As a Marriage and Family Therapist, I am passionate about working with individuals who are ready to make intentional, positive changes in their lives. Whether you are facing relationship struggles, anxiety, stress, or personal challenges, my goal is to provide a compassionate and non-judgmental space where you can explore your thoughts and feelings. Therapy offers a safe environment for understanding the deeper patterns in your life and finding ways to move beyond the obstacles that may be holding you back. I believe that meaningful change starts with intentionality. Together, we’ll identify your strengths and use them as a foundation to build the life you want. I enjoy helping clients develop new perspectives, recognize their potential, and take actionable steps toward their goals. Each individual’s journey is unique, and I tailor my approach to meet your specific needs and aspirations, using evidence-based methods like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Narrative Therapy, and Solution-Focused Therapy. Therapy is a collaborative process, and I work closely with clients to navigate the complexities of life’s challenges. Whether we’re addressing relational dynamics, personal growth, or mental health concerns, my aim is to support you in achieving a more fulfilling, balanced, and empowered life. By making thoughtful, intentional changes, you can find greater peace, resilience, and clarity in your daily life. I look forward to walking alongside you as you take this transformative step toward a better future.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
In your first session with me, you can expect to feel heard, nurtured, and comfortable. My goal is to create a safe, non-judgmental space where you can share your thoughts and feelings openly. I’ll listen attentively, ensuring that your concerns are validated and understood. This initial session is all about building trust, so you can feel supported as we explore your goals and challenges. You can also expect a collaborative and welcoming environment where we will begin to form a plan tailored to your unique needs. We will take time to get to know one another, and I'll explain what to expect from therapy, addressing any questions or concerns you may have. Together, we will set the foundation for a therapeutic relationship where you feel empowered to grow and heal.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
One of my greatest strengths as a mental health provider is my ability to empower clients to believe in themselves. I work to help clients uncover their inner resilience and recognize their potential, which often goes unnoticed or is overshadowed by self-doubt. By guiding them to see their strengths, I help them build a foundation of self-belief that enables them to tackle challenges more confidently. My approach is rooted in the belief that clients have the capacity for growth and healing within themselves, and my role is to help them access and trust that capacity. Through active listening and validation, I create an environment where clients feel safe to explore their thoughts and feelings without judgment. This process of self-exploration fosters self-awareness, which is key to empowering change. I encourage clients to challenge their limiting beliefs and replace them with affirming, constructive perspectives. By focusing on their unique abilities and past successes, I help clients recognize that they have the tools to create positive outcomes in their lives. Empowerment in therapy is also about helping clients take ownership of their journey. I assist them in setting realistic goals and provide them with strategies to achieve those goals, emphasizing that they are in control of their progress. Whether we are using CBT, Narrative Therapy, or other modalities, I always aim to equip clients with the tools they need to take action outside of therapy, fostering independence and confidence. When clients start to trust in their own abilities, they become more resilient and capable of overcoming obstacles. Ultimately, my greatest fulfillment comes from watching clients transform their relationship with themselves. As they begin to believe in their strengths, they shift from feeling overwhelmed by life’s difficulties to feeling empowered to handle them. This transformation not only impacts their mental health but also enhances their overall well-being, relationships, and sense of purpose. My mission is to continue helping clients believe in their potential, knowing that self-belief is the key to lasting change.
About Sheaton Baskerville (Shay)
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VirtualMy treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
In my practice, I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to address the connection between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, helping clients recognize and challenge negative thought patterns. I focus on supporting clients in developing healthier coping strategies for issues like anxiety, depression, and relational conflicts. I guide them in identifying distorted thinking patterns, such as "all-or-nothing" thinking, overgeneralization, and catastrophizing, and help them restructure those thoughts to be more balanced and realistic. I often incorporate homework assignments, like tracking behaviors (e.g., hair pulling or OCD symptoms) or identifying specific thought patterns, and encourage clients to practice new behaviors to reinforce what they learn in sessions. This empowers clients to take an active role in their treatment by working on skills outside of therapy. Throughout the process, I use tools such as validation, active listening, and psychoeducation to help clients understand how their thoughts influence their emotional responses and behavior. Would you like a specific example of how I use CBT with clients or details about certain techniques I apply?
Narrative
In my experience using Narrative Therapy, I focus on helping clients deconstruct the stories they tell themselves, which often shape their perceptions and behaviors. I guide them to break down these stories into smaller parts to uncover underlying assumptions, beliefs, and influences. This approach empowers my clients to reauthor their stories in a way that aligns with their values and preferred outcomes. In my practice, I use Narrative Therapy to help clients explore the impact of their personal narratives on their emotions and actions, facilitating self-awareness and providing opportunities to rewrite negative or limiting narratives. By encouraging them to externalize their problems—viewing the problem as separate from themselves—I enable them to challenge and change the narratives that contribute to issues such as anxiety, depression, relationship struggles, or trauma. This method complements the other techniques I use, such as CBT, by providing a space for clients to reframe and reshape their stories in a more positive, empowering way.
Solution Focused Brief Treatment
Your experience with the Solution Focused Therapy (SFT) method likely emphasizes guiding clients to focus on solutions rather than dwelling on problems. In your practice, you may help clients identify their strengths and resources to work toward their desired future. By asking solution-oriented questions, you facilitate the process of setting clear, achievable goals and recognizing the steps they've already taken toward those goals. You may employ techniques like the "miracle question" to help clients envision a preferred future and scaling questions to assess their current situation and progress. Your use of SFT likely centers around empowering clients by highlighting their past successes and encouraging them to focus on what works, reinforcing positive changes, and enabling them to become more solution-focused in their thinking and actions.