As a licensed Clinical Social Worker with nearly a decade of experience, I am committed to empowering individuals from all walks of life. My ultimate goal as an Empowerment Specialist is to illuminate the potential within each person and support their efforts to leverage their strengths to achieve and maintain their desired outcomes. In our work together, we recognize that while everyone has the common desire to achieve wellness, the path to wellness looks different for each individual. I tailor my approach to align with what wellness means to you, using a variety of therapeutic techniques to help you not only reach but sustain your personal vision of well-being. Together, we explore and expand the boundaries of your potential, helping you to navigate life's challenges with resilience and confidence.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
Welcome to our first therapeutic session together.
I understand that beginning therapy can feel daunting, and it's natural to feel a bit anxious about what to expect. My primary goal today is to create a comfortable and supportive environment where you can feel safe to explore your feelings and concerns.
**Getting to Know You**
Our first session is fundamentally about getting to know each other. I'll ask you some questions about your life, your experiences, and what brought you to therapy. This isn't just about me understanding your challenges but also about you getting a feel for how I work and deciding if my approach resonates with you. It's important that you feel this is the right fit, as our relationship will be central to your therapeutic journey.
**Understanding Your Situation**
As we discuss your current situation, I encourage you to share openly what you feel is affecting your well-being. This is your time to express any worries, struggles, and hopes you have. There’s no rush—getting a full picture might take more than one session, and that’s perfectly okay.
**Creating a Collaborative Plan**
Once we have a clear understanding of your concerns and goals, we will start to outline a preliminary plan tailored to your needs. This plan is not set in stone—it’s a starting point that will evolve as we progress. Your feedback will be crucial here. I want you to feel involved in every decision that affects your path to wellness.
**Your Goals Are My Goals**
In this partnership, your goals become my goals. We are in this together, and every step forward will be a mutual effort. My role is to support you, provide insights and techniques, and help you navigate obstacles so that you can achieve the outcomes you aspire to.
Remember, this is a journey we undertake together, and every journey begins with a single step. Today is that first step. I’m here to walk alongside you, with empathy and commitment, as we work towards not just meeting but exceeding your goals. Let's start this path to healing with optimism and a shared vision of success.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
As a therapist deeply committed to the well-being and empowerment of my clients, I bring a distinctive approach to mental health care that integrates the universal laws, the science and physiology of the body and brain, psychoeducation, and elements of spirituality into a comprehensive therapeutic model. My practice is founded on the belief that true healing and transformation require addressing not just the mind but the whole person in their unique environmental and existential context.
One of my greatest strengths as a provider is my deep understanding of the physiology of the body and brain, and how these physical aspects interact with psychological experiences. My approach is informed by the latest scientific research, which helps me explain to clients how their thoughts and emotions can physically affect their bodies. This knowledge empowers clients to take active control of their mental health, using evidence-based techniques that promote neurological and psychological resilience.
Additionally, I utilize psychoeducation as a cornerstone of my practice. I believe that knowledge is power—when clients understand the 'whys' behind their behaviors and emotions, they are more likely to engage in the therapeutic process and implement strategies that lead to lasting change. By educating clients about their conditions and the various coping mechanisms, I demystify mental health issues and reduce the stigma associated with therapy and psychological struggles.
Empowerment is another key aspect of my therapeutic approach. I work to empower clients by focusing on their strengths and potential rather than just their problems. This positive approach helps build their confidence and self-esteem, which are crucial for mental health recovery. I encourage clients to set personal goals and support them in creating actionable plans to achieve these goals, thus making therapy a collaborative and client-driven process.
Spirituality also plays an important role in my practice, where appropriate and accepted by the client. I respect and integrate individuals' spiritual beliefs into the therapeutic process as this can provide significant comfort and meaning, aiding in their recovery and personal growth. The incorporation of spiritual practices can help clients connect to a larger purpose and navigate life's challenges with a greater sense of peace and perspective.
Moreover, my use of the universal laws in therapy helps clients see how they are connected to a larger syste
About Tekisha Durand
Appointments
Virtual
My treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I am deeply committed to utilizing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) as a dynamic and transformative tool in my practice. With over seven years of experience as a Master-level clinician and an Empowerment Specialist, CBT has become a cornerstone of my approach to facilitating profound change. This method brilliantly addresses common pain points such as pervasive anxiety, debilitating depression, and the lasting effects of PTSD by helping you understand the intricate relationship between your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
Our therapy sessions begin by identifying the origin of your thought patterns, examining historical experiences that have shaped your current perceptions. This foundational work is crucial as it allows us to address the root causes of your emotional and behavioral issues, setting the stage for genuine and lasting change.
We will meticulously explore how certain thought patterns may be influencing your emotions and actions adversely. I'll guide you through effective strategies to reshape these patterns, including the use of thought records, behavioral experiments, and enhanced problem-solving techniques. These evidence-based interventions are proven to significantly reduce symptoms and improve quality of life by promoting emotional regulation and behavioral adjustment.
Our goal in therapy is not just to alleviate symptoms but to foster enduring empowerment and resilience. By setting clear, achievable goals and employing practical CBT techniques, you will gain invaluable skills to manage challenges and transform negative cycles into positive, life-affirming actions.
Let’s embark on this journey of growth and healing together, with the promise of achieving a healthier, more fulfilling life through the proven success of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Join me in tapping into the power of resolution within you using CBT to unlock your potential and illuminate your path toward a brighter, more hopeful future.
Child Parent Psychotherapy
I warmly incorporate child and parent psychotherapy, drawing on my seven years of experience with this compassionate and effective treatment method. This approach is tailored to strengthen the bonds between children and their parents, effectively addressing common conflicts such as behavioral challenges, communication breakdowns, and emotional disconnects, all of which can strain the family dynamic.
Throughout our sessions, we'll delve into your family's interactions, identifying and dissecting patterns that contribute to stress and misunderstandings. We also explore the possibility of unresolved trauma and burdens from challenging life experiences that parents may carry, understanding how these impact family dynamics and parenting styles. By fostering a deeper understanding and enhancing empathy, we aim to develop new, healthier ways of relating that meet both the child’s developmental needs and the parent’s emotional needs.
In practice, this modality has facilitated dramatic transformations, helping families shift from states of conflict and confusion to ones of harmony and understanding. For instance, through specific interventions like role-playing and real-time coaching, parents learn more effective disciplinary strategies and communication techniques, while children learn to express their emotions and needs constructively. These changes not only resolve current issues but also equip families with enduring skills to nurture strong, loving relationships.
The benefits of this therapeutic approach are extensive, offering not just immediate relief but also long-term improvement in family functioning. Families often report increased cooperation from children, reduced parental stress, and a more joyful home environment.
With every session, we pave the way toward a brighter, more hopeful future for your family, characterized by deeper connections and sustained emotional health. Join me on this transformative journey to enhance your family bonds and embrace a future filled with optimism and strengthened relationships.
Psychoeducation
In my therapeutic practice, I emphasize the importance of psychoeducation as a foundational element, guiding you and your family through a comprehensive understanding of the psychological challenges you face, available treatment options, and effective strategies for managing symptoms. This method is rooted in the belief that knowledge truly empowers—providing you with the detailed insights necessary to fully comprehend and actively participate in your treatment process.
Simply reading this description initiates the change process by engaging your brain's natural curiosity and capacity for learning. This engagement prompts your brain to start forming new neural connections, setting the groundwork for further psychological growth and change. As you process this information, you're already taking the first steps towards a more empowered and proactive approach to managing your psychological health.
By educating you about the nature of your challenges and the underlying mechanisms at play, we pave the way for a more engaged and effective therapeutic experience. This process of learning and understanding stimulates the brain to adapt and respond to therapy, enhancing its ability to develop new behaviors and thought patterns.
For example, understanding how anxiety can be triggered and maintained by certain thought patterns enables you to recognize and alter these thoughts in real-time. Similarly, understanding the impact of stress on the body can motivate you to implement practical stress-reduction techniques that have direct benefits, such as improved sleep and reduced physical tension.
Through psychoeducation, I help you wire your brain more efficiently, fostering not just a deeper understanding but also mastery over the challenges you face. This informed approach allows you to transform knowledge into power, equipping you with the tools needed for lasting change and resilience. Clients often report feeling more in control, experiencing fewer symptoms, and enjoying a higher quality of life.
Together, we'll use this powerful blend of knowledge and practical application to forge a path toward recovery and growth, empowering you and your family to navigate psychological challenges with confidence and clarity.
Mindfulness-Based Therapy
I employ mindfulness-based therapy as a core component of my therapeutic approach to help clients cultivate a heightened awareness of their thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations in the present moment. This technique is rooted in the understanding that mindfulness can significantly diminish stress and enhance emotional regulation by directly impacting the nervous system.
Mindfulness activities, such as focused breathing and meditation, encourage the activation of the parasympathetic nervous system—the part of the autonomic nervous system responsible for the body's rest and digest response. This activation helps mitigate the fight-or-flight response, typically triggered by stress and anxiety. As a result, clients experience a reduction in heart rate and blood pressure, fostering a greater sense of calm.
For example, regular mindfulness practice can lead clients to notice when their thoughts begin to spiral into stress-inducing patterns. By recognizing these patterns early, clients can apply mindfulness techniques to consciously relax their body and refocus their mind, steering away from automatic negative reactions towards more thoughtful, balanced responses. This shift is crucial for emotional resilience and overall mental health.
Clients who consistently integrate mindfulness into their daily routine often begin to see noticeable improvements in their emotional and physical well-being within a few weeks to a few months of practice. Over time, this practice not only helps manage acute stress but also contributes to long-term changes in how they handle emotional challenges, leading to a more balanced and satisfying life.
By guiding you through mindfulness exercises and helping you incorporate them into your everyday life, I aim to empower you with the tools to respond to life’s challenges with clarity and equilibrium, thereby fostering a sustained sense of well-being and a healthier, more mindful approach to life.
Solution Focused Brief Treatment
I utilize solution-focused therapy (SFT) to empower clients by focusing on their inherent strengths and the possibilities for positive change. This approach encourages clients to envision the future they desire and take actionable steps towards realizing it, rather than dwelling on past difficulties.
SFT has been particularly effective for clients dealing with relationship issues, career challenges, and mild to moderate anxiety and depression. For example, clients navigating relationship conflicts have used SFT to discover and build on effective communication strategies already present in their interactions. Those facing career dissatisfaction identify clear goals and practical steps to achieve professional fulfillment. Similarly, individuals experiencing anxiety and depression learn to envision a life beyond their current struggles, which helps break cycles of negative thinking and promotes a proactive approach to mental health.
This therapy involves strategic questioning that guides clients to recognize their successful experiences and envision how they can replicate these successes in other areas of their lives. By focusing on what they can change and control, clients develop a strong sense of agency and optimism.
Overall, solution-focused therapy equips individuals with a mindset oriented towards growth and achievement, fostering lasting empowerment. It's designed for those who are ready to see substantial improvements in their lives and are eager to actively engage in their therapeutic journey.
