LCSW-C, 15 years of experience
I am a licensed clinical social worker and practice in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia. I have been providing therapy for close to 15 years to help my client address mental health symptoms including depression, trauma, life transitions and anxiety. I believe people are inherently capable of managing their circumstances but sometimes require some assistance from a therapist to succeed.
In our first session together, we'll start with brief introductions, then complete an assessment to understand the reason you're seeking therapy. We will then discuss treatment goals and continue building a therapeutic relationship to achieve those goals in subsequent sessions.
I am able to work with people from diverse cultures having lived in different countries. I listen to my clients and allow them to guide treatment by focusing on what they consider a priority.
I have mostly worked with young adults managing life transition issues, coping with past trauma, anxiety or depression. I have experience supporting military active-duty clients and their families.
I work with my client to understand how their thoughts are affecting how they feel and act. We identify maladaptive thoughts and replace with reasoned alternative and helpful thoughts.
Through motivational interviewing, we work a collaboratively, as I utilize person centered form of guiding to elicit and strengthen motivation for change.
Through this method, I utilize mindfulness practices that include present moment awareness, meditation, and breathing exercises. I will teach you be in "the here and now" as well as break away from negative thought patterns that can cause a decline into a mood-disordered state.
This method involves accounting for clients’ trauma and its impact on their behavior, mental health, and ability to engage in treatment. As a therapist, I assume that you could have a trauma history and I will take steps to avoid inadvertently triggering or re-traumatizing you in the course of treatment.
Utilizing this method, I provide emotional support, encouragement, and validation during difficult life circumstances or psychological challenges. I will encourage you to talk about your feelings, concerns, and problems in a safe, nonjudgmental environment. I may also offer practical advice or guidance on how to address specific issues. This approach is mostly focused on helping you work through present and immediate concerns, including relationship issues, family conflicts, or work-related stress.