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Shonda Hopkins

Shonda Hopkins

LCSW
12 years of experience
Virtual

Hello, and welcome! With over a decade of experience, I'm here to offer you tailored therapy to address a wide range of challenges you may be facing. Whether you're dealing with disruptive behavior, parental stress, LGBTQIA support, anxiety, depression, ADHD, relationship issues, grief, life transitions, BIPOC concerns, or simply seeking personal growth, I'm here to support you every step of the way. My approach to therapy is holistic, meaning I consider your emotional, mental, and physical well-being as interconnected parts of your overall health. I integrate Trauma-Informed Care, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Behavior Therapy to provide a comprehensive and effective treatment plan that's tailored to your unique needs and goals. Together, we'll work towards healing and growth, creating a safe and supportive space where you can explore your thoughts, feelings, and experiences without judgment. My goal is to empower you to overcome challenges, develop coping skills, and cultivate resilience so that you can live a more fulfilling and meaningful life. No matter what you're going through, remember that you're not alone. I'm here to walk alongside you on your journey towards healing and growth. Let's take the first step together!

What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?

In our first session together, my primary goal is to create a safe and comfortable space where you feel heard, understood, and respected. Here's what you can expect: Introduction: We'll start by getting to know each other. I'll introduce myself, explain my approach to therapy, and answer any questions or concerns you may have. Assessment: I'll ask you some questions to gather information about your background, current concerns, and therapy goals. This helps me understand your unique situation and tailor our sessions to meet your needs. Collaborative Goal Setting: Together, we'll discuss what you hope to achieve through therapy and identify specific goals you'd like to work towards. Your input is crucial in shaping our therapeutic journey, so feel free to share your thoughts and preferences. Exploration: We'll explore the issues or challenges you're facing in more depth. This may involve discussing your thoughts, feelings, and experiences related to your concerns. I'll provide a supportive and non-judgmental space for you to express yourself openly. Establishing Rapport: Building a strong therapeutic relationship is essential for successful therapy. I'll work to establish rapport and trust with you, creating a foundation for our ongoing work together. Initial Insights: By the end of the session, we may begin to uncover some initial insights or patterns that can inform our future sessions. However, please remember that therapy is a process, and meaningful change often takes time. Next Steps: Before we wrap up, we'll discuss our next steps and outline a tentative plan for future sessions. This may include scheduling regular appointments, exploring specific therapeutic techniques, or setting homework assignments to work on between sessions. Overall, my aim is to ensure that you feel supported, validated, and empowered as we embark on your therapeutic journey together. You're in the driver's seat, and I'm here to provide guidance, encouragement, and support every step of the way.

Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.

As a provider, I believe my greatest strengths lie in my: Empathy: I genuinely care about my clients and strive to understand their experiences from their perspective. I listen with compassion, validate their feelings, and create a safe space for them to express themselves openly. Cultural Competence: I recognize the importance of diversity and inclusion in therapy. I respect my clients' cultural backgrounds, identities, and lived experiences, and I am committed to providing culturally sensitive and affirming care. Collaborative Approach: I view therapy as a collaborative process between myself and my clients. I value their expertise in their own lives and work with them to set goals, explore challenges, and develop strategies for positive change. Flexibility: Every client is unique, and I adapt my approach to meet their individual needs and preferences. Whether it's adjusting my therapeutic techniques, accommodating scheduling preferences, or exploring alternative interventions, I strive to be flexible and responsive to my clients' evolving needs. Holistic Perspective: I take a holistic view of my clients' well-being, considering the interconnectedness of their physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual health. I integrate a variety of therapeutic modalities and approaches to address their needs comprehensively. Resilience and Patience: I understand that therapy can be a challenging and sometimes lengthy process. I remain resilient in the face of setbacks and setbacks and patient in supporting my clients as they navigate their personal journeys towards healing and growth. Overall, I am dedicated to providing compassionate, client-centered care that empowers my clients to overcome challenges, build resilience, and live more fulfilling lives.

About Shonda Hopkins

Identifies as

Specializes in

Serves ages

Licensed in

Accepts

Appointments

Virtual

My treatment methods

Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)

As an LCSW, I've found Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to be a versatile and effective tool in my practice. Picture it like this: imagine you're rearranging the furniture in your mind's living room. With CBT, we're essentially tidying up the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that might be causing distress or holding you back from feeling your best. In sessions, we work together to spot those sneaky negative thought patterns and give them a little makeover. It's all about challenging those unhelpful thoughts and finding more balanced ways to look at things. Plus, we throw in some action steps to help you put those new thoughts into practice in your day-to-day life.

Couples Counseling

As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), I have extensive experience in providing couple counseling as a vital component of my practice. Couple counseling, also known as couples therapy or marriage counseling, is a specialized form of therapy designed to help couples navigate and resolve conflicts, improve communication, and strengthen their relationship bonds. In my practice, I approach couple counseling with a foundation of empathy, respect, and collaboration. I create a safe and non-judgmental space where both partners feel comfortable expressing their thoughts, feelings, and concerns. Through active listening and effective communication techniques, I strive to understand each partner's perspective and validate their experiences.

Solution Focused Brief Treatment

As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), I have utilized Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) as an effective treatment method in my practice. SFBT is a goal-oriented, strengths-based approach that focuses on helping clients identify and amplify their existing resources and solutions to address their presenting concerns. During SFBT sessions, I work with clients to explore their strengths, values, and past successes. Through open-ended questions and active listening, I assist clients in articulating their goals and identifying exceptions to their current challenges. These exceptions serve as evidence that change is possible and highlight the client's existing abilities to overcome obstacles.

Sex Therapy

As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), my experience with sex therapy encompasses a compassionate and client-centered approach to addressing various sexual concerns and enhancing sexual well-being. Sex therapy is a specialized form of therapy that focuses on helping individuals and couples explore and navigate issues related to sexuality, intimacy, and sexual functioning. In my practice, I approach sex therapy with sensitivity, respect, and non-judgment. I create a safe and supportive environment where clients feel comfortable discussing their sexual concerns, desires, and experiences. Whether it's addressing sexual dysfunctions, navigating sexual orientation or identity, exploring intimacy issues, or enhancing sexual satisfaction, I strive to provide a space where clients can openly express themselves without fear of stigma or shame.

Compassion Focused

As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), my experience with Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) has been instrumental in providing support and healing for clients struggling with issues related to self-criticism, shame, and difficult emotions. CFT is an evidence-based therapeutic approach that draws on principles from neuroscience, evolutionary psychology, and Buddhist psychology to cultivate compassion for oneself and others. n my practice, I integrate CFT principles and techniques to help clients develop a more compassionate and accepting relationship with themselves. This involves understanding the role of the brain's threat system in generating self-critical thoughts and activating feelings of shame and inadequacy. Through psychoeducation, I help clients recognize that self-criticism often stems from evolutionary survival mechanisms and is not a reflection of their true worth or value as individuals.