Markala Resby
I believe that healing and growth doesn't require perfection-it begins with curiosity. Therapy can be a place where you slow down, make sense of your experiences, and begin taking steps towards your best possible self. Having had a natural curiosity most of my life, I bring that aspect into my therapy work with clients. Don't worry, you will not be bombarded with 1001 questions, but a gentle form of interest into the lives of those sitting across from me, drives my work.
First session
Our first session is not about having all the answers or solving them all in 55 minutes; rather, it's about beginning a conversation. Together, we'll explore and begin to identify what brought you to therapy, what matters most to you, and what you hope will be different, but not in t-minus 50, minutes. My role is about asking thoughtful questions, listening carefully, and helping us become curious about the patterns, experiences, and strengths that have shaped your story and if you choose to stay around longer than the initial meeting, we will continue the conversation, revealing and processing your story as you feel comfortable doing so. If you are beginning couples counseling, my approach is very similar. I would encourage the couple to focus initially on exploring and connecting with the process, while avoiding the expectations that the relationship will be healed within the 55 min window, we are human, not miracle workers. Each partner should be prepared to have time to explore, identify and express her's, his or their perspective as well as practice active listening to the other partner. We will not solve any problems, but we will be able to begin to identify the concerns and how to begin to address them.
Strengths
Always being the curious, yet quite one, offered me my position to not immediately challenge things around me, but to explore and ponder. I was never really the one to state my opposition, but to hold it, explore it. Curiosity is my strength and I believe curiosity creates space for change. My approach offers an opportunity to replace self-criticism with curiosity- to explore patterns, understand emotions and behaviors, and discover new possibilities with compassion, rather than shame. My approach to therapy is collaborative, strength-based, and integrative, drawing from cognitive behavioral, motivational interviewing, dialectical behavioral therapy, DBT, narrative therapy, utilizing a person-centered, trauma-informed, family systems, and attachment lens. This may look like, holding space for you to share, express, explore and process. Most importantly, it doesn't mean I will not ever challenge a client but it does mean my challenges are thoughtful, meaningful and gentle.
Ideal clients
My work has allowed me to work with a variety of life concerns, including substance use disorders, mood disorders such as depression and anxiety, trauma, stress management, self-esteem/identity, relationships, and spiritual formation. I also understand the unique cognitive style, sensory patterns, and lived experiences, while celebrating that all brains are custom-built. I am most excited when working with clients who are, willing to explore and identify thinking and behavioral patterns, take a few steps backwards, when necessary, understanding that growth is not linear. Willing to step outside the box (or at least attempt to cross a line or two), can see homework as beneficial and willing to partner in their journey of gaining insight and self-awareness.
Treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Ever hear the phase or in some contexts faith-beliefs that, "as a person thinks, so is he?" Well, there is definitely some evidence-based practices and techniques such as CBT, that can help you explore, identify and begin to challenge those thinking patterns that could be impacting mood and behavior.
Attachment-based
Most recently we all can be guilty of reading a post online and diagnosing ourselves as having an attachment issue. Attachment-based therapy helps to explore and identify origins of relational patterns that may be impacting intimacy, connection, and overall relational satisfaction.
Compassion Focused
Is your inner critic attempting to be critically acclaimed? Maybe it's trying out for the "my inner critic is better than yours," award, Compassion-focused therapy, can help replace shame-based and critical self-thoughts/talk, to improve the way you feel about yourself.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
Are you ever confused about emotions? Maybe feel some emotions are acceptable, like brave, while others aren't like fear? And nevermind feeling them both at the same time. DBT can help you learn the balance of self-acceptance and behavioral change, to reduce emotional distress.
Motivational Interviewing
Not sure if you are ready for change things about yourself? What if the things about you that may need changing are the things you like the most, but they also cost; cost time, focus, happiness and maybe even money. Motivational interviewing helps you to explore motivation for change, while acknowledging the ambivalence we are prone to and how to use where you currently are, to make that internal decision to make changes in your life.
Location
Virtual sessions
Identifies as
Top specialties
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Licensed in
- GeorgiaLicense LPC015281