Hi! My name is Kiara and I am a licensed clinical social worker in the state of Virginia. I have about 8 years of experience working with a variety of populations but I especially like working with youth and young adults. My experience is primarily in community mental health, so I’m all about coordinating care with other professionals to address the whole person. My favorite part about being a therapist is uncovering the light at the end of the tunnel along with my clients, and assuring them that there’s always hope.
In our first session, we’ll talk through any intake forms you’ve completed so we can create a more dynamic picture of why you came to therapy. We’ll also get to know one another so we can make sure we’re a good fit. I’ll explain what our sessions will entail and what work needs to be done between sessions. We’ll also put together a treatment plan that will help guide our time in treatment.
My greatest strength as a provider is breaking down complex ideas into smaller more palatable ideas. Psychoeducation is an essential part of my practice and I believe it’s a necessary part of healing.
I try to approach all my interactions with my clients with a trauma-informed approach. Trauma can shape how we process information, so addressing it can be the first step in creating the life you want. My first few sessions, for most clients, includes a “bottoms up” approach, which essentially means addressing how the body integrates with how we process our emotions. Once mastered, then we can address the cognitive patterns that have led to the client’s mental health challenges.
I am currently pursuing my certification in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. TF-CBT is a treatment modality primarily focused on youth and adolescents with post-traumatic stress symptoms age 3-18 years old. Treatment typically consists of 12-16 sessions.