LCSW, 9 years of experience
Hello, my name is Naidera Gray and I'm an Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Southern California. I've been providing therapeutic services for the past nine years specializing in helping young adults and working mothers navigate daily stressors, offering support and tools to foster resilience, manage anxiety, and build confidence in their unique paths forward.
In the initial session, I aim to create a welcoming, judgment-free space where you feel comfortable discussing your challenges. We will begin with an introduction where I briefly share my therapeutic background and explain our strengths-based, client-centered approach. I reassure that our sessions are a safe space for exploring personal challenges, reinforcing that you're not alone. The first part of the session focuses on a needs assessment, where I ask about your mental health status and specific stressors, such as postpartum challenges, family demands, or feelings of anxiety. I also inquire about areas where you may need support, like access to childcare or financial assistance, since practical concerns often amplify emotional stress. This needs assessment helps identify your unique circumstances, so we can collaboratively shape a plan that addresses your personal and logistical needs holistically.
Having firsthand experience with postpartum depression, anxiety, and the emotional impact of my husband’s cancer diagnosis, I understand the unique struggles mothers face. This empathy allowed me to connect deeply with others going through similar hardships. This journey has also taught me the importance of prioritizing self-care, even when family responsibilities feel all-consuming. This realization can inspire and encourage other mothers or acting mothers to care for themselves, and knowing it strengthens their ability to care for their families.
In 2022 I was a first-time mother, deeply immersed in the demands of new parenthood while also grappling with the emotional toll of postpartum depression. I felt lost, lonely, confused, hopeless, and overwhelmed. The situation was further complicated by my husband's diagnosis with Sarcoma (bone cancer) in early 2023, which added to my emotional and psychological burdens. Despite my best efforts to support my family, I found myself battling depression, anxiety, and a significant drop within my self-esteem. My overwhelming focus on my family's needs led me to neglect my own well-being. This is a story that many mothers share. It was during these trying times that I realized the importance of self-care and the need for a supportive community specifically tailored for mothers navigating similar challenges. Through my discovery, I realized the importance of receiving support is crucial for mothers struggling with maternal health issues and postpartum depression. Understanding the elevated risks faced by Black women and the prevalence of maternal mental disorders worldwide could help these mothers realize that they are not alone in their struggles and how being part of a supportive group could provide a community of understanding individuals that can offer empathy, practical advice, and resources to help navigate everyday life stressors.
My experience in using CBT has allowed me to assist individuals in identifying and changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviors that contribute to emotional distress. I use this approach as it helps client's to restructure negative thinking patterns and promoting positive behavioral changes. CBT will help empower you to manage your emotions more effectively, build resilience, and gain tools to handle future challenges.
A strength-based approach in therapy focuses on identifying and leveraging your existing strengths, resources, and resilience to help you overcome challenges. Instead of centering solely on problems or weaknesses, I will use this approach to help empower my clients by building confidence and encouraging positive self-concept. By recognizing and developing your inherent abilities, my clients could gain a greater sense of agency and may become better equipped to navigate difficult situations, making this approach particularly effective for fostering motivation and self-efficacy in therapy.
Being supportive in therapy is beneficial because it fosters a safe, trusting environment where clients feel valued and understood. As your therapist, I will do my best at showing empathy, validation, encouragement, and engage actively in the therapeutic process. I hope to offer support that reinforces your confidence to make positive changes, and to feel less isolated and more resilient as we work through any challenges that you may be facing.