LMHC, 11 years of experience
New to Grow
"I am a Licensed Professional Counselor with 11 years of experience helping individuals navigate life transitions, anxiety, and depression. My approach is rooted in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and mindfulness, creating a supportive space for clients to explore their challenges and develop coping strategies. I believe in empowering individuals to build resilience and achieve their personal goals." “I believe that therapy is a partnership. Together, we’ll identify and set goals that matter to you whether they focus on improving relationships, building self-esteem or another personal objective. As we work together, your goals may evolve as you gain new insights. We can adapt our plan at any time to ensure it’s always meaningful and relevant to you. I’m here to provide you with the support and tools you need to continue to move closer to where you want to be, even when things feel challenging.”
Our first session will be an opportunity for us to get to know one another. We’ll discuss your background and what brings you to therapy. Therapy is a process, and we’ll continue to build our work together over time. It’s completely normal to feel nervous about your first appointment. We’ll take it one step at a time, and I’m here to guide you through each step of the process.” The initial session with me, your mental health professional, often called an intake, is primarily a chance for me to gather information and assess your needs. It's a "get-to-know-you" session where the focus is on building rapport and understanding your background and current situation. Being honest about your thoughts, feelings, and experiences is key to building trust and a strong therapeutic relationship. There's no expectation to share everything in the first session. You can share at your own pace and focus on what feels comfortable.This is also your opportunity to ask questions about my approach, experience, session duration, and what you can expect from future sessions.
I integrate various therapeutic approaches and techniques: For instance, you could blend evidence-based techniques like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) (which focuses on identifying and changing negative thought patterns) with mindfulness practices to enhance emotional regulation and self-awareness. This also highlights a holistic view, encompassing mental, physical, and even spiritual aspects of well-being. Focus on the present and future: While acknowledging the influence of the past, CBT, for example, emphasizes helping people develop coping skills and strategies for current challenges and achieving future goals.
An ideal client for mental health services is typically someone who is motivated to change, actively engages in therapy, and possesses a degree of self-awareness and resilience. They are able to articulate their needs, willing to explore their emotions and experiences, and are open to feedback and suggestions from their therapist. Furthermore, they demonstrate a willingness to put in the effort required for progress and are respectful of the therapeutic relationship.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (CBT) is a type of psychotherapy that helps individuals accept difficult thoughts and feelings, rather than trying to control or suppress them.
CBT, or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, is a type of psychotherapy that focuses on the connection between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It helps individuals identify and change negative or unhelpful thinking patterns and behaviors to improve their emotional well-being and functioning. CBT is a time-limited therapy, often involving 12-20 sessions, and is effective for a wide range of mental health conditions. The counselor helps the client identify the specific interpersonal problems that is contributing to their symptoms. The counselor and client explore the problem in detail, examining the individuals' patterns of internaction, communication styles, and relationship dynamics.
Interpersonal therapy (IPT) is a time, limited structured therapy that focuses on improving communication and relationships to address mental health issues. It's often used to treat depression,a anxiety, and other conditions by exploring and resolving interpersonal problems.
Mindfulness is a type of meditation that focuses on being aware of any sensations and feelings in the present moment without interpretation or judgment. It is a compassionate type of awareness with a sense of knowing what is happening in the external and internal world as it is happening
Psychoeducation is an evidence-based intervention that aims to provide individuals and their families with information, support, and coping skills related to mental health conditions. Providing information about the symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment options for specific mental health disorders, psychoeducation promotes understanding and and acceptance, helping individuals and families understand the nature of their condition and reduce stigma associated with it. Equipping individuals with practical strategies for managing symptoms, improving their well-being, and adhering to treatment plans, psychoeducation provides support and resources to individuals and families with support groups, community resources, and healthcare professionals.