Hi, my name is Chris Walsh and I'm a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in California. Thanks for taking the time to consider letting me work with you as your therapist. I'm looking forward to hearing what brings you to Grow Therapy. I've been working as an LCSW since 1996 and I've been able to provide support for people with a wide variety of issues. What I love about being a therapist is that no two people are the same. I see my job as connecting with you where you are and supporting you as you progress toward your goals.
Clients will be able to get a sense of whether I'm the right therapist for you. We'll discuss what challenges you're needing help with and we can work together to strengthen your ability to meet those challenges. I like to find out about not only what your challenges are, but also what you feel your strengths are. I enjoy building your interests, passions and strengths to help you foster your belief in your ability to meet your therapy goals and create the life you want be living.
My greatest strengths as a provider are my ability to connect with people where they are, to identify their strengths and support them as they improve their ability to manage life's challenges. I love to support people's growth and belief in themselves as they work to establish and meet their therapy goals. I feel that it's an honor for people to reach out to me for support with the issues that are the most important to them. I believe that my 25 years of practice as an LCSW is a valuable strength that I hope to have the honor to share with you.
An Eclectic method of treatment includes a variety of treatment options that I can use with a client, depending on their needs. Some of the treatment options can include: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Problem Solving Therapy, Grief Therapy and Family Therapy. My treatment approach is strength-based, culturally sensitive and trauma informed.
I choose to use a Strength-Based method with my clients because I believe it's important to focus on the many strengths that each of my clients has. Once we identify strengths, the client has a solid foundation for addressing whatever their issue is. Strengths include: things that the client enjoys doing, things the client feels they are good at and things that they have done to take care of themselves in the past. While mental health issues often can make a client feel vulnerable, recalling their strengths can remind a client that they are capable of addressing whatever the issue is.
I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help address anxiety and depression. I help client's identify thought patterns and beliefs that may be getting in their way. By working togther to identify and chift these thought patterns, clients can find news ways addressing the problems that are bothering them.
I have provided Grief Therapy for many years since I first worked at a hospice agency. I have worked with families who are preparing for the loss of a loved one and with those who have suffered the loss of a loved one. I also use grief therapy with people who are mourning various types of loss, including the loss of employment, a life transition, a move to a new area or the loss following a divorce, or the end of a significant relationship.
Solution Focused Therapy is useful for clients who want to focus on a specific problem using an approach that concentrates on the here and now, as opposed to exploring one's past. I start by understanding the problem as the client sees it. Together we create possible ways to address the problem. I support the client in choosing the solution they want to pursue, breaking the solution process down into a series of steps.