Sherry McGowan
Sherry McGowan
(she/her)
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Licensed Clinical Addictions Counselor based in Indianapolis. I earned my MSW from Indiana University and have spent over five years helping adults navigate life’s transitions, manage mental health symptoms, and work through the stages of change with substances misuse. Through a collaborative approach, I help you identify your strengths, build adaptable coping skills, and develop personalized strategies that empower lasting change.
Get to know me
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
In your first session, expect a welcoming, down-to-earth conversation. We’ll start with introductions, an overview of confidentiality, and a discussion about what brings you to therapy. Think of it as unpacking your mental travel bag—we’ll explore your goals, challenges, and life transitions. By the end, you'll have a clearer path forward, knowing therapy is a collaborative journey—with room for humor along the way.
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
I create a supportive space where clients feel heard, respected, and empowered. My strengths include building strong rapport, guiding at the client's pace, and integrating education, humor, and adaptability.
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
I serve adults who are navigating significant life transitions, managing mental health symptoms, and grappling with substance use challenges. I work with clients who often feel overwhelmed or stuck, offering a compassionate, collaborative approach that helps build strengths and coping skills. I am happy to work with clients needing short-term or long term support.
About Sherry McGowan
I identify as
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VirtualMy treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I use CBT to help clients recognize and reframe negative thought patterns, strengthening emotional resilience and healthier behaviors. Through education and practice, I guide them in breaking self-defeating cycles and developing effective coping strategies.
Compassion Focused
By integrating CFT, I provide a safe space for clients to explore difficult emotions and bodily sensations, fostering deeper self-acceptance and lasting change.
Mind-body approach
I use mindfulness, breathwork, and somatic awareness to help clients manage stress, process emotions, and build resilience. These techniques support anxiety, trauma, and substance misuse/abuse by fostering body awareness.
Psychoeducation
I incorporate psychoeducation to help clients better understand their mental health, emotions, and behavioral patterns. By providing clear, practical information, I empower clients to recognize how thoughts, feelings, and actions are interconnected.
Strength-Based
I empower clients by highlighting their strengths and guiding them toward growth! Strengths-based therapy creates lasting change by focusing on resilience rather than deficits and is often used with CBT.