the real work of transformation can begin.

Because healing doesn’t happen when someone fits into a box, it happens when they are free to become who they really are.

At the heart of it all, I want every client to feel truly seen, not as “a case,” but as a whole, complex, resilient human being. I want them to know that their story matters, that their healing is possible, and that they are not alone in the process. When we create space for people to show up fully as themselves, without pressure, without judgment, that’s when the real work of transformation can begin. Healing doesn’t happen when someone fits into a box; it happens when they are free to become who they really are.

As I look back to reflect, I see that every shattered piece, every moment I thought might break me, was quietly preparing me for something greater. My path was never straight, but it was sacred, woven through loss, grace, and the relentless will to rise. I began this journey searching for healing, and somewhere along the way, I became a vessel for it. Today, I carry both the weight and the gift of that calling. The girl who once felt invisible has become a woman who helps others be seen. And as I step into the next chapter, I do so with open hands and a steady heart, grateful for where I’ve been, grounded in where I stand, and ready for whatever doors open next. Because this isn’t the end of my story; it’s the continuation of a purpose that keeps unfolding, one heartbeat, one life, one moment of light at a time.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No, it hasn’t been a smooth road—far from it. The path that led me here was paved with loss, self-doubt, and moments where the weight of my own healing felt almost unbearable. There were seasons when I questioned everything: my strength, my worth, even my purpose. Balancing school, motherhood, and emotional recovery was often overwhelming, especially while learning to care for others as I was still learning how to care for myself. There were professional challenges, too—learning to navigate a field where compassion can sometimes collide with bureaucracy, and where bearing witness to others’ pain can stir echoes of your own. But every struggle became part of my foundation. Each obstacle taught me something essential about empathy, resilience, and surrender. I’ve learned that growth rarely happens in comfort—it happens in the tension between who we were and who we’re becoming. My journey wasn’t smooth, but it was real, and it made me who I am today: grounded, grateful, and deeply committed to helping others find strength in their own storms.

As you know, we’re big fans of Beacon of Hope Counseling Services, LLC. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Beacon of Hope Counseling Services, LLC was born from both personal experience and professional passion. It’s more than a practice, it’s a mission. We specialize in trauma-informed care for children, adolescents, and adults, helping individuals navigate the invisible wounds that often go unseen but deeply shape their lives. What sets us apart is the heart behind the work. Every session, every client, every story matters. We don’t just treat symptoms; we work to uncover the roots of pain, to honor each person’s story, and to create a space where healing feels possible again.

I’m known for my ability to connect deeply with clients, especially children, by meeting them where they are, often through creative and expressive therapies like play, art, and sand tray work. I believe healing happens in relationship, in safety, and in being seen. My approach is warm, compassionate, and deeply human. I don’t stand above my clients as an expert; I walk beside them as a fellow traveler who understands what it means to fight forward.

Beacon of Hope has been recognized nationally and internationally for its commitment to excellence and advocacy in mental health, with numerous awards honoring both the quality of care and the impact of our community outreach. Those recognitions are deeply humbling, but what matters most is what they represent: hope reaching further. Brand-wise, I’m most proud of the integrity and authenticity that Beacon of Hope embodies. The name itself reflects what I want every client to feel when they walk through our doors: that no matter how dark things seem, there is always light, even if it’s just a flicker.

Beyond counseling, my work has expanded into authorship, motivational speaking, and global advocacy, all centered around the same core mission: to remind people that they are not broken, that healing is possible, and that their story still matters. I want readers to know that Beacon of Hope is not just a counseling practice; it’s a safe haven. Whether someone comes in carrying grief, trauma, anxiety, or uncertainty about who they are, they will be met with compassion, not judgment; with understanding, not assumption. My goal is to create a ripple effect of healing, one person, one family, one story at a time.

Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
There are many ways people can work with me, collaborate, or support the mission behind Beacon of Hope. My work centers on healing the human soul, helping people rediscover their inner strength, learn how to help themselves, and reignite hope when life feels heavy. Through counseling, speaking, writing, and education, I aim to meet people where they are and help them reconnect with their purpose and potential.

I work with individuals and families who are ready to create change in their lives and step into a healthier, more authentic version of themselves. Beyond one-on-one sessions, I collaborate with schools, organizations, and community groups to teach practical, life-changing tools for emotional wellness, personal growth, and resilience. I also speak nationally and internationally, inspiring audiences to see that no matter where they’ve been, there is always a way forward, and it begins within.

Outside of clinical work, I frequently speak at conferences, schools, and community events on topics such as overcoming adversity, the power of resilience, parenting through trauma, and healing the inner child. Collaboration is something I truly value, whether it’s working with other professionals, nonprofits, or mental health advocates who share a passion for making services more accessible to underserved populations.

For those who want to support this mission, there are several ways to do so: by inviting me to speak or teach, by partnering in outreach efforts that bring mental health education to children and families globally, or by simply helping spread awareness of the importance of trauma-informed care.
At its core, my mission is simple: to help others remember that they already carry the light they’ve been searching for. Whether through counseling, teaching, or motivational speaking, my goal is to help people heal from the inside out, and remind them that it’s never too late to begin again.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.bhcsllc.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beacon_of_hope_counseling_az/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BeaconofHopeCounselingServicesLLC/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beaconofhopecounselingservicesllc
• Twitter: https://x.com/BeaconofHopeCo1

Image Credits
Jessica James