My name is Claire Chavarria, a licensed marriage and family therapist. I graduated from Sacramento State University with my BA in Psychology, and a minor in counseling. I went on to get my master's from Northcentral University in Marriage and Family Therapy. I have experience working with children, teens and adults who need a safe, non-judgmental space to discuss trauma, ADHD, general and social anxiety, depression, difficult life transitions and more.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
I view the therapist/client relationship to be a journey where the client is in the driver's seat and the therapist is like GPS. I am a resource to my clients, finding the best empirical methods to help clients reach their goals.
What treatment methods and tools do you utilize?
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Trauma-informed CBT, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Play Therapy techniques, and Positive Psychology.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
I take play seriously. I love to use anything a client enjoys for play in therapy, from Geek fandoms to hobbies like video games, sports, traveling, music, art and animals. Geek Therapy is a thing! Geek Therapy is a term that refers to a therapeutic approach that incorporates elements of geek and pop culture, such as video games, movies, comics, and other forms of media, into the therapeutic process. It's an innovative way of connecting with clients who have a strong affinity for these interests and using them as tools for personal growth, self-expression, and healing. Geek Therapy recognizes the positive impact that these interests can have on mental health and well-being.