I would describe myself as a goofy and radically empathetic therapist that struggles with severe ADHD and also anxiety. Not to mention the grief! I am big on being vulnerable myself. We must lead by example. I also am a strong believer in the power of connection. If you cannot connect with your therapist, research says that therapy is not likely to be effective. I prioritize the therapeutic relationship above all else. That is my foundation. That means I pride myself on not being a robot. I cannot believe I have to say this, but many students in therapy have told me that they have had robotic therapist. That is not me. I believe the most powerful therapeutic techniques are empathy and unconditional love, and those are the values I do my best to display consistently. I currently provide individual counseling to students at Miami Dade College and I have found that I really enjoy working with college students that recently graduated from high school. I find that the world treats them cruelly at such an overwhelming time of their lives and they deserve unconditional love, not tough love.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
Well, I believe it would be hard to help a person without getting to know them. So I prioritize getting to know you first! And I move at your pace. I would never force anyone to share something they are not ready to share. I know this process is not easy, so I do all that I can to meet you where you are at.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
I believe my greatest strength as a provider is my unorthodox, radically empathetic approach. I also believe that one of my strengths is my ability to get creative. I am good at collecting a persons beliefs, values, worldview and using all three to help them. That is because I believe another one of my strengths is my ability to think less of me and what I know. This benefits the people I help because I prioritize thinking more about them and what they know, and what they want. Another one of my greatest strengths is my ability to create powerful therapeutic relationships that make change more likely. I like to believe I am above average at creating a safe space that is free of judgement and stuffed with empathy. Lastly, I consider myself a solution focused guru. I was trained by a woman who was trained by one of the creators of solution focused therapy so I do believe that I was trained effectively.
About Gabe Lamas
Identifies as
Licensed in
Accepts
Appointments
VirtualMy treatment methods
Solution Focused Brief Treatment
I believe solution focused therapy is most aligned with my social work values and personal values. It emphasizes that the person in therapy is the expert of their life and views said person as the best tool for their healing. I may be a mental health expert, but that does not mean I am the expert in regard to your life. I adjust to you and your values/worldview in order to produce therapeutic success via the use of solution focused techniques and language.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Thoughts are powerful! That goes for the helpful and unhelpful ones. The good news is that we can update them as long as those updates are soaked in empathy and unconditional love. And that is the way I implement CBT - as empathetically and humanistically as possible. You can have years of experience implementing therapeutic techniques, but without empathy and love those techniques would be wasted.
Christian Counseling
I am capable of connecting solution focused therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy to verses in the Bible. I do consider myself a person that is accepting of all spiritual beliefs and it would be unwise to ignore their benefits as a therapist. If Christianity is not what you believe in, that is ok! I adjust to you. And I am always willing to learn something new if it benefits your wellbeing.
Culturally Sensitive Therapy
I take my social work values seriously and I stand by them. Therefore it is impossible to stand by them without taking into consideration the powerful impacts of culture, for better and/or for worse. I spend as much time that is needed breaking down the impacts of culture.
Strength-Based
Many of the people I work with believe they have no strengths, but I have never worked with a person that does not have strengths. I strongly believe that we all have strengths, life just convinces us otherwise. If I work with you I will do all that I can to find your strengths and make them known to you. If you have made it this far for this long, odds are you have strengths!