Licensed to practice in Hawaii and accepts 9 insurances. Specializes in Trauma and PTSD, Life Transitions, Emotional Regulation and 5 more.
New to Grow
Welcome! I'm so glad you're here. My name is Magdaline Hatzikazakis. I have been practicing independently as a Licensed Clinical Social Work for over six years and I love what I do. You and I will work together to identify your goals for treatment and make a plan to get you there. I tend to utilize a combination of both cognitive and behavioral therapy approaches based on what you need as an individual. Typically we start with behavioral interventions to help you to start feeling better as soon as possible and introduce cognitive strategies which will help you to feel better and make long term changes that can last. Whether you are brand new to therapy or have tried therapy in the past, I fully believe we can find an approach that will work for you and fit your needs.
The first session is the getting to know each other session. I will ask you questions and begin to get a sense of what direction it would be helpful for us to go in together. You will get the opportunity to ask me any questions you have and get to know me as well. Therapy should not be one-sided. It should be both of us working together from the beginning.
If I was going to pick four words to describe my style they would be flexibility, compassion, balance, and humor. There are days when what we need is to be pushed towards change and there are days when we benefit from practicing acceptance. We want to be able to change and adapt to what you need in each session. No cookie cutter therapy here!
If you are having relationship difficulties, in a life transition, have experienced trauma, want to learn new ways to manage life stressors, need coping skills or strategies to manage anxiety and/or depression, or want to understand how to have a more meaningful life, I would love the opportunity to work with you. Much of my experience has been working with Veterans, individuals who have experienced trauma, members of marginalized communities such as the LGBTQIA community, people experiencing challenging life transitions or relationship issues, and people experiencing intense painful emotions which lead to impulsive behaviors or choices which are not helpful. Together, we can find a way to navigate these challenges, help you to feel better, and to have a life in which you are thriving not only surviving.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy is a behavioral approach that allows you to learn new skills and strategies to balance out your thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and relationships. Once we increase balance in those four areas, we tend to suffer less (feel better) and to have a more meaningful life. It is one of my favorite therapeutic approaches. We find that DBT skills work for all people regardless of diagnosis.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is based on the concept that our thoughts, emotions (feelings), body sensations, and behaviors are all interconnected. The more we understand what thoughts are driving painful emotions, we can learn to change things for the better.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy teaches us to shift our focus from what we cannot change/control, to what we are able to change/control. We learn to practice acceptance for what we cannot change and commit to making positive changes where we can. All with the goal of making value-based decisions and feeling more connected to ourselves, our life, and other people.
Cognitive Processing Therapy is one of the gold-standard treatments for post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Trauma can change the way we think about ourselves, other people, and world in a way that keeps us stuck in our PTSD symptoms and takes over our life. If you meet criteria for PTSD, we will discuss what therapy is the best fit for you.
Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE) is also a gold-standard treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder. PE allows you to process your trauma while also pushing back on avoidance that as taken over your life after trauma. I have seen PE change so many lives for the better. If you meet criteria for PTSD, we will discuss what therapy is the best fit for you.