LCSW, 15 years of experience
PLEASE NOTE: I am a Gerontological Counselor. I believe in empowering older adults by fostering independence, resilience and sense of identity. Aging is a journey that should be met with dignity, respect, and opportunities for growth. By actively listening, providing tailored support, and encouraging self-determination, I can help older adults maintain their autonomy and confidence. Resilience is nurtured through meaningful connections, purposeful activities, and a focus on strengths rather than limitations. I am committed to honoring an individual's experiences, celebrating their uniqueness, and creating environments where people feel valued and capable. I challenge stereotypes about aging and promote a vision of later life filled with possibility and fulfillment.
In our first therapy session, a client can expect to discuss their reasons for seeking therapy and share relevant personal history in a safe, confidential space. I will explain my approach and answer any questions, and outline goals or next steps as needed.
I have deep empathy and compassion which allows clients to feel truly seen and heard. My extensive experience in healthcare has given me a broad understanding of human challenges from medical trauma to life transitions. I recognize issues quickly and help clients navigate their medical, emotional and social support with practical insight.
I work with older adults who are experiencing issues related to loss of loved ones, job changes, declining independence, and retirement. These changes often lead to feelings of grief, identity loss, and uncertainty about the future. I offer clients a space to explore their goals, address age-related concerns, and enhance their well-being, all while fostering independence and motivation.
This modality helps to identify and reframe negative thought patterns and promote healthy behaviors. By focusing on practical strategies to improve coping, problem-solving, and behavior change, an individual can begin to strengthen their emotional well-being and maintain independence while accepting their cognitive and physical limitations.
This method focuses on exploring ambivalence with goals and personal values. We'll work on taking ownership of decisions, such as health behaviors or lifestyle adjustments, while respecting autonomy and life experiences. This is a collaborative, non judgmental approach that addresses self-efficacy and supports meaningful, sustainable change.
This type of therapy emphasizes empathy, unconditional positive regard and genuineness. This creates a safe, non judgmental space. A person's life experiences should foster self-acceptance and autonomy. We will focus on strengths while navigating the challenges that come with aging such as rebuilding identity, meaning and purpose.
This therapeutic modality can help clients access and express their primary, vulnerable emotions such as fear, loneliness and shame. These feelings are hidden beneath the client's secondary, reactive emotion such as anger, criticism and numbness. By sharing these vulnerabilities, clients can become more accessible, responsive and engaged with themselves or others. This creates a secure attachment bond.
A strength-based therapy helps clients look at their own lives - their inherent strengths, resources and resilience that is the foundation for healing and growth. This focus helps to identify and amplify what is already working in someone's life. A clinician's role is to not "fix" the client, but to act as a collaborative partner who helps the client discover, access and apply their unique capabilities to overcome challenges.