Hello! I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with a Masters Degree in Clinical Social Work from Aurora University. I am based in Illinois and have over 10 years of experience in many different capacities of the mental health field. I work with individuals (adults 18 years and up). I do my best to create a warm, inviting, safe, and judgement free environment.
In our first session together, we will start with introductions, go over confidentiality practices, policies, and the intake questionnaire. We will discuss symptoms you have been having, any current coping skills you are currently using, and your support system. I also like to discuss any prior history of therapy and talk about things that you might have liked or disliked. Together, we will work on what your goal is for therapy and how we can achieve those goal(s).
A strength of mine is I have worked in many different capacities of the Social Work field and thus I have worked with many populations, ages, and backgrounds. I approach my clients with empathy and where they are currently at in life.
I currently work with adults (18 years old and up).
My approach with every client is from a holistic perspective, with a mind|body|spirit focus. I will meet you where you are at and will not pressure you to speak about things you are not ready to discuss yet. I am also trained in Accelerated Resolution Therapy (A.R.T.). ART is an evidenced based treatment that utilizes eye-movement desensitization to reduce uncomfortable imagery, sensations and symptoms. This form of therapy is particularly effective for survivors of trauma but can also be utilized to alleviate depression, anxiety, OCD, phobias, and various other stressors.
Whether you are faith based or spiritual based, I meet the client where they are at and use faith as a main coping skill/support system.
Our mind and body are very well connected and many symptoms such as anxiety and depression can lead to symptoms we feel in our body. For example, heart palpitations, stomach issues, and more.
As in the mind-body approach, our nervous system feels the anxiety you may have. Knowing how to take yourself from the sympathetic nervous system (fight, flight, freeze, and fawn) stage into the parasympathetic nervous (calm) is important to better help regulate our body.