(he/him)
New to Grow
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker for ten years now. You will always know yourself better than I can or will. From a philosophical and theoretical standpoint. I am overwhelming more of an attachment theorist and have been known to use existentialism from time to time to help make sense of something. I guess the question that remains though is; can a butterfly flap it's wings in Brazil and cause a or tornado in Kentucky, or are we all simply just products of our childhood and mirrors of our parents traumas? The duality of life. Attachment Theory vs. Chaos Theory. Both have value. I digress. My goal is to provide a petridish in which you can explore your self. Safe. Contained. Yet completely in your control. The paradox being, you likely already have what you need. I'll sit with you while you find it. I can give you my clinical opinion, or diagnosis, and recommendations along the way as well if you'd like that. I can just sit and listen. I can play devils advocate. My job is to listen, empower, observe, and provide feedback when requested.
In our first session I wanna ensure that you are aware of your rights of confidentiality. Then I usually want you to start talking about what brought you to see me. The goal is for you to finish the session feeling better than when it started. My goal is to remove the clinical feeling from the process. I will close the session making sure you feel complete and discuss what I feel like any applicable diagnosis are.
Clients have consistently told me that they feel comfortable talking to me about an array of issues. I think my ability to empathize with someone, and drop into their experiences is one of my greatest strengths.
My goal is to provide a petridish in which you can explore your self. Safe. Contained. Yet completely in your control. The paradox being, you likely already have what you need. I'll sit with you while you find it. I can give you my clinical opinion, or diagnosis, and recommendations along the way as well if you'd like that. I can just sit and listen. I can play devils advocate. My job is to listen, empower, observe, and provide feedback when requested. Common Issues I work with: LGBTAQ (Closeted, Out, Still Deciding, pre-op, post-op, HRT Documentation, discomfort with parts or all of your physical body, in fact identifying as a different sex from birth), Transitions (Death, Divorce, Breakup, Bankruptcy, New Job, New Diagnosis, Sudden Loss, New Home, New Family Dynamic, Loss of income, Loss of friendship), Childhood Trauma (sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse, witness to domestic violence, witness to active addiction to substances, growing up with parent of untreated mental health concerns), Trauma (rape, assault, robbery, natural disaster, witness of violent events, sudden loss, emotional support animal letter), Difficulty Controlling Thoughts (worrying too much, worrying too little, too many thoughts at one time, fixated or fixation of thought or thoughts, memories that consistently come up, nightmares that bother you, consistent medical complaints with no medical validation or finding of cause), Difficulty Controlling Behaviors (body checking, compartmentalization, procrastination, avoidance of people, places, or things, lack of motivation, a pattern of rushing into relationships, a pattern of abruptly leaving relationships), Self Esteem (risk taking behaviors, sabotaging self, fear of responsibility, overall dis-ease with self, body checking, sleeping too little, sleeping too much, binge eating, restricting food, lacking a sense of purpose or fulfillment, hygiene concerns or issues).
Attachment-based
I am 80% attachment theory based. Our early early life and childhood experience no doubt still affect us today.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Thoughts affect feelings, and feelings affect behaviors. It becomes a cycle until the negative core belief is in fact identified.
Gestalt
Here and now. Why about the future or the past. Why do you keep scrunching your nose like that when we talk about this?
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
Slow down. Everything is going to be ok. You have have done exactly what you were supposed to do.
Existential
If you're wondering why you're here..... or what your purpose is. This type of work is often helpful.