LPC, 24 years of experience
New to Grow
Twenty-four years of experience working with a wide range of individuals with a wide range of presenting problems and needs. I have helped individuals work through grief, trauma, adjustment disorders, difficult life transitions, acculturation issues and end of life counseling. I have helped many individuals gain new insights and coping abilities in managing chronic mood disorders, anxiety and fear disorders, personality disorders and impulse control disorders. I have experience working with addiction and recovery including compulsive gambling and sex addictions. I have also worked with individuals in various stages of commitment to change. I began my career working in community mental health serving individuals with severe and persistent mental illness/primary psychosis disorders such as schizophrenia, schizoaffective, delusional and bipolar affective disorders. I have worked in a variety of settings within the mental health field including hospital settings, partial hospitalization settings, outpatient therapy, intensive case management, as well as remote services. I have been clinical director of two outpatient treatment centers. I have facilitated many therapy groups including anger management, anxiety management, wellness and recovery, co-occurring disorders and trauma-focused groups.
First session is basically a meet and greet to begin getting to know each other. Here, I like to begin exploring and assessing needs, goals, personal values etc... I like to ease into the process of engagement slowly and methodically but mostly at the client's pace of comfort and need. I am comfortable with disclosing various aspects of my professional self and even - when appropriate, personal items that engender trust and benefit the individual. I very much enjoy, meeting and getting to know people.
I strive to always to maintain unconditional positive regard for all individuals in all situations. I naturally utilize humor when appropriate to engender comfort, alliance and insight. I try to emphasize the importance of collaboration and alliance during the therapeutic process. Above all, helping people feel comfortable and safe is paramount to the process.
My experience has primarily been with adults ranging from late adolescence to geriatrics. As I mentioned above, I have experience with many different types of individuals, conditions and disorders. I work best with individuals who are open to growth and positive change but have also seen success working with those struggling with resistance, uncertainty and apathy toward change as well.
I like to help individuals to establish a future/solution focused orientation vs a ruminating/problem-focused mindset. I endeavor to help people recognize their strengths and uniqueness to help build/further autonomy and self-actualization. This approach facilitates collaboration and alliance which are integral to exploration and growth. When people recognize that they are in fact the experts and driver of their own lives, positive change typically ensues.
This approach focuses on individual's needs and their decisions and approaches to attaining their human needs. A person-centered approach that focuses on responsibility and decision making, also helps to empower individuals in ways similar to the strength-based approach. I endeavor to explore needs, values and life goals. I like to explore individual decision-making process, locus of control and commitment level to getting needs met.