We at Terri Mayer Counseling and Advocates For Recovery provide an Eastern and Western approach to psychotherapy, enlisting such modalities as talk therapy, Family Systems, Cognitive Behavioral, Jungian and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy including a mindfulness-based practice.
We combine these methods to work with individuals, couples, families and groups. Working through such challenges as stress, anxiety, depression, substance abuse, trauma and other mental health issues.
Through mindful awareness of habitual patterns, we believe one has the ability to become more aware of such patterns and have choices around their suffering, which can give way to peace and healing. The duration of therapy is specific to the individual and something that you and your therapist will commit to together. If at any time you have any questions about your therapist’s training, experience, or methods, please feel free to ask.
Terri Mayer Thomsen, MAC, LADC and founder of Terri Mayer Counseling and Advocates of Recovery; has a specific background which includes a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology from the University of Vermont in 1989. She received her Master of Arts Degree in Counseling Psychology from Antioch New England Graduate School in 2000. She completed a year long internship as an addictions crisis counselor in 1998/1999 at the ACT1/BRIDGE Program. A one to six day inpatient crisis substance abuse stabilization and treatment center. She completed a second year long internship at the University of Vermont Student Counseling Center, working with students with trauma including anxiety and depression, substance dependence issues, and general issues associated with the stressors of college and leaving home for the first time to organize their school and social life.
She derives her business sense from Co-Founding Vermont Skydiving Adventures with her husband of many years, designing, developing and implementing the corporate aspects of the Skydiving Center while also teaching students to skydive through a “challenge by choice perspective” for ten years from 1992 to 2000 when she moved on to Graduate School and then to work full time at the Act 1 Bridge Program’s Addiction Crisis Center as a full time staff member for the next seven years. During this time, she studied and earned a Certificate as an Acupuncture Detoxification Specialist from the State of Vermont. Ms Thomsen also earned her addiction’s license as a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC) in May of 2007.
From 2007 to present, Ms Thomsen has been in private clinical practice, focusing her work on trauma and addiction services, using a Client Centered, Cognitive Behavioral, Dialectical Behavioral, Reality Therapy and Mindfulness based approach.
Since June of 2025, Ms Thomsen has begun a new chapter, hoping to attend to the needs of those who might benefit from education regarding addiction including alcohol, THC, Cocaine, Heroin and other substances; and how we can actively protect what we value in our lives by learning evidence based principles and practices, including what causes addiction, what predisposes an individual to addiction, and what types of low risk choices we have to choose from to support a lifestyle we can be proud of. Ms. Thomsen, and the staff at Advocates For Recovery, have trained in the Prime For Life Program at the Prevention Research Institute in Kentucky. This program uses evidence based research to support skills to empower individuals to make low risk choices and protect the things they value most in their lives.
Throughout Ms Thomsen studies, she has trained in numerous Eastern and Alternative practices including training in the Jon Kabat Zinn Stress Reduction Model. This particular framework uses theoretical and experiential training in the use of mindfulness practices in conjunction with the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh to facilitate change with stress, anxiety and physical and mental pain.
As an Acupuncture Detoxification Specialist she uses auricular acupuncture to reduce substance cravings as well as detox the body. Often clients report feeling immediate levels of stress reduction and calm that they report lasting for several days. This sets the tone for their ability to potentially increase their stress threshold.
In June of 2014, Ms Thomsen was certified as a Reiki Master Teacher in the Usui line of Reiki. She opened the Terri Mayer Thomsen School of Intuitive Practices at this time and has spend the last ten years teaching students how to access their intuitive skills.
In June of 2015, after three years of intensive study, Ms Thomsen graduated from the Green Mountain Druid Order as a Druid Priestess. She has since earned her certificate as a minister and has had the pleasure of officiating weddings and other ceremonies throughout Vermont and as far away as Madeira Island off the coast of Africa.
Ms Thomsen has been a practicing Death Doula since 2015 and supported numerous individuals and their families with the precious process of crossing over into the After Life. Currently, Ms Thomsen is busy with the duties of her latest venture, Advocates For Recovery; is still in Private Clinical Practice in Bristol Vermont, and enjoys mentoring and supervising interns in both settings.
In her free time, Ms Thomsen can be found spending time with her three adult children and their families, and her husband of 36 years.