Anthony Parham
I am licensed in California with 16 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, & parenting issues. I believe that you are the expert of your story and that you have many strengths that will assist you in overcoming things that challenge you.
Many of the people I serve appreciate that I have lived experience and do not always need background information to empathize.
Taking the first step to sign up for therapy can take courage and I am proud of you for getting started!
First session
In the first session, we typically are getting to know each other. I typically open with my own narrative in order for you to better understand who I am, as a therapy and a person, alike. After which we will talk about who you are. The problems that we will work through will always be there. So for now, lets just chat for a bit and see if we are actually a good fit for one another!
Strengths
I think my greatest strengths as a provider is my own lived phenomenology. Many of the people I serve appreciate that I have lived experience and do not always need background information to empathize. This can be especially empowering for people to open up and know they are safe AND seen without judgement within our sessions. In other words, I am a real person, with real feelings, who has been through some things. I want to empower you to be the real you and feel good about who that person is. Be you, they will adjust.
Ideal clients
I support individuals and family who find themselves feeling unheard, misunderstood, or feeling trapped in their day to day situaitons.
Treatment methods
Narrative
Supports individuals in finding their own voice, taking back the pen, and telling the story in their own words. Stories are how we make meaning and find purpose in our own experience. Healing, growth, and re-stablishing true identity becomes possible. Externalizing dismantles internalized trauma narratives. Views the problem or behaviors as the problem, not the person. • Example: You are not depressed; daily societal norms and expectations have influenced you to be vulnerable to feelings of sadness and hopelessness. When these feelings take over, your body can feel tired and it can be hard to be motivated. Recognizing the problem through externalizing and how it impacts the body, mind, and behaviors can make empowerment easier. Reinforces how empowering it can be to separate themselves from the problems, allowing for a greater degree of control in their identity.
EMDR
The mind can often heal itself naturally, in the same way as the body does. Much of this natural coping mechanism occurs during sleep, particularly during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Francine Shapiro developed Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) in 1987, utilizing this natural process in order to successfully treat Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Since then, EMDR has been used to effectively treat a wide range of mental health problems . EMDR can accelerate therapy by resolving the impact of your past traumas and allowing you to live more fully in the present. It is not, however, appropriate for everyone. The process is rapid, and any disturbing experiences, if they occur at all, last for a comparatively short period of time. Nevertheless, you need to be aware of, and willing to experience, the strong feelings and disturbing thoughts that sometimes occur during sessions.
Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP)
Brief Therapy approach that works with the sub/unconscious mind to help release negative emotions, emotional baggage, and limiting beliefs. Your “Timeline” is how you unconsciously store your memories. Allows trauma survivors to recall triggering event without actually having to relive it (Bird’s eye view). Resolution of past issues, more emotional freedom, increased problem solving, eliminates limiting beliefs.
Location
Virtual sessions