Edward Driver, LCSW - Therapist at Grow Therapy

Edward Driver

Edward Driver

(he/him)

LCSW
15 years of experience
Virtual

My name is Edward Driver and I a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and I believe my role as a therapist is to give a voice to those who are unable to speak for themselves. Growing up in the projects of Chicago, I was surrounded by substance abuse, trauma, depression, and anxiety linked to the stresses of poverty. I grew up believing that happiness lies in accumulating wealth and achievements. However, after attaining these, I realized my true satisfaction came from helping others navigate their struggles, leading to a profound transformation in my life. Thus, I pursued a Master’s in Social Work at Barry University, where I discovered my passion for working with clients, who like myself were from historically, under-served minority communities, and were disproportionately affected by mental health disparities. As an African-American man with four sisters and three daughters, I've personally encountered and witnessed the unique challenges faced by women of color. My true passion is for helping individuals with histories of trauma, and how this trauma manifests in relationship challenges, anxiety, depression, and severe mental illness.

What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?

Clients can expect a first session where we cover their challenges in their day to day living and where the root of their challenges first took hold as work to develop a Treatment Plan with mutually agreed upon treatment goals and objectives; with homework assignments being tantamount to invoking change.

Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.

Over my twelve years as a Therapist and Clinical Director, I have worked with clients who have endured physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, resulting in a range of mental health challenges. I use a strengths-based approach, which focuses on resilience, intelligence, determination, and other strengths, and has been instrumental in helping clients achieve positive treatment outcomes.

Appointments

Virtual

My treatment methods

Motivational Interviewing

I am a huge proponent of the Guiding role in Motivational Interviewing. As David Rosengren stated, "A guiding style involves an approach in which a practitioner and client work as a team. The practitioner and client walk together, but this time to practitioner, points out rights and options, serving as a resource about what is possible, what others have done and possible risk and benefits of each approach."

Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)

Lawrence Beck stated, "In cognitive behavioral treatment models, the therapist would help the client identify and modify, cognitive distortions, and would reinforce behaviors that were more adaptive for the client. A pattern of frequent and highly negative automatic thoughts can develop into a vicious cycle leading to depression, which then leads to more depressive cognitions. I am of the firm belief that cognitive distortions play a huge role in maladaptive behaviors, I work with client is disputing those cognitive distortions with empirical evidence that suggest otherwise