My name is Nikki Caravella and I'm a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the State of Florida. I earned my Undergraduate Degree in Social Work at Youngstown State University in 1996 and my Master's Degree at Case Western Reserve University in 1998. Since that time, I have had the privilege of working with a diverse group of clients. Each of them came into service bringing a unique history and presenting with equally distinct needs and expectations of counseling. As a therapist, I treat a wide range of mental health issues and life adjustment challenges. I am experienced in helping clients relieve anxiety using various techniques, including neuro-linguistic programming. For those who have suffered past traumatic events, we can use cognitive/behavioral tools to help reconcile the emotions connected to the events. If you happen to live in or near Ocala and are able to come in person for session, we can utilize a treatment called Accelerated Resolution Therapy to neutralize heightened emotional responses.
In our initial session, I will gladly answer any questions you may have of me, while ultimately allowing me to discover your life story thus far. I want to know the symptoms and challenges you are facing, with my priority of developing an initial plan aligned with your goals and desired outcome for therapy. Working together, we will regularly evaluate your progress towards your goals and adjust our approach as needed.
A benefit and lesson of having worked with many people is understanding the need to develop a flexible interview style. My hope and intention is to cultivate an environment and conversational style that is natural and comfortable during session. I am genuinely interested in listening to you, exploring what you have tried to help yourself in the past, and expanding on that with tools and techniques that yield results when implemented. I truly wish to be a client's supporter in their journey, offering both support and challenging you when appropriate.
I work with clients to explore how their thoughts, beliefs, and feelings are connected, so that they may understand the resulting (often self-sabotaging) behavior. By challenging unhealthy and unrealistic thoughts, a person may have less intense negative emotions and therefore be more empowered to make healthier choices.
I am trained and experienced in a form of EMDR, called Accelerated Resolution Therapy, which may be used to assist clients in neutralizing the heavy, negative emotional reactions that are typically attached to past traumas. This can be an effective tool to reconcile both long-term and single-incident traumatic experiences.
We can use client-centered therapy approaches to explore situations and life choices with open acceptance and without judgment. The effort put forth is to guide the client through their own thoughts and perceptions to process the alignment of their own values and behavioral choices.
Although the preferred model of using DBT is an intensive group/individual combination, many clients can effectively utilize and benefit from a modified use of introduction of the basic tenets of Dialectical Behavior Therapy. The goals of DBT are to move the client toward acceptance of one's circumstances and change of behavioral responses.
I am interested in the client's experiences and how they have shaped their choices. I will listen to what they feel is working adequately and what is not, affirming the techniques and approaches that can elicit change.