Hi this is Carol. I am a licensed independent clinical social worker in eight states including Pennsylvania, Virginia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Texas, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Illinois. My career started in Pennsylvania where I attended Chestnut Hill College and received my Master's in Counseling Psychology, Marriage and Family Therapy Option. It continued in upstate Pennsylvania and New York where I attended SUNY University of Buffalo and received my Master of Social Work Degree. I capped those off with a Psy.D. from CalSouthern University, received Magnum Cum Laude in 2012 using an online doctoral format. I am also an Advanced Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor in the state of South Carolina. I was fortunate to have an opportunity to attend the University of South Carolina shortly after relocating there in 2016 where I received a certificate in Military Matters. If you are having flashbacks or memories of traumatic events that you cannot shake, we can disburse them using best evidence practices. If your anxiety has gotten out of control, we can combine forces to put you in control of the stressors and persistent thoughts that keep you from being your best and sleeping well at night. When depression makes you want to stay inside of your home or in bed each day, I have tools we can use to empower you and help you avoid guilt. For any problem that interferes with your life or life transitions, there is a tool in my toolbox that has the power to bring about change. If we need a tool from someone else's toolbox, I know how to either borrow that tool, gain that missing knowledge, or do a warm handoff to other resources and providers without missing a beat. I strongly believe in the unity of and interaction between the mind and body. The body keeps the score and emotional and physical assaults leave scars. I believe that a respectful level of humor enhances one's ability to grow and accept the dialectal events in life. Research tells us that a sense of humor helps people to learn and grow. Therapy is one of many ways in which we learn to navigate the roads and streams of life.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
We will talk about general use of the platform, HIPAA and HITECH requirements. We will gain a better understanding of expectations we have of each other and the parameters of messaging and other resources in the platform. We will answers for clarificaton and set the goals of the next session.
What treatment methods and tools do you utilize?
I utilize Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). CBT is a best practice method of psychological treatment that demonstrates, through research, that it is effective for problems such as depression, anxiety disorders, alcohol and drug use problems, marital problems, eating disorders, and severe mental illness. With CBT one can learn to act rather than react to the stressors of life. I was trained in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) by Marsha Linehan at Chestnut Hill College and recently attended a six-week skills course taught by Marsha Linehan (summer 2023). You can expect to learn and practice any skills of DBT you choose. You can participate in EMDR with me via teletherapy. I am a trained leader of The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work presented by the Gottman Institute.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
My greatest strength is the ability to listen empathically and without judgment. My niche is being able to sit with my clients where they are in life and facilitate the change they wish to achieve. I am a trained EMDR provider and am certified by Evergreen Certification as a Grief Informed Professional, Clinical Telemental Health Provider, and in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy.