I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) who has over 30 years in the mental health field working in psychiatric hospitals and private practice. I work with clients individually (ages 13-17; 18- 65+); Couples and Families who suffer from depression, anxiety, relationship issues, marriage/divorce issues, grief issues, suicidal thoughts, self-harming behaviors, domestic violence (victims) and substance use. I am passionate about what I do and truly care about each of my clients.
In my first session, I will be getting to know my client. I will discuss the reason for their visit and what they hope to accomplish in therapy. I will start to gather some background information from them so I can better understand their needs and/or goals.
As a provider, I believe my greatest strengths lie in my ability to actively listen, intuitively understand my clients' needs, and think outside the box to tailor solutions that address their unique circumstances.
I enjoy working with a variety of people with different issues in various age groups.
I work with a lot of clients who have difficulty regulating their emotions (anxiety, fears, overthinking, poor coping skills, etc). Clients will be taught new coping skills, problem solving strategies and different ways of looking at situations that will make their lives more manageable and less stressful.
As a Cognitive Behavioral Therapist (CBT), I help clients identify thought patterns and behaviors they are engaging in that may be contributing to their emotional distress and possible relationship problems.
As a Cognitive Behavioral Therapist for Suicide Prevention (CBT-SI), I will address the client's suicidal thoughts and behaviors by looking at distortions in their thinking and what maladaptive coping skills they are using. Clients will learn how to identify what triggers their suicidal thoughts and how to prevent themselves from acting on them.
When working with couples, I reassure them from the start, there is no good guy or bad guy. Both parties are responsible for the problems in their relationship. No sides will be taken. Finger pointing is not constructive. Counseling is to help you become better people than you already are. Couples will learn how to communicate more effectively with one another using active listening skills, how to resolve conflicts more appropriately and how to rebuild trust and intimacy.
As a Grief Therapist, I will provide the client with a safe and supportive environment to process their complex emotions associated with their loss. I will help the client explore their feelings of disbelief, sadness, anger and guilt. We will also explore how to move forward with our life during this devastating time.