(she/her)
Hello! I am so glad you are here! My name is Kate Patarozzi and I am a licensed clinical social worker with 17 years of experience working in the behavioral health field. I have experience working with individuals struggling with anxiety, depression, addictions, trauma, self-esteem issues and many other difficult life challenges. I am here to offer you a safe space, free of judgement, to become the best version of yourself. I will bring to our sessions my clinical experience, my compassion and a willingness to partner with you on your path to wellness. I believe everyone deserves to feel heard. To have their feelings validated. To have a safe space to process life's challenges and the emotions that come along with them. I utilize a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) approach, coupled with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectal Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and Positive Psychology. With this approach, I will help you gain better control over your thoughts, emotions and actions, leading to a happier, healthier you. If you are looking for someone who will meet you where you are, who will listen to you and really hear you, and someone who will compassionately challenge you to grow in a safe, supportive and judgement free zone, you have found your place. I am so glad you are here and can't wait to get started.
Our first session will be spent getting to know you better. I hope to gain a better understanding of what has led you to therapy, what goals you would like to accomplish and in what timeframe. I want to assure that I can provide you with the support you need to be successful. The first session is also your opportunity to evaluate me - to assure we will be a good fit. Ultimately, I will strive for you to leave our first session feeling heard, respected, supported, and hopeful.
Your relationship with your therapist plays a huge role in the success of your therapy. Understandably so, as therapy asks us to look at and talk about the parts of ourselves that we prefer to keep hidden - parts of us that may carry huge amounts of shame and discomfort. One needs to feel safe and supported and free of judgement in order to do this. I promise to offer you a safe, judgement-free zone full of compassion and understanding. At the same time, I will challenge you - but compassionately and respectfully - as we all need little nudges from time to time.
Do you struggle with feelings of inadequacy? Do you question where you are going or what your next step should be? Have your thoughts become more of your own worst enemy than your own best friend? Do you feel like you are in a constant state of unrest? Or distress? Or feel like you're just running in survival mode? If you relate to any of this, I would love to meet with you. We learn so many things about ourselves through our interactions with others. Depending upon the messages we have received in life, the beliefs we have formed about ourselves can be skewed, distorted, and inaccurate - and this impacts not only how we see ourselves, but how we interact with the world! Together we can begin to identify and unravel those unhealthy and distorted thought patterns that are keeping you stuck and begin to replace them with healthier ones that better support you and your life goals.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
With Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, we will look at your thought patterns and how they are impacting the way you feel and behave. Oftentimes, we have distorted thought patterns that actually increase our anxiety, depression, anger, etc. With CBT, I will guide you in identifying those patterns, teach you ways to change those patterns and ultimately gain better control over your thoughts, feelings and behaviors.
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
I also utilize an Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT) approach. With ACT, we will work on accepting uncomfortable thoughts and emotions without acting on them, changing them, or allowing them to control us. ACT teaches that we are separate from our thoughts and emotions. We experience our thoughts and emotions, but they do not define us or dictate our behaviors.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy focuses on teaching mindfulness and interpersonal effectiveness skills as well as improving your ability to regulate your emotions and tolerate distressing feelings safely. Individuals with a history of trauma often benefit from a DBT approach. In utilizing DBT, you will learn things like grounding skills to utilize when experiencing distressing thoughts or emotions, how to practice the "opposite action" to manage distressing moods, and mindfulness techniques to remain in the here and now.