Rebecca Westgate
Hi. I am Rebecca Westgate, LCSW. I have worked as a therapist for ten years. Working with people has been my passion. I truly believe in resiliency. My practice would be in working with clients with trauma, depression, anxiety. I would try to help all people who are hurting including addiction, attachment, anger, etc. I utilize Solutions Based Brief Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Progressive Counting (trauma processing), Cognitive Behavior Therapy.
First session
I try hard to build rapport with each client at the very first session. I would want each client to feel comfortable enough to begin discussing what brought them to the therapeutic session. We would work on any required assessments or paperwork. I would want to impress upon them the rules of confidentiality. If time allows, we will discuss the treatment plan. I really would like the client to feel like they want to return for a second session.
Strengths
I began working in a state institution for multi-challenged individuals. It was at a time where programming was entering into the picture. I saw what teaching a special needs client language skills did towards behavioral problems. Although progress can be slow and oftentimes adapted, if worked on, progress is inevitable. Resiliency is inevitable too. I believe in this and during our work together, seeds are sown which do come to fruition. We can work on action plans, or we can go deeper and process trauma. You will be introduced to coping tools and a healthier way of living. I will support you during our work together.
Ideal clients
My ideal client would be a person that shows up for his appointment as recommended. I would want any homework assigned to be completed. Homework usually would be a short task which would educate the client on feelings, thoughts, and new behaviors. Homework is very important to the therapeutic process and is not demanding of the client regarding completion. I have worked with adults and children in the DCS system. Children with behavioral problems or trauma, youth with trauma, adults with addiction issues, adults with depression. It is said that the client has got to want to change more than the therapist wants this change. Stay invested, good things do happen.
Treatment methods
Integrative
Solution Based Brief Therapy: The genogram is a step. The genogram helps me better understand each client. The genogram helps the client understand patterns of behaviors through generations. We look at the client's natural supports. We make a list of individual concerns. Later we make a list of family level concerns. We consider the old plan which a client has been utilizing as well as a new plan for the future. An individual action plan is devised and later a family action plan will be devised. For instance, an old plan which might have been utilized might be, alcohol use as a coping tool. The new plan might be preventative steps such as not allowing alcohol into the house. Interrupting tasks might be discouraging visits with friends that use drugs. Escape tasks will be to leave an area where a drug is present. The client reports progress on maintaining the tasks. The client celebrates his achievements.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I have been trained through the Beck Academy on some aspects of cognitive behavioral therapy. I actually think that bringing in cognitive based worksheets as well as coping skills videos are an important aspect of therapy. Understanding how thoughts and behaviors work together and what triggers a behavior helps clients gain tools to navigate mental health challenges for healthy mental health.
Trauma-Focused CBT
I have been trained in the Progressive Counting Method of Processing Trauma. There would be some worksheets the client and I complete such as: Meaning of behaviors, Worst/Best Events, Case Consultation, Personal Goals. Meaning of behaviors help to better understand how behavior, feelings, and thoughts are affected when trauma enters into one's life. A list of all trauma and loss is generated. Each event will be scored with a current unit of distress as well as the age the even occurred. A wall of safety must be established to assure trauma can be processed in a safe manner. The client determines why they will process the traumas they have carried. The client will process one trauma at a time according to age of first currently distressing event. The processing is like a movie which the client will "watch" from beginning point to end point of the distressing trauma. Ten seconds of the movie occurs, and a unit of distress is noted. Ten more seconds are added on after each movie until the unit of distress begins to go down. The idea is to bring the unit of distress down to zero. The concept is that in watching the movie over and over again, the movie losses the distress it had when the client first began the processing session. All traumas are processed and distress level is improved.
Motivational Interviewing
Motivational Interviewing is utilized in order to help clients understand the change process. Motivational interviewing is utilized when a client needs to be fully heard.
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Licensed in
- IndianaLicense 34009394A