Greetings! I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). The most important step in therapy is to create a safe relationship between client and therapist, then, using modalities like IFS, Brainspotting and Polyvagal theory to help alleviate symptoms from unresolved issues that remain present in our daily lives, and mental wellbeing issues that decrease our quality of life. I enjoy working with adults of all ages. I use trauma informed care with body and nervous system awareness. Learning and creating compassionate connections to your inner system. learning to release emotions through the body, may lead to relief from mental health issues. Like the movie, Inside Out or Inside Out 2, parts are like characters that have their own roles, emotions, beliefs and interactions with others. With time, parts work feels more comfortable and familiar and you can settle into your own system and internal experience. You will learn to notice your nervous system responses to different situations. “IFS is a loving way of relating internally (to your parts) and externally (to the people in your life), so in that sense, IFS is a life practice, as well. It’s something you can do on a daily, moment-to-moment basis—at any time, by yourself or with others.” ― Richard C. Schwartz, No Bad Parts: Healing Trauma and Restoring Wholeness with the IFS Model

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

I follow a trauma-informed perspective. I want to build rapport, it is most important that we build a space for safety we can move towards healing. Tell me what is bringing you to therapy, what have you liked and not liked about therapy in the past, and what you want to focus on. I will speak to you about IFS and brainspotting, how it helps, and how we get started.

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

Trust building, strength-base approach, teaching IFS as a coping skill when feeling overwhelmed. From personal experience, I strongly believe behavioral health resources can give us the support we need to live a better life for us and the people we care about. I believe healing from overwhelming life experiences and trauma is possible and brings us relief.

Describe the client(s) you are best positioned to serve.

Clients interested in learning in internal family systems (IFS) and brainspotting to help decrease mental health symptoms present. Clients who have attended therapy in the past and are looking for other modalities beyond regular talk therapy and coping skills.

About Patricia Rhodes