Hello! I changed careers midlife from administrative social services to direct care as a therapist. I graduated from University of Southern California in 2015 with my master of social work degree. I really missed having more interaction with people, and knew there was more to life than paperwork. We all go through difficult times, and I believe it's the support we have that makes all the difference how we come out of tough times. Therapy sessions are a private place to be vulnerable and release stressful thoughts and emotions. I have five years experience working at a mental health urgent care where I met with thousands of people who had pushed themselves to the brink of their strength and needed support. At this facility I treated PTSD, Bipolar Disorder, anxiety, depression, psychosis. I interned as a student in the crisis area of a hospital emergency room, a really rewarding opportunity for me. I also interned at a shelter for women with addiction, domestic violence and substance abuse issues.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
Clients can expect me to be a good listener, an active copilot on their journey and open-minded. I would like clients to know therapy isn't a pressured setting where there are rigid expectations - it's a place to feel safe and share troubles that make us feel vulnerable and wounded. I like to assist with problem-solving based on client goals.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
My strengths as a therapist are mental organization, compassion, creativity and insight.
About Amy Loder
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VirtualMy treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps a client to see what other perspectives there may be in a situation that is causing worry, depression or poor self-regard. The underlying belief is that we can change our thoughts, which change our emotions, which then change our behavior, leading to relief. We often have automatic thoughts like: "I can't do anything right". Sometimes we see through one lens and have trouble challenging proof for these thoughts. I use cognitive reframing to get other views, explain cognitive distortions (our go-to unhelpful thoughts patterns), and direct clients how to use thought records to challenge what evidence we have that our negative messages are factual.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) techniques are often used to bring calm and teach us how to tolerate distress. Methods include: meditation, grounding ourselves in the physical world, skills to develop emotional regulation (better control of self) and often lead to improved interpersonal relations. The first step is to become aware of our thoughts and emotions, so that we may slow down/ delay reactions that lead to destructive coping. Learning to improve our approach to painful feelings creates empowerment and we no longer feel as helpless against stressors.
Solution Focused Brief Treatment
This type of therapy focuses more on the future, versus what has gone wrong in the past. A person is encouraged to call on skills they used to overcome past problems and apply them to current issues. A therapist may also use the "miracle question", which is "what would life look like if it was exactly how we want it to be". We can use this imagery to help guide us towards our goal. Other positive elements of SFBT are affirmations and validation, which create positive thoughts and acknowledge our struggle. The goal is to achieve a realistic and sustainable solution to a problem we are facing.