New to Grow
Hi! I'm Spencer, a social worker and certified alcohol and substance use counselor based in Brooklyn. I've been working in mental health and addiction since 2021. I've been a social worker in all sorts of environments with all sorts of clients and patients: residential, outpatient, inpatient, hospital, community clinic, private practice; adolescents, adults, geriatrics- you name it, I've worked it! This variety of exposure and experiences has given me some insight into all of the different issues that can bother us, and all the ways we can handle those issues. I've learned about the broad ranges of feelings we feel, and how to cope with those feelings in productive ways. I've also learned about how we can come to rely on unhealthy coping skills, and ways to transition into more positive and safer skills.
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
This first session is going to be a deep dive into you. Some people feel comfortable jumping right into the thing that motivated them to look for therapy- if that's you, I'll jump right on board. Others need time and space to feel comfortable and safe to open up. If that sounds more your speed, I'm more than happy to take that time to get to know you and prove that you can trust me. Either way, we are going to spend that first session talking about you in whatever way feels right to you. Therapy is a personal and personalized process; you will be leading the way here!
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
My greatest strength is my attention to detail. I make a point to learn and remember names, dates, and facts in order to get to know you as well as possible. In my experience, it's easier to help someone when you know more about who they are rather than just what symptoms they are experiencing.
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
My ideal client knows that therapy is not always an easy or a fun process, but they are willing to put in the work to make their lives better. They don't need to know exactly what their goals are, but they're willing to keep an open mind and collaborate with me to make a plan.