My name is Gabby (She/her) and I am so glad you’re here. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in PA and a Board Certified Art Therapist (ATR-BC). I enjoy empowering women in their 20s and 30s who struggle with anxiety, people-pleasing tendencies, perfectionism and trauma through the transformative power of art therapy and trauma-informed practices. I am dedicated to providing a safe, supportive, and creative environment where individuals can explore their inner world, embrace their authentic selves, and develop healthier ways to cope with life's challenges.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
In our first session together, we'll start with brief introductions, then dive into the specific challenges you're facing. This will help me create a tailored plan for us to work through in follow-up sessions.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
I value the importance of connection, creativity, empathy and honesty in the therapeutic space. I show up with my client's authentically as myself. I always invite curiosity and non-judgementalness to what you are bringing into therapy. I believe you're the expert on your life. I also value learning and believe as a therapist to best help my client's I need to make sure I receive ongoing education. I make sure to take time to learn approaches that fit me as a therapist and can help you as my client.
Describe the client(s) you are best positioned to serve.
I work with women who connect with being a "people-pleaser", "perfectionist" or "the anxious person". When you think back to your childhood, did you find yourself taking on adult responsibilities too early, feeling burdened by expectations that aren’t yours? Maybe you were making sure the adults around you were happy, while also fearing about being seen as a "problem child”. These worries lead you to set high expectations for yourself and created a part of you that strives for perfection. Now as an adult, everything you do needs to be perfect. You might avoid conflict, which can harm your well-being, by hiding your feelings, agreeing to things you don’t want, and seeking approval from others. Over time, these habits have prevented you from expressing your own needs and wants.
About Gabby Slifkin
Specializes in
Serves ages
Licensed in
Accepts
Address
149 N Main St, Dublin, PA 18917Appointments
Virtual & in-personMy treatment methods
EMDR
I have been using Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy for over a year in my practice with clients. EMDR’s goal is to help you heal from trauma or other distressing life experiences. When you undergo EMDR, you access memories of a trauma event in very specific ways. Combined with bilateral movement and guided instructions, accessing those memories helps you reprocess what you remember from the negative event. Reprocessing helps “repair” the mental injury from that memory. Remembering what happened to you will no longer feel like reliving it, and the related feelings will be much more manageable. We can use EMDR to address trauma, anxiety, self-esteem and other additional concerns you might be coming to therapy with.
Somatic
I work from an approach of helping others with building their mind-body connection. Somatic therapy is based on the idea that the body stores negative experiences in somatic memory. Through somatic therapy techniques we will learn to be curious with what your body is communicating to you and how you can regulate your nervous system through movement.
Strength-Based
As a therapist I think it is so important to acknowledge and celebrate with you your wins no matter how big or small. Taking a strength-based approach means that we highlight what you are doing well and the internal strengths and resources you hold. We will also acknowledge what is going well in your life and not just the bad because therapy is about the positives as well.
Compassion Focused
I’m passionate about drawing on mindfulness-based self-compassion to help others cultivate self-esteem, self-love, and a sense of gentleness toward themselves. It’s so easy to fall into negative self-talk, but often we forget to practice true compassion. In our work together, we’ll use tools like mindfulness, affirmations, movement, and positive self-talk to nurture greater self-compassion and kindness toward yourself.
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy is a therapeutic approach that views the mind as made up of different "parts" or sub-personalities, each with its own thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. These parts often represent different aspects of ourselves, such as our inner critic, vulnerable child, or compassionate self. IFS helps individuals understand and harmonize these parts, fostering healing by promoting self-awareness, self-compassion, and internal balance. In therapy, IFS is helpful because it allows people to uncover and address unresolved emotional conflicts, leading to deeper healing and a more integrated sense of self.