LICSW, 14 years of experience
New to Grow
I’m Roman Salwa, LCSW, a psychotherapist, clinical supervisor, and PhD student in Social Work with a deep commitment to helping individuals heal, grow, and live with greater meaning and purpose. My approach integrates evidence-based modalities such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing, Mindfulness, and Focusing-Oriented Psychotherapy with a holistic, person-centered philosophy. In addition to my clinical expertise, I specialize in the intersection of mental health and spirituality, exploring how personal beliefs and values can be a powerful source of resilience and transformation. I believe that therapy is not only about symptom relief but also about cultivating a deeper connection to oneself, one’s purpose, and—when aligned with the client’s values—a sense of the sacred in everyday life. Whether spirituality is rooted in religion, personal practice, cultural tradition, or a search for meaning, I honor and integrate it into the therapeutic process in ways that feel authentic to each individual. Over the course of my career, I have worked in diverse settings, from emergency departments addressing acute crises to private practice supporting long-term growth. I’ve also collaborated with psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, and other providers to ensure comprehensive, client-centered care. Currently, my doctoral research focuses on how to integrate personal spiritual beliefs into their professional roles and how this shapes their sense of purpose. This passion informs my clinical work, where I help clients bridge the gap between their inner values and outer lives, creating a life that feels aligned, empowered, and meaningful. I work with individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds, offering a safe, respectful, and collaborative space for healing.
In our first session together, my goal is to create a safe, welcoming, and nonjudgmental space where you can begin to share your story at your own pace. I understand that starting therapy can feel both hopeful and uncertain, so I aim to make the process as comfortable and collaborative as possible. We’ll begin with introductions and a brief conversation about what brought you to therapy. I’ll invite you to share, in your own words, your current concerns, challenges, and goals. There is no “right” way to tell your story—you can start wherever feels most important to you. Some clients share a lot in the first session; others prefer to begin slowly and build trust over time. Either approach is welcome. I will also gather some background information to better understand your life context. This may include your personal history, current support systems, significant life events, and any past experiences with therapy. If you have specific preferences or boundaries around how we work together—such as pacing, topics you’d like to prioritize, or your comfort level with certain approaches—we will discuss those as well. Part of our first meeting will focus on clarifying your goals for therapy. These goals can be concrete, such as reducing anxiety or improving communication, or broader, such as finding purpose or building self-compassion. If spirituality or meaning-making is important to you, we can explore how to integrate that into our work. I value honoring your beliefs, traditions, and values in ways that feel authentic to you. I will also explain how I work, including the therapeutic modalities I draw from—such as EMDR, CBT, mindfulness, and other trauma-informed and holistic approaches—and how they might fit your needs. Together, we’ll discuss what a typical session might look like, the frequency of sessions, and any logistics like scheduling, confidentiality, and communication between sessions. By the end of our first meeting, my aim is for you to feel heard, respected, and understood, with a clear sense of the next steps in your therapy journey. You will leave knowing that this is a collaborative process: I bring my training, experience, and guidance, and you bring your insight, lived experience, and commitment to your growth. From day one, we are partners in creating a space where healing, clarity, and transformation can take root.
What stands out about my therapeutic approach is the way I integrate evidence-based clinical methods with a deeply personalized, holistic, and meaning-centered framework. I believe therapy is not only about resolving immediate challenges but also about creating long-term shifts that align a person’s inner world with the life they want to live. I draw from a range of modalities, including Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing, Mindfulness, Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT-Tapping), and Focusing-Oriented Psychotherapy. This diverse toolkit allows me to tailor therapy to each client’s needs, preferences, and pace. For trauma survivors, EMDR provides an effective, research-backed method for processing and releasing the lingering effects of painful experiences. CBT offers practical strategies for reshaping unhelpful thought patterns, while mindfulness and somatic approaches help clients reconnect with their bodies and cultivate present-moment awareness. What truly differentiates my work is the intentional integration of spirituality and meaning-making when it aligns with a client’s beliefs and goals. However, if spirituality is not something that the client would want to work on, then it is put aside, and we work on the specific topics that the client would like to work on. If spirituality is important, then we would delve deeper into it. Spirituality is expressed through religious faith, cultural tradition, personal practice, or a search for purpose. I create space for clients to explore and strengthen this dimension of their lives. This often deepens resilience, fosters clarity, and supports lasting change. My current doctoral research on spirituality and meaning in nonprofit mental health work further informs my practice, adding depth to how I help clients connect with their values and life direction. Clients also benefit from my background in clinical supervision and leadership, where I’ve guided other therapists, developed care protocols, and implemented trauma-informed best practices. This experience sharpens my ability to see patterns, identify root issues, and design effective interventions that address both immediate needs and underlying causes. The results clients often report include a reduction in symptoms like anxiety, depression, and intrusive memories; improved relationships and communication; greater self-awareness and emotional regulation; and, importantly, a stron
I am best positioned to serve individuals who are seeking not only relief from emotional distress but also a deeper sense of meaning, alignment, and personal growth. Many of my clients are navigating life transitions, processing past trauma, or managing ongoing challenges such as anxiety, depression, or relationship difficulties. While they may initially come to therapy for symptom relief, they are often also motivated by a desire to live in greater harmony with their values, purpose, and inner truth. I work especially well with people who are open to exploring both the practical and the profound—the day-to-day realities of life as well as the deeper questions about who they are and what they want their life to stand for. Some of my clients identify as spiritual or are curious about incorporating spirituality into therapy, while others may not use that word but still seek a greater sense of connection, direction, or fulfillment. My role is to meet you where you are, respecting your beliefs and worldview while offering tools to support healing and growth. I am particularly skilled in working with individuals who have experienced trauma—whether single-event, chronic, or complex—helping them process and release the effects of those experiences through Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and other evidence-based approaches. I also support clients who are feeling “stuck” in patterns of thinking, behavior, or emotional responses, guiding them toward clarity and empowerment through Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing, and mindfulness-based techniques. Professionals in high-stress or service-oriented roles—such as healthcare workers, nonprofit staff, and therapists—often find my approach especially relevant. Having supervised and trained clinicians, and currently researching how mental health professionals integrate spirituality and meaning into their work, I understand the unique challenges of serving others while maintaining personal well-being. I provide a safe space for helping professionals to process their experiences, prevent burnout, and reconnect with their sense of purpose. I also work well with individuals from multicultural backgrounds and those navigating cross-cultural issues, identity questions, or belonging. As someone fluent in Polish and conversational in Russian, I understand the ways in which language, culture, and heritage can shape both our struggles and our strengths. Clients who thrive in our
The main modalities that I utilize are: EMDR, CBT, Mindfulness, Focusing and Motivational Interviewing. I create a unique approach to each person that I work with while drawing on these modalities.