LCSW, 20 years of experience
New to Grow
My name is Alisa Spilkia “Gabbi”, a Native of Colombia South America. I have a BA from Hofstra University Long Island, NY where I majored in Mass Communications and continued a career in Audio Radio Broadcasting Media. Having worked for some of the largest record labels in the music industry of that time including Arista, Polygram and Universal Records in NYC and Warner Brothers. Here I learned how to find talent in assisting people with their goals and dreams and be the liaison for artists and repertoire development while dealing with the large demands of the corporate record labels. This moved me into a career in social work upon moving to North Carolina. My life’s passion became to empower others to find and utilize their strengths in the world using a vast array of interventions. Being an orphan myself, my heart resides with the children which is why I made my area of expertise in working with their parents and adults with often co-occurring disorders. I am proficient in working with marginalized populations with co-morbidities, BIPOC, LGBTQIA, and SPMI populations. I establish trust and rapport by expressing empathy and compassion while exemplifying boundaries using an integrative approach for optimum wellness of mind, body, and spirit. I enjoy assisting people who are challenged by anxiety, depression, substance use, trauma, and histories of abuse. I strive to be your guide on the side while helping you navigate your way to achieving the goals you set for yourself and to live a more fulfilling and rewarding life.
We will do introductions, build rapport, and address any immediate needs.
I specialize in gender-specific trauma work, LGBTQIA sensitivities, addictions and other cultural diversity sensitivities.I have been in the mental health substance abuse profession for the past twenty years in North Carolina. I have a BA from Hofstra University NYC and then graduated with an MSW, where I obtained my LCSW, LCAS, and MAC degrees. I have a range of experience in various settings in community mental health and private settings. In addition to my clinical training, I have expert training in holistic and ceremonial practices. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a Master’s degree from Western Carolina University as well I've obtained a National Master’s Addictions in Counseling certification. I have been practicing with a Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist Master's degree since 2014. I practice an outside-the-box craft while using strategies of non-judgment and unconditional positive reinforcement.
I specialize in gender-specific trauma work, LGBTQIA sensitivities, addictions and other cultural diversity sensitivities. I have worked with grief, family dynamic trauma work and I worked twenty years with addictions and SPMI.
I am currently in training for a "felt sense" somatic approach called "focusing." Where I specialize in working with members identifying as: LGTBQIA2S, BIPOC and female rights of passage. I work with mood disorders, and all sorts of anxieties. Many people simply need a "guide on the side" while they experience lifestyle changes and general stress of life and work balance. I also have over 20 years in expertise in co-occurring substance use, abuse and dependency experience.
I use a strengths based approach with a mix of CBT, DBT, and trauma informed. We will explore what brought you to therapy and then decide the most appropriate strategies to help you make progress. We might delve into family dynamics if you choose explore your present communication styles around cyclical patterns of programming if change is wanted in present relationships.