LPC, 22 years of experience
Finding the right therapist can feel like a search for a trusted guide—especially when navigating the unique challenges of later life. I'm Patricia Calloway, and I specialize in helping seniors just like you manage and overcome the burdens of anxiety and mood disorders. My approach is simple: I offer effective, evidence-based treatment in an environment that is genuinely warm, relatable, and easy to talk to. I understand that life doesn't stop presenting hurdles once you reach your senior years; in fact, there are new transitions, losses, and health concerns that can deeply impact your mental well-being. You deserve a space where you feel truly seen, heard, and understood without judgment. I have extensive expertise in treating: Anxiety Disorders: General Worry (GAD), Health Anxiety, Social Anxiety, and Panic. Depression/Mood Disorders: Persistent Sadness, Loss of Interest (Anhedonia), Difficulty with Motivation, and navigating grief-related depression. Life Transitions: Adjusting to retirement, coping with chronic illness or pain, managing the loss of a spouse or friends, and transitioning into new living situations. Sleep Disturbances related to anxiety and worry.
I know starting therapy can be daunting. From our very first session, you can expect: A Relatable Conversation: Forget the cold, clinical setting. Our sessions feel more like a meaningful, focused conversation with a trusted friend who is a licensed therapist. Practical Tools: We won't just analyze the past. We'll focus on giving you clear, actionable steps you can use this week to improve your mood and reduce anxiety. Respect for Your Journey: Your life history is valued. We will integrate your wisdom, life experiences, and current goals into a personalized treatment plan that works for you. It's never too late to feel better. Let's work together to make your next chapter your most peaceful and fulfilling one yet.
My greatest strength lies in my approachability and my specialization in working with older adults. I've found that many seniors feel dismissed or misunderstood by the healthcare system. My practice is built on a foundation of respect for their unique life experiences, and I create a space where they feel truly heard and valued. What truly sets my therapeutic approach apart is the combination of evidence-based methods with a deeply personal, relatable touch. I don't just apply textbook techniques; I adapt them to fit the specific pace and life context of each individual. My clients often tell me they appreciate the focus on practical, actionable strategies. We're not just talking about the past; we're actively building a toolkit for a more peaceful future. My results speak to this—clients don't just learn to cope; they learn to actively thrive. They report not only a significant reduction in anxiety and sadness but also a renewed sense of purpose, confidence, and engagement in their lives. It's a privilege to see that transformation, and it's what drives me every day.
I am best positioned to serve seniors (generally age 65 and older) who are experiencing persistent anxiety or low mood and are ready to take an active role in feeling better. My ideal clients often come to me when they are navigating one or more of the unique challenges of later life, including: Feeling overwhelmed by constant worry—especially health anxiety, loneliness, financial concerns, or worries about their children. Coping with the grief of loss (a spouse, friends, health, or independence) that has led to a lasting low mood or depression. Struggling to find purpose or joy after a significant life transition, such as retirement, moving, or a new diagnosis. Experiencing sleep difficulties (insomnia) that seem fueled by a racing mind or persistent stress. Feeling reluctant to burden family with their mental health struggles, and seeking a professional, confidential space to unpack these feelings. The clients who achieve the best results share a common mindset and goal: A "Ready-to-Learn" Mindset: They understand that therapy isn't just venting; it's learning practical tools. They are willing to try new strategies and complete small "homework" assignments, knowing that consistency leads to relief. The Desire for Practical Change: Their goal isn't just to talk about the past, but to focus on the here and now and make tangible improvements in their daily mood, energy, and overall quality of life. Hope for the Next Chapter: Despite feeling down or anxious, they still hold a fundamental belief that it's not too late to find peace and fulfillment in their senior years. They are motivated to live their remaining time with greater ease and joy. If you are a senior who values a relatable, direct, and effective approach, and you're ready to learn the skills to manage your anxiety and lift your mood, then you are exactly who I'm here to
My primary treatment method for anxiety and mood disorders is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), a highly effective, goal-oriented approach. I have extensive experience adapting classic CBT principles to the unique context of senior life. This means recognizing that "thoughts" often relate to health worries, grief, or major life changes, and that "behaviors" might involve social isolation or difficulty maintaining routines. I've successfully used CBT to help seniors: Reduce Health Anxiety: By challenging catastrophic thinking about physical symptoms. Improve Sleep Quality: Through the application of specific CBT for Insomnia (CBT-I) techniques. Boost Mood: By scheduling activities and tackling avoidance behaviors associated with depression. approach CBT not as a rigid textbook exercise, but as a collaborative, skill-building process that is easy to understand and integrate into your daily life. Focus on the Present: While we respect your life history, CBT primarily focuses on how your current thoughts, feelings, and actions are connected. We look at patterns happening right now that are keeping you stuck in worry or sadness. Simple, Actionable Tools: We break down complex concepts into straightforward tools. You'll learn to become a detective of your own mind, identifying automatic negative thoughts (ANTs) like "I'm a burden" or "Something bad is going to happen." We then work together to test, challenge, and reframe these thoughts. Behavioral Experiments: We focus on making small, manageable changes. If anxiety is causing you to avoid social events, we’ll design a "behavioral experiment"—a safe, small step—to test your fears and help you rediscover enjoyable activities. Tailored and Respectful: I understand that building new habits takes time, especially later in life. My pacing is respectful of your energy, health, and routine. We move at a pace that is comfortable for you, ensuring the skills you learn are practical, sustainable, and lead to real, measurable relief from anxiety and depression.
Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) is a focused, time-limited approach that emphasizes how current mood and emotional challenges (like depression and anxiety) are deeply connected to recent or ongoing relationship issues and major life transitions. While CBT focuses on thoughts and behaviors, IPT focuses on communication and relationship patterns. For seniors, IPT is exceptionally effective because later life is often characterized by significant interpersonal changes that impact mental health. My experience with IPT specifically addresses the four core problem areas most relevant to older adults: Grief and Loss: Navigating the death of a spouse, sibling, or close friends, and helping clients process complicated, delayed, or unexpected grief. Role Transitions: Adjusting to major changes like retirement, moving from an independent home, dealing with the loss of a driving license, or a shift in the caregiving role (either giving or receiving care). Interpersonal Disputes: Managing friction or conflict with adult children, in-laws, or long-term partners, and improving communication skills to resolve these issues. Interpersonal Deficits (Social Isolation): Helping clients who are struggling with loneliness, identifying patterns that interfere with forming and maintaining satisfying new relationships or rekindling old ones. My approach to IPT is practical, non-judgmental, and highly collaborative. It offers a structured way to understand and improve your connections with others: The Interpersonal Inventory: We start by thoroughly mapping out your current and important past relationships. This helps us understand who is in your support network (or not) and how you interact with them. Focus on Communication: A core part of IPT involves improving how you express needs and manage conflict. We work on active listening, assertive communication, and clearly articulating feelings—skills that help mend strained relationships and build stronger new ones. Linking Mood to Relationships: We directly connect improvements in your relationships to improvements in your mood. For example, by effectively grieving a loss (IPT's focus), we aim to reduce the depressive symptoms (the client's goal). Time-Limited Focus: IPT is designed to provide relief in a specific time frame. We concentrate on the most pressing interpersonal issue identified in the inventory, ensuring that our work is targeted and leads to tangible results in your social and emotional life. I find that combining the practical relationship focus of IPT with the cognitive strategies of CBT provides a comprehensive and powerful pathway for seniors to find emotional peace and social fulfillment.
My commitment to effective mental health care for seniors is underscored by my certification as a Clinical Trauma Specialist. This certification signifies advanced training and expertise in recognizing, understanding, and responding to the effects of trauma—whether that trauma occurred decades ago or is related to a recent, overwhelming loss or medical event. For seniors, trauma often manifests subtly, sometimes appearing as chronic anxiety, unexplained physical pain, isolation, or difficulty trusting others. My trauma specialization ensures I never treat the symptoms (like anxiety or depression) without considering the root cause that might be linked to past or recent traumatic experiences. Trauma-Informed Approach Trauma-Informed Care is not a specific technique but an overarching lens through which all therapy is conducted. It ensures that the core therapeutic environment is safe, predictable, and empowering. Our sessions will always feel safe, predictable, and non-judgmental. We establish clear boundaries and expectations so you know exactly what to expect. You are the expert on your own life. We work together, and I always offer you choices regarding the focus, pacing, and depth of our discussions, ensuring you feel empowered—not helpless—in your own treatment. We don't dwell solely on the pain. We identify and build upon your incredible resilience, wisdom, and coping skills developed over a lifetime, using them as the foundation for recovery. When we address difficult memories or emotional challenges, we proceed with extreme gentleness and effective grounding techniques to manage distress, ensuring you remain stable and regulated throughout the process.