Therapist Voices @ ReachLink | Naomi Burks, LMFT

In this episode of Therapist Voices @ ReachLink, we speak with Naomi Burks, LMFT, founder of Encouraging Hope Counseling, a therapist whose calling has been embedded in her since she was seven years old and whose work now sits at the intersection of trauma, identity, and faith.Naomi shares her journey from East Oakland to graduate school, how caring for her younger brother at 28 nudged her back into education, and why she knew from the start that spirituality would be woven into everything she does. She walks us through the inner child and EMDR work she does with women, including a powerful case study about a client whose unresolved cultural wound had quietly shaped every relationship in her adult life.This is a deeply personal and clinically rich conversation about healing, purpose, and the courage it takes to sit with what is happening for you and finally acknowledge it.Chapters00:00 – Episode Introduction00:52 – Naomi's Journey: From East Oakland to Encouraging Hope06:31 – Inner Child Work: Healing Wounds Women Carry10:28 – Recover or Repeat: Breaking Generational Patterns16:54 – ReachLink Ad Break18:10 – Restoring the Soul: Bridging Faith and Mental Health23:13 – Finding Your Identity After Losing Yourself27:25 – Meeting Clients Where They AreGuest BioNaomi Burks, LMFT, is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and founder of Encouraging Hope Counseling, a private telehealth practice based in San Leandro, California. Her work sits at the intersection of spiritual care, mental wellness, and trauma-informed support, with a focused commitment to helping women navigate the evolving seasons of their lives. She specializes in supporting women through unresolved trauma, life transitions, and the emotional weight of balancing roles as mothers, partners, professionals, and caretakers, guiding them from survival mode into intentional, empowered living. Certified in Trauma-Focused EMDR, Naomi integrates evidence-based practices with faith-based and spiritually integrative perspectives, drawing on clients' beliefs as a source of strength and healing. She is currently expanding into clinical supervision, mentoring pre-licensed therapists, and her debut book, "Restoring the Soul: A Biblical Guide to Mental Health and Wholeness," bridges faith and mental health for those navigating both.LinksFollow Naomi Burks:Website → https://www.encouraging-hope-counseling.com/Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/nbmental_healthLinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/naomi-burks-ma-lmft-16b45a75/Additional Resources:Restoring the Soul: A Biblical Guide to Mental Health and Wholeness → https://www.encouraging-hope-counseling.com/Connect with ReachLinkWebsite → https://reachlink.com/LinkedIn → https://linkedin.com/company/reachlinkLearn more about therapist opportunities → https://reachlink.com/for-providers/