LCSW-C, 20 years of experience
My name is Arega Gera. I always work to strive to create a safe and welcoming environment that allows clients to explore obstacles with concerns related to anxiety, depression, and/or . I focus on helping clients develop assertive communication & boundaries with themselves and those around them that can help improve their quality of life. Counseling can foster personal development in whatever way you may be seeking and help build the life you so deeply deserve. If that's what you're looking for, I'm here when you're ready to share.
In our first session together, we'll start with brief introductions, and then dive into the specific challenges you're facing. This will help me create a tailored plan for us to work through in follow-up sessions.
Having worked with diversified clients for the past years, I've developed a tried-and-true playbook for helping you (a) identify the root cause of your challenges and (b) create a tailored plan that leads to measurable progress.
My clients are eager to improve but don't yet have the tools needed to make this goal a reality. They often feel stuck, overwhelmed and anxious about their life. Together, we will identify your challenges and goals - where you want your life to be a month, six months, a year from now. Then, we'll identify options and strategies you can use to get there. You'll leave the session with a better understanding of what you're facing with an "actions I can take right now" approach. There will always be room for suggestions concerning our work together, including keeping each other accountable.
I will help you to break down problems into their separate parts. To help with this, I may ask you to keep a diary or write down your thoughts and behaviour patterns. You and I will analyse your thoughts, feelings and behaviours to determine if they're unrealistic or unhelpful and to determine their effect on each other and you. I will be able to help you work out how to change unhelpful thoughts and behaviours. After working out what you can change, I will ask you to practise these changes in your daily life. This may involve questioning upsetting thoughts and replacing them with more helpful ones, recognising when you're going to do something that will make you feel worse and instead doing something more helpful
I will use Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) to help people who experience very intense, negative emotions. I will help you improve your quality of life.
I will use Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help you accept the reality of these experiences and commit to pursuing your values.