New to Grow
My name is Gabz, I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and have been working in different fields within mental health for 7 years. I started working with children and adolescents diagnosed with Autism Spectrum and Dual Diagnosis. From there I worked as a case manager in community mental health, primarily resourcing for Unhoused and Undocumented families. After, I gained experience at the VA Hospital, specifically supporting military personnel experiencing Domestic Violence. Most recently I have spent the last few years working exclusively with LGBTQIA+ patients, providing 1:1 and couples therapy. I am intensely compassionate for the diverse groups of people I have served and if you find yourself to be someone who has struggled to be seen, cared for, or heard, I want to be someone who can change that. Therapy is hard work and can be a difficult first step, which is why I am intentional about making therapy realistic, creative, and fun whilst working together.
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
In our first session, we will be primarily getting to know each other. This means, in the conversation that we have, I may ask many questions about you and try to understand what you are hoping for in therapy moving forward. There may be a couple of surveys to fill out together, discussion around what format we want and what might work best for you, and work towards formulating some goals together.
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
I do not stick to one method of therapy, I use an eclectic variety of treatment methods depending on what you need that day and what our goals turn out to be. I am fairly casual and do my best to eliminate the intimidation of therapy by implementing mindfulness activities and fun conversations.
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
I am best equipped to serve those who are in precontemplation or contemplating their desire to change or improve their quality of life. I work best with clients who are willing to be challenged and open minded to being creative when feeling stuck. I feel confident in working with anyone who experiences anxiety, depression, communication misalignment or relational conflict, relationship issues, and family division. I am also well-versed in those who question their spirituality, sexuality, gender identity, and career paths.
Culturally Sensitive Therapy
I have worked with a wide variety of clients and have learned that not one person's cultural nurture is the same as another. I specialize in working with people of colour, the LGBTQ+ community, and immigrant identified individuals. I do not discriminate toward those who are differently abled or come from a cultural background I have yet to learn about. I find strength in a client's culture and can be objective with the positives and the blockages that come with our culture.
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
This is a method I use most with those experiencing grief related stress, life transitions, and building new habits and behaviors
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
I find this method to be most helpful when working with intense trauma, anxiety, or wanting to build general habits around emotional and somatic regulation.