New to Grow
I am a licensed LCSW as well as a CASAC. For the last 5 years I have treated those with serious mental illness who have recently released from a period of incarceration. However, I worked with an organization with a psychiatrist on staff who could proivde medication. I feel more comfortable assisting clients with day to day issues they may be facing in their lives, wondering perhaps why they feel stuck, why they find themselves prone to addictive behavior and endeavor to uncover with them the reasons for their feelings with the idea of changing those thoughts that engender the uncomfortable feelings and perhaps unhealthy behavior.
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
I stress with my clients that this is the "no judgment zone" and assure them of confidentiality. I create a warm place where they can feel safe.
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
I draw a good deal on my personal experiences. I survived a fire causing third degree burns to 35% of my body which resulted in my developing PTSD. I was also raped after being held at knife point further contributing to PTSD. So I understand much of what certain clients go through and can provide them not simply with theory but with proven methods by which to overcome much of their suffering.
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
Most of my clients seek therapy since they feel stuck in a particular area of their life and try as they might to think it through, nothing changes. Human behavior is not amenable to simple logic, so uncovering their thoughts which lead to their beliefs and behaviors is extremely helpful. My ideal client is one who would like to work collaboratively to unearth these thoughts, the underlying causes and is motivated to challenge them to ultimately arrive at a solution.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I have had a good deal of success using CBT in conjunction with solution focused therapy. CBT allows the client to see the problem from a different prospective thus recognizing the need for change and providing them with the motivation to do sol
Motivational Interviewing
A good method by which the client themselves can come to the conclusion that their thoughts are generating their behavior and allowing them to gently move toward change.
Psychoeducation
Often the cient is confused about why they are acting a particular way notwithstanding the fact that it is to their detriment. Psychoeducation provides a method by which they can discover the reasons behind their thought and behavior and the impact it is having on them.