New to Grow
Hi I'm Maeve! I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Missouri and Kansas, and a married mother of two, originally from Boston, Massachusetts. I know first hand how hard it is to ovecome unhealthy patterns or heal emotional trauma, even if all your basic needs are met and everything looks fine on the outside. Before receiving my Master’s in Clinical Social Work from Loyola University Chicago, I received my BA in Women's and Gender Studies, so I have always been invested in learning about the multifaceted nature of identity, and advocating for those subject to oppressive systems and structures. I have over a decade of experience in diverse community mental health, addiction, and private practice settings. I am dedicated to helping clients heal from what I call small t trauma and it's many impacts, including anxiety, relationship difficulties, low self-esteem and substance issues. I also specialize in anxiety disorders, including related topics such as OCD and perfectionism.
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
The first session is a collaborative process to help us determine whether we are a good fit for your needs. While a trusting relationship can develop with time, my goal is for you to feel safe, heard, and supported from the start. I may ask more questions during the intake to understand your history, but you are always in control of what you share and the pace of the work. Any assessment or diagnosis is preliminary; my focus is on your goals rather than labels. By the end of the first session we will create an initial plan to guide our work, knowing it will evolve over time. Your path to healing is unique, and so the plan we develop will also be customized for you. You do not need clear answers or goals to begin—only a willingness to engage. I will meet you where you are and we’ll figure the rest out together, always with empathy and respect.
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
I think what stands out about me is my authenticity and belief in my clients: I experienced my own family trauma as a child and after getting support and healing myself, I wanted to share what I learned with others and help others who suffer have hope that healing, and happiness is possible. When I started out as a young therapist I worked with the most severe trauma and addiction cases, and even here, there were many who managed to achieve amazing transformation when they were finally given support. As a result of these experiences I learned just how resilient people can be, and I bring this knowledge into my sessions today, so that you may remember that you are not just your struggles or your diagnosis, but much more than that. Since then I have received special training in newer evidenced based and trauma informed modalities that are rooted in neuroscience, such as EMDR and somatic therapy, in addition to proven theories that produce tangible results such as CBT and DBT. By using these methods a big goal of mine is to demystify psychotherapy for my clients: I focus on transparency and education about how the brain and body works whenever possible, so that you feel in control of these processes and empowered. The last thing that I think makes me stand out is that I don't just follow one treatment method and stick to it no matter what. I want therapy to be customized so it works for you, so I can be hands-on and skills based, or I can be more of a sounding board for you to reflect, or a little bit of everything. I will bring the toolbox for you, but I truly believe you are the expert in your own experience, and I want your therapy to feel like that. Ultimately, my experience has taught me that the therapeutic relationship is what heals the most.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
CBT is one of the most proven evidenced based therapies, and has been shown to produce significant improvement for clients with mood disorders such as anxiety and depression. Clients I work with tend to really like that it provides hands-on tools, so that you can see and track your progress over time. With CBT we will determine if you are engaging in any unhelpful or distorted thinking patterns (ie negative self-talk) that may be affecting your mood/self esteem and choices. If we identify unhelpful patterns or negative 'core beliefs' about yourself, we can then use this method to practice reworking them into more positive and accurate thoughts. With time you should consistently feel better, and make choices that better support your wellbeing.
Attachment-based
With this integrative therapy we are focused on understanding how your past relationships with early caregivers may be impacting your current relationships, self esteem and core beliefs. Insecure attachment styles in particular are often rooted in trauma or inconsistent caregiving, and therefore our treatment is focused on practicing compassion towards your 'inner child', education about what healthy vs. unhealthy parenting looks like, and practicing new ways of relating to yourself and others going forward. For individuals with relationship troubles, attachment understanding is also a focus of related therapies such as the 'Gottman Method' and 'Emotionally Focused Therapy,' where I will help you track the unhelpful patterns of communication/conflict cycles in your relationship(s) and teach you new targeted ways to manage conflict and build a meaningful bond.
EMDR
I specialize in working with clients with many forms of trauma, particularly early life/childhood trauma. EMDR is a newer evidenced based therapy that is known for producing fast healing for clients with trauma without the need for drawn out talk therapy. It uses 'bilateral stimulation' techniques (guided eye movement) to desensitize or reduce the discomfort with traumatic memories effectively, and without overwhelm.
Mindfulness-Based Therapy
This therapy is great for clients who like to be given hands-on techniques to calm their brain and body. It is especially helpful for clients with anxiety, trauma and obsessions/compulsions. Drawing from DBT (Dialectical behavioral) methods, I will teach you ways to be more aware of and then calm your emotions and body sensations. It can include cognitive techniques, but also body based techniques such as deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, and guided visualizations. Many techniques are accessible and quick to complete, and with practice can lead to a more balanced you without undue time commitment or change of routine. Mindfulness based therapy is also connected to my specialization in Somatic Therapy, a newer skill-based approach to body awareness and tension release that is particularly suited to those storing trauma/anxiety/stress in their body.
Exposure Response Prevention (ERP)
ERP is a method often used for individuals with phobias, or obsessive compulsive disorder/tendencies. It can also help with anxiety. Together, we come up with a plan to safely and gradually expose you to a hierarchy of feared situations, and simultaneously help you apply coping skills to tolerate the fear and desensitize to it without engaging in any compulsions/rituals etc that you may be trying to diminish. This may entail mindfulness skills/relaxation skills, or other solutions coming from 'behavioral activation' that promote positive actions and emotions.