As a licensed clinical social worker, I have been in the field of social work for over 25 years. My experiences have ranged from working with birth mothers with an adoption agency, working with children/adolescents and their families with a broad range of issues stemming from divorce, blended families, trauma, grief work, foster care and adoption. I am also a Registered Play Therapist and a First Play Practitioner. Over the years I have also worked with adult clients as well as couples. My approach to therapy is to be client-centered to help maximize a client's own ability to find solutions with support from the therapist. This is done in a non-judgmental environment by displaying genuineness, positive regard and empathic understanding.
A first session begins the process of learning about the client and agreeing upon a plan for therapy. I think it is important to make sure a client feels welcome, comfortable, and safe as well as reviewing the informed consent to counseling. Learning about a client's history and giving time to feel comfortable with myself as your therapist.
There are many approaches to therapy that a therapist can take. For myself, some of the key elements are communication, clinical knowledge and experience, problem solving abilities, professionalism, empathy, and compassion.
As a clinician who has worked with clients for over 25 years, I have found that it is important for the client to be as invested in the process as I am. Clients that are motivated to work and try new things or take a deeper introspective look into their lives. Clients that are clear about the goals they want to work on and committed to growth.
As an attachment-based therapist, I work with adults to identify their feelings, thoughts, the way they communicate, their behaviors and interpersonal exchanges that they have used to avoid or overemphasize due to early attachment experiences.
As a grief and loss therapist, I have many years of experience to help clients find the tools they need to cope with grief and move towards hope and healing. In addition, I can help you to manage your emotions of grief like anxiety, guilt, or fear that you may associate with the loss of a loved one.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can be used for a wide range of mental health disorders. With CBT, I will focus on your thoughts to identify irrational or unhelpful thinking patterns that can contribute to the emotional difficulties you may be experiencing. CBT can help clients to develop more realistic ways of thinking about themselves as well as change patterns of behaviors from unhealthy to healthy.
As a Christian therapist, I can help clients who may be struggling with various concerns such as anxiety, trauma, relational conflicts or marriage issues from a Biblical lens to help find solutions to these issues.