LCSW, 10 years of experience
Congrats on taking the first step in initiating therapy. It may not always be easy, but taking time for your well-being is always worth it. I'm a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with 12 years of experience in mental health. I've had the privilege of working with trauma survivors from a broad range of sociocultural backgrounds, including combat Veterans, survivors of sexual trauma, older adults, and couples.
During your first session, you can expect to spend most of your time exploring the reasons that brought you to therapy and how you’ve been managing up to this point. We’ll look into what you hope to achieve during treatment and address any concerns you may have before moving forward. Discussing the limits of confidentiality, safety, and mandated reporting is essential. Finally, we can arrange a follow-up appointment if you choose to continue. I hope you leave your first session feeling empowered, hopeful, and informed about your treatment options.
I aim to empower and help clients identify their values, strengths, needs, and resources. I believe it’s not enough to help clients identify and manage the problems they arrive with. Exploring qualities that can help make life meaningful and healthy is also essential. I prioritize keeping clients informed about the therapeutic process every step of the way while being flexible and adaptable to their changing needs.
I primarily work with adults who have experienced trauma, prolonged grief, or difficulties in managing anxiety at any stage of their lives. Many individuals I’ve helped have faced challenges during childhood and adolescence, intimate partner violence, cumulative grief, and trauma related to military service. I have experience treating individuals with symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Major Depressive Disorder, Prolonged Grief Disorder, Adjustment Disorder, and various other diagnoses.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) empowers clients to understand the relationship between their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Using CBT, I can support clients in discerning how formative life experiences shape their core beliefs and influence their perception of the world. My practice includes providing psychoeducation and the development of practical skills, such as grounding, distress tolerance, and mindfulness, to enhance their capacity for self-regulation and promote enduring wellness. I also collaborate with clients to recognize and reinforce their pre-existing coping strategies, personal strengths, and supportive resources.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) provides clients with skills and perspectives to facilitate values-driven behavioral change and enhance overall psychological well-being. It is an empirically supported, flexible framework that effectively integrates with other modalities, including CBT and CPT.