Hello! I'm Taylor "Liam" Mugavin, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) dedicated to helping you navigate life’s challenges with compassion and expertise. I offer both Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and traditional talk therapy, allowing you to choose the approach that best fits your needs and comfort level. Whether you’re seeking to process trauma, manage anxiety, maintain recovery, or simply work through day-to-day challenges, I’m here to guide you with practical, evidence-based strategies.
In our sessions, my goal is to create a space where you feel safe, heard, and supported. If you’re interested, we can explore EMDR as a powerful tool to help you reprocess difficult experiences and reduce their impact on your life. However, if you prefer a more conversational approach, we can focus on talk therapy to explore your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in a way that promotes understanding and growth. The choice is yours, and we’ll work together to determine the best path forward.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
Our first session is all about understanding your unique needs and goals. I’ll ask about your history, your current challenges, and what you hope to achieve in therapy. I’ll also explain the different approaches we can take, including EMDR and talk therapy, so you can make an informed decision about what feels right for you. This session is an opportunity for us to start building a trusting, collaborative relationship and to outline a unique path for your healing and growth that includes building rapport, treatment planning, and setting goals.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
As a provider, my strengths lie in my extensive knowledge, professional expertise, and personal understanding of the treatment areas I specialize in. This allows me to empathize deeply with my clients' struggles and walk alongside them effectively through their healing journey.
I am LGBT-affirming and trauma-informed, ensuring a safe, inclusive space for all individuals. My work with the HIV community and experience with the disability community enhance my ability to provide compassionate and tailored support. I attempt to offer a humanistic approach that emphasizes constructive honesty, empathy, respect, and genuine care, helping clients self-explore and self-examine.
About Taylor Liam Mugavin
Appointments
Virtual
My treatment methods
EMDR
I have been trained in Level I of this method since 2023 through the Trauma Specialists Training Institute. For clarity, EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a therapy that helps people heal from trauma or distressing life experiences. It involves focusing on specific eye movements or other bilateral stimulation while recalling traumatic memories. This process helps the brain reprocess these memories, reducing their emotional impact. EMDR is based on the idea that our brains can heal from trauma, much like our bodies recover from physical injuries. It can be effective for treating PTSD, anxiety, and other emotional issues. Many clients find relief from distressing symptoms after just a few sessions. It's a well-researched and structured approach, offering hope for lasting recovery.
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a type of psychotherapy that helps people accept their thoughts and feelings rather than fighting or feeling guilty for them. ACT (with some techniques borrowered from CBT therapy, in my approach) teaches mindfulness skills to help individuals live and behave in ways consistent with their values. The goal is to increase psychological flexibility, allowing people to adapt to situations and make positive changes. It involves committing to actions that improve and enrich life, despite the presence of difficult thoughts and feelings. I find this method effective for a range of issues, including anxiety, depression, and stress. By embracing rather than avoiding discomfort, my clients can achieve a more fulfilling life.
Attachment-based
I use this modality especially with those who have experienced personal and intergenerational trauma. Attachment-based therapy focuses on understanding and improving the way people form and maintain emotional bonds with others. It stems from the idea that early relationships with caregivers shape how we connect with others throughout life. This therapy helps clients explore their attachment patterns and how these influence their current relationships. By addressing unresolved issues from the past, clients can develop healthier, more secure relationships. It's effective for issues like anxiety, depression, and relationship problems.
Motivational Interviewing
I utilize motivational Interviewing (MI) to help you find motivation and tangible solutions to make positive changes in your life. MI involves a collaborative conversation between the therapist and client, focusing on the client's own reasons for change. MI emphasizes empathy, active listening, and non-judgmental support to explore and resolve ambivalence. In my experience, this approach is effective for addressing issues like addiction, health behaviors, and lifestyle changes. I will help you strengthen your commitment to change by identifying and exploring your values and goals, empowering you to take ownership of your decisions and actions, fostering lasting transformation.
Psychodynamic
Psychodynamic therapy is a form of talk therapy that helps you understand how your past experiences, especially from childhood, influence your current feelings, thoughts, and behaviors. Together, we'll explore these past relationships and experiences to uncover patterns and hidden motivations that might be affecting you now. By bringing these unconscious elements to light, you can gain insight and work through unresolved conflicts. This therapy can be particularly effective for issues like depression, anxiety, and relationship problems. In our sessions, you'll have a safe space to delve into deep-seated emotions and thoughts, helping you achieve emotional growth and lasting change by addressing the root causes of your distress.
