LCSW, 29 years of experience
Hola! I am a Hispanic, Bilingual (Spanish/English), licensed clinical social worker in North Carolina. I received my Masters from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and I have 40+ years of experience providing therapy services and social work services to the NC community. I have helped clients suffering with difficulty managing their stress and communication styles, relational difficulties- parenting, marital, family-, occupational, and emotional problems such as mood disorders, depression, anxiety, trauma, abuse, and much more. I have a non-judgmental style and treat my clients with respect, empathy, sensitivity, and compassion, and I will tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. It takes courage to seek out a more fulfilling and happier life and to take the first steps towards change. I am here to support and empower you during that journey.
During our first encounter we will get to know each other and start developing a helping relationship; I will be completing a psychosocial; we will discuss the consent for treatment, and other important points about therapy. While completing the psychosocial we will be assessing the specific needs, or challenges you are facing. This will help us create a tailored plan for us to work through in follow up sessions.
My greatest strenghts are my different life experiences and circumstances, education, and work experience working “everywhere” with individuals, couples and families from different backgrous and populations. These life experiences have molded a complete, aware, resilient, culturally diverse, empathetic, compassionate, and sensitive therapist. I was born and raised in Puerto Rico. I completed two associate degrees, public administration and social science, and an undergraduate/ BA degree in Labor Relations at the University of Puerto Rico. I worked for the PR government managing programs such as, medicaid and medicare. My family moved to the USA in 1981 when I became an Army wife/ dependent. During this time, I lived in GA, Germany, NC, and FL. I have traveled to many countries in Europe and others states in the USA. During these years I worked with the family advocacy program for the USArmy as the family advocate for the community implementing child abuse and domestic violence preventions programs; also provided trainings within the military community (ie., anger management, active parenting) to individual soldiers and families identified by the military police and troop commanders. While on NC, I worked for the Eastern Carolina Exchange Clubs implementing child abuse prevention program in Cumberland County and training parent aides volunteers; as a social worker for the Department of Social Services (DSS) in the JOBS program; also, with protective service where protection and reunification treatment plans to families. While working for DSS, I completed my Master of Social Work (MSW). As an MSW I worked as a psychiatric ward clinical social worker at the Fayetteville VA; as an acute therapist at Cumberland County Mental Health Center in Fayetteville; and at the social work department at Womack Army Medical Center. In Florida I worked as a bilingual therapist w/ Devereux serving as adults and children. Also, worked at Directions for Mental Health as a child outpatient therapist. Also, as a military one source consultant (EAP for the DoD); as a health coach, and SNAP case managers at Health Integrated; and as a bilingual psychiatric clinical specialist for long term and short-term disability for a private insurance company. My private practice started on Nov 2022 with Betterhelp.
Individuals, couples, families, children and adolescents, and military personnel who are eager to improve but do not yet have the tools needed, confidence, or do not know where to start; or clients that feel stuck, overwhelmed, depressed, anxious, or angry about their situations. I could provide therapy in Spanish, or English. ** Si estas interesado(a) en recibir tus servicion en Español... tan pronto recibas el primer mensaje electronico de mi practica me contesta en Español... de esa manera yo sabre si tengo que comunicarme con usted en Español. Gracias- ;)
I have used an eclectic approach for the last 38+ years to adapt to the unique needs and expectations of my clients. The method is effective during individual, couples, family, children and/or adolescent therapy; and on English or Spanish. I believe that the therapy process needs to be adapted to your expectations, motivation, needs, problems, and treatment goals. I draw from different treatment methods and use a range of approaches such as Motivational Interview, Cognitive Behavioral (CBT), Emotional Focused Therapy (EFT), Client-Centered, Solution Focused Brief Treatment, and/or more.
I recognize how difficult it is to make life changes, and that an empathetic and listening approach is needed to support you and facilitate change, but respecting your autonomy. It will assist you in identifying your reasons for change based on your own values and interests. I will help you explore your motivation and identify your specific goals, and your change stage in the changing process to further enhance your motivation and commitment.
CBT will be used when the identified thoughts, values or beliefs are influencing your current problematic feelings and behaviors. Once the thinking patterns are identified we learn how to restructure with more logical and rational ways of thinking, for to be able to lead a life that is less anxious, happier, and free of stress.
I believe that in order to be able to support you w/ your specific needs, expectations, motivation, problems, and goals, I need to recognize that you have the power to find the best solutions and make appropriate changes in your life. I will make listen to your needs and convey my genuine compassion, empathy, and nonjudgment. By listening to you, you will be able to uncover what hurts and what will need to be fixed.
This approach is brief, goal-oriented, and emphasizes on solutions rather than on searching into other underlying issues. I will support your specific needs by helping you discover, clarify, and accomplish your own solutions to your needs. SFBT does not focus on your past or your insight into your problems, but it rather motivates and helps you to see meaningful change quickly.