Hello! I am a licensed clinical social worker licensed in North Carolina. I received my Master's of Science in Social Work from the University of Tennessee also receiving a certification in Trauma Treatment and have been actively practicing for more than three years. I work with individuals from a variety of ages and backgrounds navigating through their mental health journey towards a better understanding of self and the importance of mental health care.
Within the first appointment together, we will begin with a focus on building rapport and understanding where you are in your season of life. As a licensed clinical social worker, the first session continues with a Biopsychosocial Assessment in which we explore past treatment, medical and mental health history and discuss your family and support systems throughout your life. Finally, we will discuss the goals that brought you to therapy and build our treatment plan that we will work on together throughout therapy.
One of the greatest strengths that I have as a provider is my ability to empathetically build therapeutic relationships by meeting the client where they are by utilizing my experience within my field and understanding of mental health symptoms and disorders in conjunction with life experiences to uncover and reframe interwoven negative patterns that limit client functioning in everyday life.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a strong evidence-based practice that focuses on restructuring negative thought processes and reframing thought pathways. I utilize this methodology in order to begin the journey of encouraging clients in overcoming negative thought patterns that often have developed over time.
Mindfulness-based therapy has been an effective branch from cognitive therapy that focuses on utilizing mindfulness to reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety or distress. I incorporate this method into every session as the grounding skills that it teaches are phenomenal for treatment progress in reduction of anxiety symptoms and building foundational skills for overall mental health treatment.
One of my favorite approaches is utilizing the Person-Centered methodology and is the method that I utilize in every session. The primary focus is meeting the client where they are in their space and understanding them in their own environment and as the experts of their own lives. Understanding that as a therapist, I am a guide that comes with knowledge to provide strategies, support and expertise on coping with life but that the client is the one in control of their own life and decision making on the goals and where they want to lead therapy.
Motivational Interviewing is a strategy with evidence-based backing that supports motivating and encouraging client to discuss, explore and identify their own thoughts and goals on their times with indirect guidance. I utilize this approach within situations in which lack of motivation is a primary barrier for a client. The method seeks to create a space of encouragement and rapport in which the client makes connections and establishes success on their terms improving motivation and insight so that the client understands and fully realizes their own potential, success, and accomplishments as their own.