LCSW, 10 years of experience
Welcome, I'm glad you're here. I'm Crystal, a licensed clinical therapist with over 15 years of experience. I decided to become a therapist after my own personal experience with therapy during my undergrad education. I was able to see just how valuable a therapeutic relationship could be and I understood just how overwhelming it can be to ask for help. My approach to therapy is gentle and strengths-based. I cultivate an experience that is flexible, collaborative, and grounded in what's important to you. I work with you to help better understand the ways you think, feel, and move through the world, while identifying patterns of coping that might be at odds with your identified goals. I strive to provide a compassionate, safe space that incorporates respect, empathy, and validation as we explore what your are going through while simultaneously holding space for where you want to go.
The first session is very much about gathering information and getting to know each other. I want to make sure I understand what brought you to therapy and what you're hoping to get from therapy. In the first session we will cover the overall expectations in therapy (time to meet, cancellation policy, etc.). I want to hear more about your experience with therapy as well: is this your first time in therapy or if you've been in therapy before what was helpful and what wasn't helpful, etc. The first few sessions are very much about gathering information and getting clarity on what your goals are and working together to create a plan to get there.
I worked in community mental health for over 10 years, thus I've worked with all different types of people. This experience gave me one of my greatest strengths which is confidence in the work I provide. I've seen how powerful a good therapeutic relationship can have in helping people heal and make the changes they want. I know it's a process and I meet clients where they are. Research shows that the relationship between the therapist and the client is the number one predictor in whether therapy will be effective. It's important to find a therapist you genuinely connect with.
I love working with teens and young adults who are eager to improve the quality of their life and mental health, but often feels overwhelmed, anxious, and stuck. I'm here to provide the support and tools that can be used for the rest of your life. Life doesn't get easier, your ability to cope with the reality of life gets better.
I am a relational therapist, thus within our therapeutic relationship you will experience what it is like to have a healthy, emotionally-safe, non-judgmental space to process what's coming up for you. It is my hope that within this container you will feel empowered to share and have the courage to deepen your understanding about the the challenges you are facing while simultaneously holding space for where you want to go. Together we will collaborate small steps to get you closer to your goals.
The 4 skills modules of DBT (dialectical behavioral therapy) provide tools to help you increase your tolerance for distress, learn to regulate your emotions, incorporate mindfulness into your life, and gain interpersonal effectiveness skills so that you can have healthie relationships with others.
What you think and how you speak to yourself is very important. CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) examines our thoughts as our thoughts lead to how we feel and how we feels effects our behaviors. Thus, taking the time to notice how our thinking affects everything else and expanding our perceptions, reframing, and challenging cognitive distortions can be helpful sometimes.
ACT is one of my favorite modalities. ACT is about working towards acceptance about things we cannot change (such as the past) while working towards making the commitment to the actions that will guide us forward towards the life we envision for ourselves. It's also about building an awareness about how we cope with distress (ie maybe you avoid things) and exploring how that's working for you in the long-term. Newsflash: It's probably not working in the long-term, so how can we build your psychological flexibility to handle things that are hard and increase your tolerance for distress. It's not about taking away all the hard feelings- hard feelings are a part of being human. It's natural and normal to have some anxiety and some sadness. It's about increasing your understanding about realistic expectations and having clarity on what you can do each day, behaviorally, to help you grow and live a healthier, more peaceful life.
1 rating with written reviews
February 13, 2025
I enjoyed my first session and look forward to the next!