LCSW, 10 years of experience
Hi! I'm a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who is currently licensed in Arizona, Tennessee and South Dakota. I have worked with a variety of men, women, and adolescents over the last ten years. My intent is to always meet people exactly where they are at and help them overcome the challenges that life has given them. I truly believe that every person who I work with has a unique set of strengths, and by using those strengths the person has the ability within themselves to persevere.
I believe that rapport is crucial in developing a therapeutic relationship, so our first session will start with this. Then we will discuss the reasons that have brought you seeking therapy. This will allow you and I to work together to create a tailored plan to work through in follow-up sessions. I believe that when a client is actively engaged in their treatment plan progress takes place at a faster rate.
I bring a blend of strengths to my therapy sessions due to my diverse clinical background. My primary objective is to empower my clients so that they recognize the strength within themselves. I'm the type of therapist who will walk beside my clients without judgement and will always operate under the umbrella of compassion, empathy, and strength. Professionally I believe in using evidence based approaches that are best suited for my client's challenges.
I have a passion for working with men and women who are struggling with addiction. I understand that there are many components in a person's life that makes them turn to substances, and my goal is to help this person navigate a healthier way forward. Additionally, I have a heart for the adolescent population. I'm understanding, compassionate, and open-minded to the issues that our youth are facing today. My desire is to provide a safe space so that my client feels like they can communicate openly and address what is going on in their life.
This therapy approach works by increasing awareness of how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are interconnected. From there, you can explore ways of changing emotions, thoughts, and behaviors to reduce distressing symptoms.
Motivational interviewing is a counseling method that helps people resolve ambivalent feelings and insecurities to find the internal motivation they need to change their behavior. It is a practical, empathetic, and short-term process that takes into consideration how difficult it is to make life changes.
SFBT concentrates on finding solutions in the present and exploring one’s hope for the future in order to find a quick and pragmatic resolution of one’s problems. This method takes the approach that you know what you need to do to improve your own life and, with the appropriate coaching and questioning, are capable of finding the best solutions.
This type of approach builds on clients’ strengths, seeing them as resourceful and resilient when they are in adverse conditions. It is also client led and centered on outcomes, getting people to affect change in themselves.