Rachel Wenner
Hi there, I'm glad you are here. It's courageous of you to consider taking this step in your life! I am a licensed clinical social worker who has been fortunate enough to have a variety of experiences throughout my professional career working with different populations, and in different settings. Having worked in both inpatient and outpatient settings, I have had the privilege of providing support for people along every point of the acuity spectrum. Some of those specific experiences include working in community mental health, on an inpatient psychiatric unit, for a partial hospitalization program, and most recently as an outpatient therapist for the past two years.
My approach to therapy is one that is curious and holistic. Instead of viewing someone as a list of symptoms, I believe that each of those symptoms tells a larger story of how someone has adapted to difficulties throughout their lives.
First session
During your first session, we will review the information that you provided on the intake assessment form and the reason(s) you are seeking treatment. I like to ask questions to further my understanding of what it is that you are experiencing, as well as what you'd like to accomplish from therapy. My primary goal during our first session is to assist you in feeling comfortable, and to foster trust and safety within our connection. At the end of the session, I also typically open up the floor to encourage you to ask any questions that you might have of me, or the treatment process in general.
Strengths
I believe I strike a balance between being able to meet clients where they are in any stage of their healing journey, while also gently challenging them to take steps outside of their comfort zones. I am also a firm believer that therapy should not be a one-size-fits-all approach and that it should feel tailored to a client's unique needs and challenges. Given how important the therapeutic alliance is between client and clinician, I also try and foster an individualized relationship with each of my clients that feels personal and professional.
Ideal clients
While I genuinely enjoy working with all clients, I might be a good fit for you if you are wanting to dive deeper into exploring why you feel stuck in certain patterns in your life. These patterns could be anything from relationship difficulties, occupational challenges, overall stress management, or feeling like you can't break free from a certain emotional state or thought process.
Treatment methods
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
We all have various parts of us that create this inner "ecosystem". These parts help us to manage stress, difficulties, or triggers in our day-to-day lives, whether it be through our actions or thoughts and feelings. We might have parts of us that we like, parts that we don't like, or parts that we aren't even aware of. In IFS therapy, the belief is that all of our parts have good intentions for us, even if it might not seem that way on the surface. This modality is all about fostering a better relationship with these different parts of us and understanding why they are operating the way that they are. Through this process, people tend to view themselves and their parts in more compassionate and less self-critical ways.
Mindfulness-Based Therapy
Mindfulness is one of the first modalities that I learned about that has continued to resonate with me throughout the years. There are several different components of mindfulness, although some of the basics include being able to view our thoughts and feelings in a nonjudgemental manner. Often times, our negative or self-critical reaction to an initial thought or feeling that we have ends up intensifying that initial thought or feeling so much more. This skill is really a practice of being gentler with and more accepting of ourselves.
Somatic
There is such a big connection between what is happening in our brains to how our bodies are physiologically responding to it, as well as the other way around! Mind-body based work can be a great way to become more aware of that connection and response between the two. As cheesy as it sounds, feelings are meant to be felt and this means on a physical level as well. Sometimes emotions can get trapped within us if they are not processed through the body, causing an array of issues.
Motivational Interviewing
Motivational Interviewing is a great way to meet someone where they are, while also exploring things that might promote change to occur in their lives. Which is exactly how I like to approach therapy as a whole. This modality is all about focusing on the different stages of change someone can be in, and any specific barriers that they might be experiencing (either internal or external) that are preventing them from moving forward.
Location
Virtual sessions