Marquita Y. Clay Licensed Professional Counselor, MA, LPC As a psychotherapist, I provide individual therapy with understanding, empowerment, integrity & compassion. I am committed to creating positive outcomes and success while promoting growth, multicultural competency, and incorporating principals and providing skills from evidence based practices to assist clients with thriving in their environment and in the community. My purpose is to assist with improving the lives of the clients I serve. With 18+ years of mental health experience my treatment specialization includes: Anger Management, therapy for Depression & Anxiety, Grief & Loss, Stress Management, Work & Career Issues, Mood Disorders, Coping with Situational & Transitional Changes, and more. I have years of experience with working with many individuals from different walks of life and I am here to help guide your path towards healing, growth, and happiness. Reach out today and begin putting your needs first. Counseling is both enriching and rewarding and it's my passion to help you succeed in your life.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
In the first session with me as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), clients can expect an introductory meeting that focuses on building rapport, gathering information, and setting the groundwork for future sessions. A mental health status exam will be conducted i.e., orientation to time, hallucinations/delusions, experiencing or experienced any suicidal/homicidal ideations, are there any safety concerns etc. We discuss aspects of demographics, medical and psychiatric history, background, presenting problem, confidentiality and boundaries, client expectations, health/exercise/nutrition, sleep hygiene. family history, medical conditions, medications if applicable, career/vocation, living environment, counseling goals, spiritual beliefs, values, desires, education, the counseling process, address immediate client concerns, logistics (scheduling, fees, duration of sessions), and client closing questions and concerns.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
My greatest strengths as a provider is I exercise empathy, a non-judgmental stance, and compassion. This helps build trust and a remarkable alliance with all of my clients. As a result, clients feel heard and supported. Clients tell me all the time they feel comfortable talking to me about anything, and it is easy for them to remain transparent because they don't have to fear being judged. I provide a safe space to discuss all aspects of life where exploration is invited and solutions are offered with a solid agreed upon gameplan. I love having a high standard of ethics, which includes confidentiality, respect, honesty, and a commitment to client well-being. Ethical awareness is crucial for maintaining trust and a safe, supportive therapeutic space. I am patient and encouraging to all my clients. Change often takes time, and I remains patient and encouraging, even when progress is slow or setbacks occur. Patience also helps me to support my clients through resistance, ambivalence, or feelings of being "stuck."
About Marquita Clay
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VirtualMy treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I use evidence based practices to assist clients with achieving long term positive progress. CBT is a form of cognitive restructuring where clients learn to recognize automatic negative thoughts (e.g., "I always struggle") and replace them with more balanced, realistic thoughts. This involves evaluating evidence, taking into account alternative perspectives, and reframing thoughts in a encouraging way. Using CBT has proven to assist clients with reducing symptoms of excessive worry and rumination physical symptoms of anxiety, like racing heart and sweating panic attacks avoidance of feared situations irrational fears and phobias social anxiety symptoms, such as fear of judgment or embarrassment persistent hopelessness, and negative self-image and low self-esteem feelings of guilt or worthlessness suicidal thoughts and self-harming behaviors
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
DBT is a form of cognitive behavioral therapy that incorporates mindfulness (e.g. grounding skills, staying in the here and now, and evaluating thoughtful choices in difficult situations), distress tolerance, emotional regulation, and strengthening relationships (interpersonal skills). I teach clients to recognize the power of now and to let go of negative perceptions and hyper focusing thoughts of the past and future which accelerates fear, feeling stuck or like a failure, and procrastination. As a result, clients are able to rise above feelings of guilt or worthlessness and transfer that energy into being productive and goal-oriented. I also use Mindfulness-Based Therapy to incorporate mindfulness meditation to help clients manage stress, depression, and anxiety.
Solution Focused Brief Treatment
SFBT is a goal-directed approach that emphasizes finding solutions to current issues rather than focusing on past problems. It’s short-term and focuses on building clients’ strengths and resources. It is effective for treating depression, anxiety, and behavioral issues. Clients who use this approach begin to make concrete decisions with more insight. I teach them how to trust their decision making skills, as they gain self-awareness through confidence while knowing they are using a goal directed approach predicated in structure and reason.
Interpersonal
Interpersonal focuses on improving interpersonal relationships and communication patterns. It can help to reduce symptoms of depression and other mood disorders. I use this approach to help clients address issues such as grief, relationships, role transitions, and interpersonal conflicts. I use Interpersonal clinical methods in my practice for for treating depression, including postpartum depression, social anxiety, mood disorders, family conflict, and for helping all relationships platonic and romantic.
Christian Counseling
I adopt CBT in my practice to include Christian principles by aligning cognitive restructuring techniques with biblical teachings on thoughts and behavior. For instance, replacing negative self-talk with positive affirmations rooted in scripture help my clients view themselves in a more compassionate light. Clinical Strategy: Effective for reducing symptoms of anxiety, depression, and negative self-image, CBT in a Christian context encourages clients to focus on virtues like gratitude, forgiveness, and hope, using scripture to guide thought patterns.