Hi! I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker based in California. I received my Masters from California State University of Long Beach and have my practice for two years. I have over 15 years experience working with children, teens, adults and seniors with anxiety, depression, abuse, trauma and relationship issues. In my practice, I help adults to be the best version of themselves mentally, physically and spiritually.
During the first session, we will introduce ourselves. You have the opportunity to share about your concerns/symptoms and what you hope to achieve in therapy.
I treat my client as a "whole" being and therefore, in my practice I take on a holistic approach of not only treating their mental health but also physical and spiritual as they are all interconnected.
The relationship between clients and therapists in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is fundamental to the success of the therapy. Therefore, I develop a rapport with my clients as well as creating a safe and nonjudgmental environment for them. My clients are encouraged to be actively involved in their treatment, sharing thoughts, setting goals, and completing homework assignments. My role as a therapist is to guide my clients through the process, providing tools and strategies but also valuing my client's input and experiences.
I integrate Christian beliefs and practices into the therapeutic process. During the initial assessment, I discuss with the client how they would like their faith to be integrated into therapy. I incorporate prayer into sessions if the client finds it helpful. In addition, I integrate relevant scriptures that provide comfort, guidance, and support to the client. I also address negative beliefs through a spiritual lens, using faith-based principles to challenge and reframe these thoughts.
By combining exposure with response prevention, clients learn to tolerate anxiety and reduce their reliance on compulsive behaviors, leading to improved functioning and quality of life. After the assessment and planning, the therapy session begins with discussion of progress and any difficulties encountered with previous exposures. An exposure exercise is then conducted starting from the lower end of the hierarchy. The client is prevented from engaging in compulsive behaviors during and after the exposure. The client reflect on the experience, discussing the anxiety levels and what was learned. The client is assign to similar exposure tasks to practice before the next session, ensuring they have a clear plan and support if needed. The session ends with a brief review of the session, feedback, and setting goals for the next session.
I take a detailed history to identify target memories and assess the client's readiness. I explain the EMDR process, establishes a safe environment, and teaches relaxation techniques.