Hello! My name is Erica Bradley. I am a LICSW in the state of Massachusetts. I have been a social worker for about 6 years and have worked in some form of human services for 15 years. After getting a bachelor's degree in public health and going to work in a group home for developmentally disabled adults I realized the need for more social workers. The need for people who cared and wanted to listen and help. During graduate school I interned in a hospice, which was both incredibly challenging and rewarding. I then interned in an primary care office providing therapy. It was an amazing experience, but not one I felt I had enough skills to go into full time directly after graduating. Following graduation with my MSW I went to work in the male, State-Prison System. That job not only taught me a lot about the criminal justice system in this country. It taught me so much about human behavior and the mentality of "us versus them". I quickly left that position for one working with young children and families on behavior management. This was followed by time spent working in both inpatient and outpatient psychiatric hospital programs. During my time in both inpatient and outpatient psych I saw the need for individual therapists and the significant shortage, so here we are. All of these roles have taught me the same things. We all struggle to understand our own thoughts, emotions and behaviors. More importantly, until we understand how all of those things impact each other and our reactions to the situations we are in, we will not move forward. We will remain stuck in the same old patterns of anxiety, depression, fear, anger. You name it. When you are ready to show up for yourself I'll be here ready to meet you.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
After our initial session expect to spend some time building rapport. I want to get to know you. What is important to you? What are you passionate about? Where do you want to make change in your life? All of this is important to you, therefore it is important to me. I will share my skills, tools and knowledge with you. I will give you the space to think, question, learn and unlearn. What I can not do is do the work for you. That is not my job. I am only in control of myself. I only have the power to change my own behavior. The same is true for you. You are the expert on you. You are in control of you. I will hold space for you and support you as you show up for yourself, do the work and make the changes you want to see in your life.
What treatment methods and tools do you utilize?
Solution Focused - We'll look at where you are and where you want to go. Strengths Based - Your life and experiences have brought you to this moment. We recognize this and use your experiences to learn, grow, and influence your treatment. CBT - Cognitive Behavioral Therapy - Understanding how your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors all influence each other, in order to make the changes you want Body Based - Learning how to feel our emotions in our bodies and to trust our gut.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
I am passionate about empowering individuals to find their power; to find their voice and to remember who they are. Whether you've never been to therapy before or have been going for years I think there is always something new to be learned about ourselves when we open ourselves up to it. For the same reason, I find joy in working with those who face chronic illness. I have found the bio-medical model of treatment likes to pathologize clients. Often times telling clients their very real symptoms are "all in their head." That is not a message you will hear from me and I would love to empower you to know your worth. You are the expert on you. I will assist you in finding your voice to become the advocate you need.