LCSW, 13 years of experience
Hello! I'm a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. I received my Master Degree from California State University and I've been practicing therapy for over 12 years. I grew up in Italy and moved to the US 42 years ago. I work with adult men and women struggling with trauma, anxiety, life transitions, relationships. I'm passionate about helping them live more fulfilling relationships and peaceful life.
During our first session I will introduce each other and then we'll discuss the challenges you are facing at the present time and what you hope to achieve with your therapy sessions. In this way I will be able to prepare a treating plan that we can discuss together during our next session.
Having worked in community mental health Clinics for several years, I treated a high number of complex patients. During many years of experience I've developed the skills necessary to help you identify your core issues, have a deeper understanding of yourself and what stops you from experiencing joy and inner stability in your life.
I love working with adult men and women who are struggling with relationships, acculturation, the trauma of immigration and life transitions. My clients have many strengths but often they don't recognise and fail to use them to their benefit.
I successfully treated patients suffering from anxiety, depression and trauma by challenging their core beliefs (a person most central ideas about themselves) and negative thinking traps. I will guide you in discovering your patterns of distorted and automatic thoughts and how thoughts/feelings and behaviour are connected. I will help you experience an increased sense of self confidence and a less reactive mind. I will also guide you towards improving your coping skills and boundaries settings.
I' ve been teaching mindfulness in my practice for over 5 years and used mindfulness based therapy to treat anxiety, substance use and depression. I will guide to establish a daily practice that will support you in reducing anxiety and depression by increasing insight into automatic self defeating thoughts. You will experience a calmer and more stable mind and deeper insight. This method is helpful also to reduce emotional eating. I will teach you mindfulness meditation, progressive muscle relaxation, body scan, mindful eating and deep breathing exercises to help you increase your attention to the present moment and let go of anxious, automatic, fearful thoughts. You will be able to apply these skills through your life every time you experience anxious events or obsessing thoughts or simply when you want to relax and reconnect with your deeper self.
During my practice in Community Mental Health Clinics I used this approach with a focus on resolving client's concerns. I will help you discover your unconscious resources and strengths and will assist you in constructing a new perspective on the problem you're facing. I will work with you in identifying and prioritising solutions. It's very helpful with clients who are more focused on the future rather than the past. You will be empowered and motivated to find solutions by using your strengths and expertise.