Suzie Toews
Several people have told me that wisdom comes with age and I sure hope they are right! In my practice, I am committed to share whatever wisdom I have may have gained in my life, and validate the wisdom in my clients, even if they don't recognize they have plenty too. I believe we all have character qualities we may not recognize at the times of change or crisis. I have been practicing as a clinical social worker for 35 years and have been fortunate to experience many different areas of clinical work. I work across many different kinds of approaches to counseling. I work with you at designing what fits your unique needs. Whoever you choose to walk with you along this journey we call life, I hope you find exactly what you need to live a life of confidence and peace not matter how life has effected you so far.
First session
First sessions with me usually consist of story-telling, you telling me a bit about the story of your life's points of importance, starting to identify and clarify what is most important to get help with first. Maybe you already have an idea of your goals but if you don't, we can start there, and I will help you identify one or two goals for yourself. I may introduce ways we will go about the work, and no doubt will talk with you about how creativity can help you heal. Quite often when I ask a client how they are creative, they tell me they can't draw. I laugh at that because although I am creative, I can't draw at all. Even children laugh at my attempts. Much of what we will do is me listening to you. If you are nervous and can't talk much, that's ok! It's not unusual for people to feel tongue tied when "put on the spot", but no worries. It'll be ok! As we get to know each other the first session or two, I will start to introduce "models" of how we can structure our work. A model, is basically a way to define and and make a plan for steps you need to reach the goals you want. The will also help me give you tools and encouragement in developing a concrete way to evaluate if we're on the right track.
Strengths
I've been told first a foremost that I am an easy person to talk to. I embrace being old and I have even had quite a few children call me "Grammie". As mentioned already, I have a lot of practice experience as a therapist, a supervisor of therapists, teaching and modeling for new therapists and/or graduate students. I believe we all carry stories around with us that culminate in a big story of our life. Stories carry so much power - sometimes because of the pain, sometimes the joy, and sometimes the mundane. I encourage clients to tell their story, sometimes even to themselves for the first time, and take hold of how our stories have created our thoughts and emotions and behaviors. Another strength I've been told people appreciate is I'm straightforward and direct. Normally I might be concerned about that, but combining both directness with being a "soft landing" works for me and for my clients. I also have developed a good knowledge of our brains and how a brain impacts our thoughts, feelings and behaviors. My clients say it helps to understand why they think a certain way and how to find ways to change those thoughts. The term for that is neuroplasticity and this concept is fairly new. It's also back up by science.
Ideal clients
Although I have worked with people in a wide range of ages, 3 years to 92 years, I think I best serve middle aged and older folks who have raised families, maybe moved into retirement and are trying to figure out how to address trauma, loss and grief and continue to look forward with hope. I also work well with couples who are struggling to be a team in life instead of two people just walking through life without a connection to each other any longer. I work with people who have thoughts that can't stop thinking about, emotions they don't understand and/or end up behaviorally, finding themselves doing things they know don't help. In the end, I think a strength I have is helping people see cycles in their life that just don't work.
Treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) can sound complicated, but really, it is a great way to just think about what we have going on in our thought world, what we feel emotionally about the thought, and what we do or would like to do to keep the hopeful thoughts strong and weaken the negative thoughts. This, and helping people understand how their brain works, are the two foundations I use in therapy. For more information go to https://www.simplypsychology.org/cognitive-therapy.html
Brainspotting
Brainspotting is a technique I use that helps access the neurological piece of our thoughts and emotions. It is based on how our bodies record traumas and frustrations (and happiness and peace, actually), and how we can access those specific pieces in our brains and build what is called neuroplasticity. There is more information here: Brainspotting.com
Location
Virtual sessions
Identifies as
Top specialties
Other specialties
Licensed in
- IdahoLicense LCSW-43910
- WashingtonLicense SWI.LW.60275220