Sometimes, we feel stuck in our lives. Whether you are going though a divorce, new career, a transition to or from college, or a death. These transitions can leave us feeling unable to cope with the uncertainty and regulate our own emotions. I am here to listen with an open ear, and heart, without judgement, but with compassion and support. Coming to therapy can be an intimidating first step that can lead to life changing results. I will be your sounding board. We will work together to identify and navigate unhelpful thinking patterns and behaviors that get in the way of you living a life that represents your long term values. Therapy is a place to provide tools that help you develop coping skills, regulate emotions, and decrease overall destress in a safe space. Whether you are in therapy for 2 years or 2 months, I want you to be well equipped to weather any life challenge with a sense of ease and confidence. I believe in being transparent with my clients and providing in the moment realistic feedback. I want you to feel as comfortable as possible and leave each therapy session feeling like you gained insight or a skill you didn't have previously. Ultimately, my goal, is that you feel empowered, and utilize the skills you learn in therapy throughout your life.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
A warm inviting environment without judgement. I want to listen to you and assess what issues you'd like to work through
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
OCD, all anxiety disorders. Relationship issues, self esteem, life transitions.
Describe the client(s) you are best positioned to serve.
Obessisve Compulsive Disorder, Anxiety, Life Transitions, Relationship Issues and maladaptive coping skills
About Sarah E. Smith
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VirtualMy treatment methods
Exposure Response Prevention (ERP)
I have extensive experience with OCD treatment as well as anxiety disorders. OCD is a lot more in depth than the stereotypes that are associated with it (washing hands over and checking things..although these are compulsions..there are many internal compulsions such as relationship OCD, harm OCD, health OCD and several others. We will work together using the evidence based treatment to tackle OCD. Exposure Response Prevention Treatment (ERP) is considered the gold standard therapy for OCD and anxiety disorders. Many people get much better and relatively faster as opposed to other treatments for anxiety related issues. ERP is a very effective treatment and symptoms will usually reduce signifigantly depending on client within several months. We will work together to idenitfy underlying fears/intrusive thoughts and what internal compulsions (internal can be reassuring yourself over and over ..asking for reassurance from others, saying certain phrases/words/counting, etc) and external compulsions things like (checking and rechecking, false memory compulsion..where OCD tricks you into thinking you cannot rely on your own memory or recollection of past events, etc you are doing to when you are having those intrusivie thoughts. We will identify triggers and ways to talk back to the OCD to reduce the liklihood of doing compulsions and continuing the OCD cycle with messages called "Response Prevention Messages."
Solution Focused Brief Treatment
I have extensive experience providing Solution Focused Therapy. SFT looks at your situation and provides realistic measurable techniques that are measurable (giving you tools that if you follow we see the outcomes over time). It is mostly focused on the here and now. While previous historical upbringing is important to get a foundation for treatment this therapy wants to expand o the skills you already have and introduce new once to solve what is going on NOW not in the past.