My early childhood shaped my desire to understand the family systems that raised us and the influence that this has on our development through life's stages. I am a Clinical Social Worker licensed in California and New York with 28 years of experience working with children, families, and adults in the areas of child welfare, psychosocial assessments, behavioral health, forensic & medical social work, and management. I also specialized in international social work in London, UK as the sole member of an LLC, Specialist Assessment Services consulting for and managing non-profit teams and private organizations for six (6) of my fifteen (14) years residing abroad. I have over 18 years of licensed psychotherapy experience specializing in working with children, adolescents, and high-functioning adults in the areas of trauma, grief, anxiety, and depression.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
After their first session clients can expect to feel understood and seen. You are not crazy. You are making sense. You are not a lost cause. You are not alone. You are an expert on your life and I will work with you to understand, validate and integrate your life experiences on the road to becoming the real YOU. You are a product of our past but it does not have to hold you hostage. Working with me will allow you to discover how to compassionately talk to yourself and become the parent or friend that you wish you had. If you are ready to do the work of self-discovery, with my support, guidance and tools, you will become your top priority and emotional advocate.
What treatment methods and tools do you utilize?
My specialism is mood disorders (depression & anxiety) and over the years mindfulness and meditation has had a positive impact on my work. As a Vipassana meditator, I am able to integrate evidenced-based Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) into my work with positive results. MBCT seeks to teach people to disengage from the deeply ingrained dysfunctional thoughts that are common with depression. When the mind wanders, the meditator ideally takes note of where it goes, and calmly returns to the moment at hand, perhaps focusing on their breath or bodily sensations. One characteristic of depression is a habit of thinking negatively about experiences, one's self or the future. Mindfulness trains people to be more aware of these thoughts and to stand back and simply observe their thoug
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
My biggest strength is my balance of professional expertise, life experiences and relatability. Timely and appropriate self-disclosure helps to build a supportive interpersonal relationship with clients. I am and have been my first client. Guiding and supporting clients in arriving at the place where you can balance self-care, compassion and patience with personal accountability is a hallmark of my practice and clinical approach. I am living proof that you can live beyond the pain of your past and negative, oppressive belief systems. If you are ready to take the first step towards your new life, please contact me today via email at reception+Sherlyn13717@growtherapy.com or phone +1 (786) 755-1863.