"It's not the mountain that we conquer, but ourselves." - Sir Edmund Hillary As a mental health professional working with children, adolescents, and their families since 2021, an avid hiker for much longer, and a once at-risk teenager, I find that the quote above to reflects challenges we may face with mental health concerns. Sometimes in life, it can feel like you’re climbing uphill, breathing heavily, and hearing your heart thumping in your ears from the effort you’ve put in so far. The path ahead may look steep and winding, which can leave anyone’s internal compass spinning while navigating the path ahead. Like the different trails we can explore in the world, there are different challenges that we may encounter as individuals and families in life. For some, the mountain in their life may be adjusting to transitions in life, grief, or post-divorce, or the trail may challenge them to develop coping skills to manage the overwhelming feelings of anxiety, depression, or trauma. Other’s journeys may be shorter, needing to identify their strengths they can use to meet their challenges in life. On these varied trails, I have enjoyed walking alongside my clients and/or their families to while charting a path towards their goals in counseling. While my counseling approach is eclectic, drawing from strength-based, attachment theory, and solution-focused modalities, I rely on a foundation of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy in my work with clients.

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

In our first session, we will start with brief introductions and shift towards the specific challenges that led you to seek out counseling. I regard my client's as the experts on their lives, and I like to collaborate with my clients to determine their long term goals in counseling, as well as smaller goals that can be worked towards between appointments.

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

My experience as a Licensed Professional Counselor has allowed me to work with clients with a wide variety of concerns and at various life stages. With that work experience, I've found that the challenges that bring clients to counseling are unique, and the tools and skills that help them address their challenges may vary. While I cannot guarantee any specific results, I work along side my clients to determine what path they would like to take and the tools that they can use along the way.

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

While I enjoy working clients at various stages of their lives, I found that I thoroughly enjoy working with adolescents and their families and young adults. Often, these developmental stages in life have challenges that my clients are able to recognize and feel motivated to address, however they are unsure what tools they can utilize on the way.

About Samuel Gaspard