Jon Blauw
Dear prospective client: Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Jon Blauw and I’m a Ph. D. in clinical psychology, or simply put, a clinical psychologist. I’m originally from New Mexico, raised in Roswell and went to the University of New Mexico for my undergraduate degree in psychology. There, I was lucky enough to study and help with William Miller, Ph. D.’s research on problem drinking. I took the lion’s share of psychology courses from Dr. Miller. As it turned out, Dr. Miller invented Motivational Interviewing (MI), which flipped how the world approached how people treat substance abuse (and other) disorders going from a more confrontative approach to one involving warmth, empathy and empowerment to make one’s own decisions. This is my approach to this day having worked with inpatient teens at UNM’s Children’s Psychiatric Hospital for 8 years to working with couples and families in conflict for many years. Since moving to Colorado. I have worked at several clinics all in the North of Denver area. Besides working and going to school in Albuquerque, NM, I spent 20 years working in a psychiatric hospital and going to graduate school in the San Francisco Bay Area. After this I taught Graduate level counseling psychology for nine years to help students learn academic information and clinical therapy/counseling skills as well as how to perform research for their required master’s thesis or doctorate level dissertations. During that time I also joined a small practice and helped start a drug, alcohol and eating disorder clinic.
First session
For the first session, there are a lot of things that need or should be done. At the very minimum, I hope I will begin to get to know you and/or who I am supposed to help (yourself, family members or members of the couple). I also hope to gain an understanding of the problem or problems, surrounding issues like what makes it worse, what makes it better, and the course and history of the problem(s). We will then make an initial conceptualization, tying together all the factors. Next we will try to come up with an initial treatment plan including goals and strategies for the next session and beyond. This is a lot for one session and realistically, with today’s complexity of problems much of it gets addressed in the second session. In fact, slowing things down and breaking them into steps is an effective way to accomplish one’s goals. It simply takes as much time as is needed since everyone is different and everyone comes in with a unique set of problems, history and goals.
Strengths
My greatest strengths include being: 1. Personable to a wide variety of people from many walks of life. I’m a good listener. I also am positive! 2. Positive problem solving and collaboration are key to my process. These are learned skills. 3. Patience and understanding. Getting through the hard times and stressors of life are the road to moving on to a more positive and rewarding life. 2. Experienced: I have see a wide array of problems from my years of experience. Some very difficult and complex to some being relatively easy and short term. Having worked out- patient and inpatient, I have seen problems at their worst and problems that are oncoming and/or barely discernible. 3. Pacing: I like to work at the clients pace, but if there’s a shortcut that is supported by research and/or clinical experience I am sure to share it with the client. For example, Trans Cranial Magnetic Stimulation may be an effective strategy for treatment resistant depression, anxiety or OCD. I will review the pros and cons of treatment options when applicable.
Ideal clients
I tend to work well with anyone but tend to work better with clients who are 13 years of age and above and though treatment informed have not practiced with clients on the Autistic spectrum to the degree necessary for efficacious treatment. Though I’m an older clinician, I still work well with adolescents, especially higher functioning young persons struggling with anxiety, depression and past trauma such as abuse.
Treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is an approach that has a long track record of verifying if the techniques it uses are more effective than a placebo treatment. It is also an approach that incorporates many strategies for many problems. While I consider CBT home base for working with clients, I have studied and taught many different approaches from other schools of thought such as family therapy and medical model strategies. Still, it’s important to me to establish a solid relationship encompassing warmth, genuineness, empathy and understanding without which little can get done. My experience working in psychology goes back to the early eighties working with youth. I have also taught and trained graduate students for nine years and have worked alongside psychiatrists, nurses and social workers in hospital settings for over 28 years.
Location
Virtual sessions
Identifies as
Top specialties
Other specialties
Doesn't specialize in
Licensed in
- ColoradoLicense PSY.0004751