Welcome to the beginning of your journey towards better mental health. I'm excited to support you as we navigate the process of change together. Take a moment to consider the challenges that have led you to seek help. Together, we can work on overcoming patterns of negative thoughts, feelings, or behaviors that have held you back from living your life to its fullest. I completed advanced training in adult and child psychotherapy at Columbia University in 2016, and have since accumulated 8 years of extensive clinical experience in residential, hospitalization, and outpatient settings. My expertise lies in cognitive and dialectical behavioral therapies, focusing on effectively reducing symptoms associated with anxiety, depression, mood disorders, and various process addictions including OCD, orthorexia, and compulsive behaviors. Together, we will explore tailored therapeutic approaches to improve and enrich your overall quality of life.

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

In our first session , we'll start by thinking about what you hope to achieve through therapy. What signs or improvements would show you that therapy is making a difference for you? I believe in a client-centered approach where you get to decide what success looks like and how we can track your progress.

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

Anxiety: Anxiety comes from our natural instinct to stay safe. It's a normal feeling, but when it overwhelms us, it can be tough. Therapy like CBT helps us rethink and change how we respond to anxious thoughts, so they become more manageable and less scary. Depression: Depression can make life feel like a never-ending struggle. With dialectical behavioral therapy, we work on breaking the cycle of triggers, how you respond, and avoiding things that worsen it. This helps improve your life and bring back a sense of balance. Obsessive compulsive disorder : OCD comes from needing to be sure about things. You might feel safer doing rituals because they give you predictability. Over time, though, these rituals can take over, like an addiction. Gradual exposure therapy helps reduce the anxiety from repetitive thoughts and actions, so you can find calmness and feel more in control. Habit reversal training: Over time, habits like pulling hair, picking skin, or having verbal and physical tics can become automatic. With habit reversal training, you can learn to take back control over these actions that might feel unstoppable, and empower yourself to manage them better.

About Dorothy Mwanga