LCSW, 13 years of experience
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) committed to helping clients navigate their healing journeys. I hold certifications as a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP) and a Certified Narcissistic Abuse Treatment Clinician (NATC). My additional certifications, including Certified Personality Disorder Treatment Provider (C-PD), Certified in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (C-DBT), Certified Mood Disorder Professional (CMDP), and ADHD-Certified Clinical Services Provider (ADHD-CCSP), enable me to help individuals better understand their challenges and build resilience. I grew up in an environment with people who never discussed mental health; this sparked an early interest in the unspoken challenges I observed. As a dual major in psychology and sociology, my coursework was impactful, and the lessons continued in graduate school, where I earned dual master's degrees in social work and public administration. I completed internships at a domestic abuse shelter, a short-term residential crisis center, a community behavioral health services facility, and took specialized trauma-informed care courses, as well as other research areas in the field. My professional experience includes work at a non-profit organization supporting survivors of domestic abuse and sexual assault, serving as a psychotherapist and behavioral specialist for children with autism, ADHD, and adjustment challenges, and supervising social workers at county behavioral health agencies. I have also managed case management teams of social workers and nurses assisting individuals with catastrophic illnesses, and led project teams of case investigators and contact tracers in response to infectious disease outbreaks. I remain deeply passionate about helping clients in their healing from mental injuries and mental challenges; providing support in this area has proven to be crucial, as it can affect every facet of human existence.
I partner with clients to understand their backgrounds, address challenges, and support their goals. My approach emphasizes a safe, supportive environment where individuals can develop coping skills and increase self-awareness throughout the healing process. I have experience with diverse populations and age groups, focusing on trauma, stress management, life transitions, and personal growth. Clients in early adulthood have become a significant part of my practice, showing a keen appreciation for psychoeducation in therapy, which reflects my commitment to providing research-based information that supports mental and physical well-being.
I use a client-centered approach that incorporates validation, psychoeducation, open-mindedness, empowerment, and emotional support. I know how important it is to feel heard when discussing difficult experiences and challenging thoughts. I will listen, learn, and collaborate with clients, using both informative and evidence-based interventions to help them develop effective coping strategies in different settings.
Change is often challenging because the brain likes familiar routines. Still, the brain can adjust and make new connections through a process called neuroplasticity. When we repeat specific thoughts and actions, those pathways in the brain become stronger. By practicing new behaviors and thoughts regularly, we can form new connections and gradually let go of old habits. As clients learn how this process works, adjust their thinking and actions, and become more self-aware, they typically experience real progress and begin to heal.