Step into the next chapter of your healing journey and together let’s discover the growth that’s waiting for you. For as long as I can remember, people in my life have turned to me as a strength and confidant to guide them through life's struggles and triumphs. Through my personal experiences and passion for helping others, I have dedicated my life to being a beacon of hope for those in need. My name is Sevasti (Seva for short), I am a bilingual Greek-American and a graduate of the UConn School of Social Work. I practice as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC). I foster a person-centered approach and specialize in addiction treatment, personality disorders, and acute psychiatric conditions. I also have extensive experience in assisting individuals heal through complicated grief, legal histories, and complex traumatic events. I help those struggling with day-to-day challenges such as work/relationship stress, life transitions, career counseling, and financial hardships. I am trained to utilize evidence-based treatments to guide you in recovery, such as Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and Motivational interviewing therapies to name a few. I'm looking forward to meeting you!
In the first session, I am working through the client's goals and gathering important information about themselves that could help in understanding their current situation. The first session is also a safe space for the client to address their needs in therapy. If this is a client's first time in therapy, no worries! I am fully trained to assess and evaluate patients across all types of backgrounds and life experiences.
My provider style can best be described as open-minded, authentic, and wholesome. I allow the client to move through their life goals on their terms. I foster an honest space for self-determination and understand that therapy is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Being a first-generation Greek-American, I also understand the stigma of mental health and addictive disorders that exists within cultural communities. Although my style is supportive and reflective, I believe that no matter the adverse situation, a person holds power in their life to heal and grow.
I’m here to help you take back ownership of your own life when your symptoms have made you feel powerless. Perhaps you are dealing with the loss of a relationship, grieving a loved one, or mourning the trauma and pain of your past. You may be at a tipping point with your addiction, and you need help in dealing with life stressors and fostering healthy communication with loved ones/ work colleagues. You may feel like you are stable in recovery but could use a bit of help to maintain that stability. I also have experience helping individuals with legal histories and those entering life transitions. I create a culturally competent, warm, and inclusive space for you to heal.
Seva Galanis offers therapy covered by Husky Health and Medicaid in Connecticut.
I am trained to assist clients in embracing the full range of their thoughts and emotions, rather than avoiding, altering, or denying them.
I am trained to engage clients with structured DBT work, specifically for those who feel emotions intensely. I engage the skills of Mindfulness, Interpersonal Effectiveness, Emotional Regulation, and Distress Tolerance.
I hold an intensive Motivational Interviewing training certificate. I utilize this type of counseling to assess and treat those to resolve ambivalent feelings and insecurities they need to change something in their lives that has caused significant distress and interpersonal conflict with loved ones. This type of therapy assists in discovering a person's internal motivation to change.
In this treatment method, I will help my clients identify safety and stabilization, engage in gradual exposure to the traumatic experience/ situation (when/if appropriate), and identify ways to consolidate emotions and skills. I focus on connecting the mind and body in hopes of integrating my clients into a healthier lifestyle, while simultaneously helping them work through their issues of trauma.
I enjoy working with my clients in identifying their strengths, perseverance, and resilience when working through experiences of trauma or pain. With this treatment modality, I will assist my clients in accessing their inner strengths but also engage in community resources necessary to alleviate environmental stressors.